2008 Alamos Malbec Enthusiastically Endorsed by the Champagne Wishes Panel of Whom You Know
Alamos: “Wine of the Andes” The Catena family in Mendoza, Argentina, began making Alamos wines in 1993 to help meet rising demand around the world for Argentine wines. Grapes for Alamos wines are grown in Catena’s high-altitude (3,000 -5,000 ft.) estate vineyards as well as by local independent growers who have long-standing relationships with the family.
Vines producing grapes for Alamos wines in the prestigious growing regions of Lujan de Cuyo and the Uco Valley are cared for by hand and harvested by hand. Crop loads are kept low to insure quality and to allow vines to concentrate flavors in the grapes. The result is a “house style” of rich and concentrated wines with distinct varietal character.
The Catena family, who began making wines in Mendoza more than 100 years ago, bring very modern ideas to bear on traditional winemaking techniques. Alamos wines reflect four generations of investment to improve wine quality both in the vineyards and in the winery. This includes decades of research and experimentation with clonal selections best suited to the unique high desert terroir, and application of “precision agriculture” which responds to microclimate variations.
Each batch of grapes is sorted by hand at the winery, and only the best pass through inspection for fermentation.
Alamos wines are a classic example of the Catena family belief that blending is the highest art of winemaking. Vineyards at different altitudes produce different characteristics in the wines and give Alamos winemakers a wide range of options in the final assemblage.
According to Alamos U.S. representative Jimena Turner, “Alamos is one of the best values in New World wines. The wines are made with grape sourcing, harvesting and wine making techniques usually reserved for luxury wines and represent a tremendous value to consumers.”
Alamos has earned its position as America’s favorite Argentine brand of wine by offering both quality and value in a true “wine of the Andes.”
Luxury winemaking techniques are used at every step, although the wines remain attractively priced throughout the United States. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec wines are blended, by co-fermentation andassemblage, with ‘companion’ grapes to add dimension and unmistakable character. The result is rich and concentrated wines with distinctive depth and balance. This is a vintage of Malbec you all should try and we enthusiastically recommend it.
“The mountains create the terroir in our vineyards.” he says. “They keep the storms out of our valleys; their snows give us pure water; they make the winds that cool the vineyards. They are part of the nature of the place.”Stahlschmidt should know. As an avid mountaineer, he has climbed Aconcagua, highest peak in the western and southern hemispheres, seven times. “Climbing sharpens the senses, cleanses the mind, makes you notice small differences in the big picture, makes you appreciate what nature can do. This makes an impact when I am blending from microclimates in our vineyards around Mendoza. The mountain is always there to tell me to listen to the nature of each place.”
Stahlschmidt believes that wine is the perfect expression of place, and that Malbec and Mendoza “are a marriage made in heaven.” His exuberant Malbec wines, rich and full of character, are proof of what nature and man can create when they work in harmony.
After graduating from the prestigious Universidad National de Cuyo in Mendoza with a winemaking degree in 2003, Stahlschmidt joined Alamos as an assistant winemaker in 2006. Today, he oversees production of all Alamos wines.
2008 Alamos Malbec
This Alamos wine comes from high-altitude vineyards in the Mendoza wine region of western Argentina. The wine represents the highest levels of the art of blending, using grapes from many distinct microclimates. Alamos wines are blended to create flavorful, drinkable wines that preserve each variety’s distinctive flavors, aromas, and textures.
Wine Description:
Malbec is the “signature wine” of the Mendoza region and represents the highest achievements of Argentine winemaking. The 2008 Alamos Malbec has a dark, blackish purple color. The nose shows ripe black fruits, black pepper spice and floral notes. The mouthfeel is full yet soft and supple, with black raspberry and currant flavors mingled with notes of sweet spice and a touch of leather. The finish is long and persistent with soft, sweet tannins.
Harvest Notes:
Grapes for this wine came from vineyards in the Uco Valley, and from the Luján de Cuyo area of the “prime zone” south of the city of Mendoza. The winter of 2008 was the coldest in 40 years, and the vineyards got off to a late start in a cool, wet springtime. The rest of the season was warm and dry– a long period of very sunny days that drove development of great flavors, and very cold nights that let the vines rest and reach full maturity. Since an early frost had thinned the crop, the result was wine of great intensity and soft tannins.
Winemaking Notes: Felipe Stahlschmidt, Winemaker
This Malbec was fermented for 14 days at a temperature of 79 degrees Fahrenheit and allowed to sit on its skins for another 23 days to completely extract flavor and color from the fruit. A small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon along with Bonarda, another distinctive red grape characteristic of Argentine wines, was blended into the final wine. The wine was conditioned partly with French oak, partly with American oak before the final blend was assembled.
