Malbec Revival: Navarro Correas Privada Malbec 2007 & Masi Tupungato Passo Doble 2007

Here’s a Malbec twofer from Iron Chef.

--- Iron Chef’s Review ---

We have gotten away from one of our fav grapes so we compared the Navarro Correas Privada recommended by Trevor and Aaron at the Prospect store and the Masi Tupungato Passo Doble to re-introduce ourselves two Malbecs. (Pun)

Navarro Correas Privada Malbec 2007

Nose: Heavily extracted cherries, faint pepper and medicinal qualities. Lavender and other perfumes. Crushed gravel tannins. Smells grrreat. Beautiful purple colour.
Taste: Dr Pepper or Cherry Coke, some twiggy tannins. Cough Syrup. Good tannins but a bit sweet.
Overall, I value the recommendations I get at the Prospect store from Trevor and Aaron. This was a steady wine that many if not most people would like- very mainstream taste. The nose was better than the slightly boring taste- The smell wrote a cheque that the taste could not cash- to use a banking term. Cork was good. Decanted for 35 minutes.

Price: $15.49
Score: 86
Value: 2.5/5
Region: Mendoza, Argentina
Alcohol 13.9%
UPC: 811405010101

Masi Tupungato Passo Doble 2007

Nose: Dried Roses, Dried Prunes, Crushed Dark Fruit. Some slatey aromas. Smelled fantastic- thoughts of a young Barbaresco.
Taste: Dried Prunes and cherries. Tobacco and leather. Strong Tannins on the front jaw. Mahogany wood. Some Juvenile astringencies that should round out with time. Woow- tastes like a young Barbaresco too.
Overall: This was not a great comparison; the Masi employed an interesting combination of Malbec and Corvina grapes - made in the Ripasso method. Very different to the Narrarro. But the Masi was absolutely fantastic. A real special wine. One of the better Young Reds I have had in a while. Good Cork, decanted for 35 minutes. SAQ Lists for- $16.65

Price: $18.49
Score: 91
Value: 5/5
Region: Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina
Grapes: 65% Malbec, 30% semi-dried Corvina, 5% Merlot
Alcohol: 13.5%
UPC: 8002062001607

Clos de Los Siete 2005

--- A Review from Vasco da Gama ---

This is an interesting blend of Malbec, Cab, and Syrah from one of the most renowned wine producers/consultants on the planet Michel Rolland. I was anxious to try this wine, and could no longer resist, so I tried this fresh out of the bottle last night - The cork and wine are both a very dark purple. This wine has a beautiful smell of vanilla, gravel, dark berries, ripe plum and licorice with a hint of smokiness (on the 2nd glass I picked up the scent of cherry blossom or cherry nibs, as well as tar). The blackberries, licorice, and dark cherries come through on the palate with good refined tannins and balanced acidity. A beautiful full bodied red with a nice long dark chocolate finish. This is a superb and complex wine to drink now, but I suspect it will only get better over the next few years into 2015 or so. Will have to try another bottle again a few years down the road to see if it doesn't have even more character to it. Although the price of $33.29 is not cheap, for the quality you are getting I would say this is great wine and an excellent value, and I like the label :-)

Price: $33.70
Score: 93
Value: 4.5/5
Region: Argentina
Grape: Malbec, Cabernet, Syrah
UPC 7798104410179

Finca Flichman Dedicado 2004

The Dedicado, the flagship wine from Finca Flichman, is 60% Malbec, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Syrah.

Kelly and I saw eye to eye on this wine. It has excellent balance and structure with smooth ripe tannins. Some floral notes, with dark fruit, though it's not fruit driven - more of an old world style. The flavours on the palate are distinct and clean, and a clear chocolate note is dominant. Despite the Cab content, it has none of the harshness that I often associate with Cab.

The only negative about the wine is that there isn't a lot of complexity, which is why we didn't score it higher. But I have to say, every time I drank a mouthful, I gave a little "hmmm" of pleasure. No one can resist chocolate. Yummy.

Julia Harding (with Jancis Robinson) gives it a 16.5/20

Price: $38.29
Value: 3/5
Score: 88
Alcohol: 14.5%
Tasted: Oct 2008
ANBL UPC: 7790470080574

Bodegas Norton Privada 2004

Wine Spectator really liked this wine - gave it a 90 - but I was underwhelmed. It's a blend of 40% Malbec, 30% Merlot and 30% Cab, but I could hardly tell. To me it was just a generic "international style" wine; soft, easy drinking and nondescript. Reminded me of the High Trellis and the Gnarly Old Vine Zin (though the Privada is a bit better balanced than the Zin - not quite as cloying). What's going on? Am I becoming a Euro-wine snob, always moaning about how new world wines just don't have 'elegance' and 'terroir'? Well, I am what I am, as Popeye said. Nothing really wrong with this style, though it doesn't appeal to me. But if this is a style you like, I'd say you might as well save a few bucks and go for the High Trellis instead. Jancis Robinson gave it a 16.5/20, which I think is more reasonable than the WS score. I gave the High Trellis 3/5 for value, but this one is just a few dollars more and I'm feeling a bit cranky, so I'm going to give this one 2/5, though it's a close call. For better value from the same producers, try their Barbera. Kelly tasted it blind and agreed with me on the score.

Price: $28.29
Value: 2/5
Score: 86
Alcohol: 14.5%
Tasted: Sept 2008
ANBL UPC: 7792319678027