Malbec World Day Wine tasting - 20.04.2022

 "Malbec Argentino's got range!"

After a two-year hiatus, the Embassy of the Argentine Republic re-hosted the Malbec World Day Wine Tasting.

The first World Malbec Day was held on April 17, 2011.

The event was hosted by the Aurea Ana Palace Hotel.

Argentina is the fifth largest wine-producing country in the world, still with huge potential, highlighted by its high quality and internationally acclaimed awards. 

The New World region is best known for its full-bodied and fruity style of malbec. 75% of the world's malbec production is in Argentina.

Wine culture is a very important part of Argentina’s cultural heritage, defining its identity as one of the world’s major wine-producing, consuming and exporting countries. Its tradition of more than 400 years unites the new and old wine worlds.

Malbec  (cöt)

It is native to the Cahors area of ​​southwestern France, but was not considered an important variety until it became fashionable in Argentina.

 

 The country's top wines range from vintage, quality and method of oak barrel maturation to fruit juice, tart raspberries to rich blueberry and sweet tobacco flavors.

 

The malbece was taken to Argentina by Michel A. Pouget in 1852. The French agronomist did this on behalf of the Argentine state. Today it is widespread in all the country's wine regions, but most of it is in Mendoza, where 85% of the country's Malbec wines are produced. In Argentina, wine enjoys origin-protected status in certain areas, the first of which was the Malbec Luján de Cuyo DOC.

 

 Most of the Argentine malbec grows around Mendoza.

And the best wines come from the high-altitude areas of the Uco Valley and Lujan de Cuyo. 

The most common styles are:

Base malbec

The more fruity variety of malbec has balanced tannic acids and dominant red berry fruity flavors, and has not been aged or not a little in oak barrels.

Reserve malbec

High-end malbec wines are further aged in oak barrels and have several black fruity, chocolatey, sweet smokers and breaths of wild iris flavors.

 

In Argentina, malbec will have a higher tannins and acidity content and will have more herbal and floral flavors.

In France, malbec grows mainly around Cahors in the southwest, where it is called auxerrios brain cot noir. This wine with an earthy profile is quite different from the Argentine malbecs. 

 Expect more tannic acid and more red and black berries with fruity, smoky and bear-sugar flavors.

 

The event was opened by a speech by the Ambassador of the Argentine Republic, Mr. Herman Patino Mayer.  Photo: Balint Hirling

 

After the opening ceremony, wine tasting began.

 

Photo: Bálint Hirling

First we discovered  the Zombory Cellar. 

The winery also produces grapes and wines in Tokaj and Argentina.

The winery brought two items to the event.

 

Trez Reserva Malbec 2018

Extremely elegant and full-bodied Malbec. One of Mendoza's best wines.

Deep purple grin in color. In its aroma, ripe plums, blueberries, sour cherries, black currants, dark chocolate, noble oak. In taste, full-bodied, ripe black fruits. Velvetiness.

14 months aged in new oak barrels and 6 months in bottles.

I feel it was a good start to start with this item.

Trez Vivante Malbec 2019

Malbec with good complexity, rich in fruity character. In its aroma, sour cherries, plums, currants, slightly spicy. Medium-bodied, soft tannins, dark chocolate taste.
6 months in French barrels and 6 months in bottles aged lot.
This wine was an exciting taste experience for me. It would be nice to taste it again.

You can buy the items in the winery's webshop.

 

 

The second one was tasted at the Haraszthy winery. 

The winery grows and prepares malbec varietal wines.

The wines of their Fantástico wine family are made only in the outstanding vintage from selected raw materials. They usually mature to consumption by the age of 3 years.

Fantástico Malbec 2019

It carries with it the most beautiful qualities of the Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties.

The soul of Argentina appears in this wine.

It draws attention to itself with the originality and vitality of the wine. It is characterized by an intense, deep violet color. In addition to the serious, sweet tannins, vanilla, pepper, dry figs, plum jam and black currants can be found. 