Appellation: Mendoza, Argentina
Varietal Content: 90 % Malbec , 5 % Cabernet Sauvignon 5 % Bonarda
Alcohol Content: 13.5 %
Acidity: 5.28
pH: 3.79
The commentary from the Champagne Wishes Panel of Whom You Know:
I was pleased to have an opportunity to sample and review the newly released 2008 Malbec from Alamos. This Malbec, with it's dark purple color, is produced in Argentina by the Catena family, who have been winemakers in the region for over a century. The nose shows ripe black fruits like plum, black pepper spice and hints of chocolate and slight floral notes. The mouth feel is full yet soft and supple, with black raspberry and currant flavors mingled with the spicy notes. The finish is long and persistent with soft, sweet tannins. I have always enjoyed indulging young, but tasty South American reds. From Peru, to Chile, to Colombia I generally find greater consistency with Argentine wines, and now with Alamos amongst them. When given some time to breath, this Malbec proves to be a richly flavored treat to the palate, as the tasting notes above show. I have to say, as a fan of Malbecs, that it was one of the smoothest, tastiest Malbecs I have ever had. The price point is not indicative of the wine itself. It has a solid, semi-dry finish with a touch of cocoa and coffee at the very end. I believe decanting (which I do not typically do) would improve the evenness and bring the dark fruit notes out even better. I tried my second glass after running it through a hand-held aerator. While not quite the same as fully decanting, it provided some quick depth to the wine, since this grape can be little edgy out of the bottle. This smoothed out the remaining edges and really brought out the fruit. Even more complex and enjoyable. You can certainly tell that this wine is handcrafted from the vine to the bottle, and I would recommend it to all red drinkers, and to those especially looking for a different grape, good bang for the buck.
If you're in the market for a zesty, full-bodied and robust red wine, then Alamos Malbec would be an excellent choice. The aroma itself is inviting! There's nothing subtle about this wine, it leaves its sparkling impression upon the first sip. Notes of dark and ripe fruit like plum and black cherry combine with a good dose of spiciness and smokiness. The intense darkness in color of the wine just further accentuates this. Absolutely stunning! It's a wine that begs to be paired with a hearty, filling and spicy dish. Argentine bbq meat dishes come to mind, or perhaps a meaty and flavorful pasta. I am astounded by how rich the blend is. Getting a wine with this much character, it was a pleasant surprise that the price point is so reasonable. I'd definitely recommend adding Alamos Malbec to your wine cabinet. I am so pleased it was added to mine! Now I want to try the other years as well. We are crying for you Argentina- a cry of approval!
A rising star of Argentina! The 2008 Alamos Malbec is Distinctive, Drinkable and Delicious! I learned that the Malbec grape is a thin-skinned grape that needs more sun and heat to mature. It ripens mid-season. This can bring a very deep color and plum-like flavor to the grape which adds complexity. The wines are rich dark and juicy. The Alamos Malbec is grown in very high-altitudes in the Mendoza wine region of western Argentina. At first sniff, the aromas of plum, and currants with a spicy after tow. The wine goes down so easy and did not overwhelm the beef tenderloin we paired it with. I imagine it would be a lovely companion to all meets, grilled or roasted. With its spicy undertones, it also goes great with spicy foods like Indian and Mexican. Its texture is so soft and rather smooth. A wonderful winter wine with many comfort food dishes. To top it all off, the Alamos Malbec is a great value. Malbec is a wine where label does matter. Alamos got it just right. Dazzle your guests this delicious red at your next dinner party this winter!
I did extensive research before sipping my wine because I am not strongly versed in Malbec. A friend recommended the 2008 Alamos Malbec, mostly because I was saying all Malbec wines taste the same and what the heck is the difference between the most expensive and the least expensive. And while I expected something along the lines of, “Oh, believe me, you’d know the difference if you tasted the good stuff,” what I got instead was the recommendation of this totally affordable wine from the Mendoza region of Argentina . Interestingly, the recommendation was also made to have this wine with a chicken, something that did not make much sense to me when I saw that this 2008 Alamos Malbec was not a white wine. I mean, I’ve always done white with foul and red with beef, right? Yeah, I guess not. Checked out my friend’s suggestion on the good ol’ internet and it turns out that the “mellow finish” of this 2008 Alamos Malbec makes it a great pairing with foul. Who knew? Well, now I do. I assigned the cooking to my husband while I watched from the couch and even let him enjoy a glass while he was whipping up dinner. In the end, both were worth the wait. Now, I don’t know how important it was to pair this wine with chicken or whether or not the pasta was the perfect side, but what I do know is that I’m a fan of this wine. My olfactory cells and the taste buds skyrocketed with pleasure at the nose of this wine with its distinguished flavors and notes. I can tell you it’s tasty and that there’s more going on here than grapes. It’s definitely got a scent and a flavor all its own! I like the taste of the 2008 Alamos Malbec and the price is right. We recommend it.
The 2008 Alamos Malbec is simply outstanding. I am a big enthusiast of red wine, so I thought I would love it, but usually I go for something more of a Bordeaux and generally favor European wines. Boy was I surprised! This Malbec trumped all other Malbecs I have tried. The fabulous body of Alamos Malbec made an immediate impression on me that has made me a fan of Argentinean wines for the first time. In oxygenating the wine I smelled notes of maple and sweet nuts. The color is simply divine: a deep maroon that looks as rich as it tastes! Aromatic, elegant and sophisticated, the 2008 Alamos Malbec is a winner! It goes with everything from pizza to a fine steak and is perfect with just cheese as well. I highly recommend it! The quality is as high as the altitude that the grapes are grown at.