First, we can observe a strong spicyness, then a chocolate finish in the wine. 

Icon Malbec

 

Then we visited the WineAge.

At this booth, 4 items invited the audience to taste.

The wines were also tasted at the Achaval Ferrer Malbec 2019 master class.

 

Portillo Malbec

Its color is dark ruby red, violet. Its aromas range from blackberries and plums to boiled fruits and jam notes. Soft and warm character, delicate tannins. We can feel intense fruitiness in the long aftershave.

Callia 2020

In its aroma you can feel red orchard, plum town signs. It also tastes like vanilla and small chocolate. In the mouth is durable, slightly sweet, firm. 

 
Salentein Primus Malbec 2018

The winery's flag winery.

It is a wine with a large body and serious intrinsic values.

Rich fruitiness, especially ripe plum notes dominate both the smell and the sip. Firm, elegant barrel spices appear next to the jam notes of fruits.

 

 

During the wine tasting, of course, it was possible to take snack snacks and minerals to make the tasting easier.

After reading the QR code, we got the pdf presenting Malbec wine.

Wine food pairing!

During the evening we had the opportunity to take part in a Master class on three occasions, which we enjoyed in the informal presentation of wine expert Ágnes Herczeg.

 

 Agnes is pouring into my glass from the Kaiken malbec. :)

 

By tasting the items one after the other, the differences between the items became immediately felt.

After filling the wines in glasses, our task was to get to know the wines one after the other, which one of us like, sniffing and tasting them one after the other, what impression they give us.

It was a great experience, as they all showed different characters in color, smell and taste.

During the half-hour tasting, Ágnes also spoke about the Malbec region, the wines made there and the diversity of Argentine wines.

In the master class we could delve into the following items.

Luigi Bosca Insignia Malbec 2019 

UCO VALLEY - LUJAN DE CUJO 900-1100 MÉTER

Manual harvesting from vines of an average of 35 years, sorting clusters, berries, and then sorting berries. Cold macaration for 3-5 days at 10-15°C, then controlled fermentation in smaller steel containers with selected yeast. Malic acid breakdown in new oak barrels, maturation in the same place for 12-14 months. After cleaning and filtering, it is put on the market after another 6 months of bottle maturation.

Kaiken Estate Malbec 2019  

LUJAN DE CUJO 950 MÉTER

Manual harvesting, sorting, berrying, and then controlled fermentation in smaller steel containers. 50% of the wine spends 8 months in small French oak barrels, the other 50% is made completely reductively due to the retention of the buns. Bottled after cleaning, filtering. 13,8 % alcohol

 

Terrazas Malbec 2018 

UCO VALLEY 1.070 - 1.630 MÉTER

Manual harvest from 20-90 year old vines, cluster sorting, berrying, then gentle crushing. Guided fermentation, then 40% of the wine matures in 4th-filled French oak barrels for 12 months. After cleaning and filtering, it is put on the market after another 6 months of bottle maturation. 14% alcohol

Zuccardi Concreto Malbec 2018 

UCO VALLEY 1100 MÉTER

Manual harvest from 20-90 year old vines, cluster sorting, berrying, then gentle crushing. Guided fermentation, then 40% of the wine matures in 4th-filled French oak barrels for 12 months. After cleaning and filtering, it is put on the market after another 6 months of bottle maturation. 14% alcohol

 

Catena Malbec 2019 

UCO VALLEY - LUJAN DE CUJO 920-1.450 MÉTER 

Manual harvesting, sorting of clusters, then cold macaration for 5 days at 8.8°C, then spontaneous fermentation in smaller steel tanks. Malic acid breakdown in oak barrels, maturation in the same place for 12 months, depending on the wine and vintage, the proportion of use of first, second and third-filling barrels. After cleaning and filtering, it is put on the market after another 6 months of bottle maturation. 13,5 % alcohol

 

Achaval Ferrer Malbec 2019 

UCO VALLEY - LUJAN DE CUJO 850-1100 MÉTER

Manual harvesting, sorting, then directed fermentation with selected yeast in concrete containers. Malic acid breakdown used in oak barrels, ripening in the same place for 8 months. 14,5 % alcohol

 

I liked Terrazas Malbec 2018 and Zuccardi Concreto Malbec 2018. In their smell there was a little animacity, in their taste there was a strong body, spiciness.

 

It was a special pleasure for me to taste it together with Judit Stahl in the master class.

Judit Stahl also participated in the wine tasting!  Photo: Balint Hirling

 After the great master class, two more exhibitor awaited us.

Heinemann Brothers

Since their establishment in 1992, it has been a major player in the Hungarian quality beverage market. The company has been selling wine for 15 years.

 

The Catena Zapata movement was also tasted in the master class. 

To our surprise, we were able to taste a white batch at this booth.

 

Colomé Torrontés

In the smell of roses, citrusiness, grapefruit with a little spiciness. Very fresh feel, large body with a long, elegant finish.

 

 

 Amalaya Malbec 2020

 

20-25% of the total lot was matured in oak barrels. Its color is glittering ruby red. In its aroma red berries, cherries, raspberries, with some vanilla in the background. It's a full-bodied wine. The fruity character dominates its taste, too, with plums and mineral notes. Its aftertaste is long, its tannins are velvety.

 

 

Colomé Estate Malbec 2019 

 

Our theorem belongs to a Cuve. Its aroma is dominated by succulent notes of blackberries and cherries. It features a robust, full body, smooth but firm tannins and a long, complex finish with plenty of spices.

 

 

Lafite Amancaya Gran Reserva 2019

Wine of deep crimson color with a fruity smell. Red and black cherries with the aroma of black plums, traces of mint and cedar. Beautiful round tannins can be felt on the palate. Vanilla and tobacco leaf notes come from the French oak tree.

 

Wines from Colomé, Amalaya, Bodegas Caro, Catena wineries in the tasting line.

 Finally, we got to know the wines at the Wine Mission stand.

 

 

 The wines came from the Zuccard winery for the event.

 

Fuzion Malbec 2020

 

Purple color with a lot of red fruit aromas. Vibrant, fruity red wine with a hint of cherry character.

Zuccardi Serie A Malbec 2018

 

Grapes are fermented in concrete tubs and 500 liters of French oak barrels. 10 months before bottling with barrel maturation. Its aroma is filled with succulent blueberries, plums and cherry notes, followed by more delicate notes of spiciness, toasted oak and dark chocolate. In taste, it has a generous full body, hard tannins and a silky smooth texture that ends with a medium-long finish.  
 

 

 

Zuccardi Jose Zuccardi Malbec 2016 

 

To preserve the variety character and essence of terroir, the fruit is fermented in concrete containers, and then ripened in a mixture of large barrels of 2500 liters and 500 liters for 24 months. This procedure minimizes the effect of oak, allowing shades of rich dark fruits and notes of violets, black pepper and dried fruit. Excellent wine with a delicious steak, or even kept in the cellar for a few years.

 

Zuccardi Poligonos del Valle de Uco Paraje Altamira Malbec (2018)

It is named after the grandfather of winemaker Sebastián Zuccardi, Alberto (Tito).

Together we were fermented Malbec and Cabernet Franc items.
It smells like dark berries, violets, which are reflected in their taste. Balanced theorem.
Fresh, faint smoke and clove notes.

By the time we finished at this booth, the tasting was slowly coming to an end.

 

We were able to take part in a more memorable high-quality event. We could taste fantastic items, all of them were presented by a great expert at the exhibitor. The organizers made sure that there was always a clean glass and water. Sandwich tables were constantly filled.

 

The Embassy would like to be able to raise awareness of the quality of Argentine wines with this event and in the near future, to create new business opportunities and to bring Argentine wines to an even wider audience.

Thank you for the invitation!