The demands of work and family once again dashed the hopes of a summer world tour for this Rampant Oenophile, so I've been trying to drink my way around the globe. So far, I've visited Europe, South Africa, South America, and America's Pacific Coast including Northern California, Washington, and Oregon. But, South America, Chile and Argentina specifically, are earning a special place in my gastronomic heart.
Several Malbec's have delighted my dinner table this summer, and the Terrazas Reserva Malbec 2005 certainly earned high marks for dining and drinking enjoyment.
Malbec, Spanish for "bad grape," which translated means "it's very bad if you can't find more of this grape," typically presents a fruit forward, intense, somewhat spicy bouquet and flavor.
The Terrazas Reserva opens well. Fruit, spice, and leather literally filled my dining room over the weekend even before I poured the first glass. My friends delighted at the intense red and purple tones in the bowl of the glass.
Like the Stella Maris, a deep breath of this wine reveals leather and saddle. I also noticed a light hint of wood, but not the oak that I expected. It's more subtle and mellow, like a warm cedar closet on a cool evening. Very welcoming and safe.
I paired the wine with great steaks and spicy sauces, so the Terrazas couldn't hide among all of those intense flavors. The Reserva surprised my guests with its rich structures. Everyone enjoyed finding different fruits and spices in the wonderful complexity of the wine.
I enjoyed the full body and lavish texture. The leather and saddle of the nose give way to rich fruits and silky caramel on the tongue. Terrazas Reserva finishes with fruits and spice that elevated our meal very well.
At just $15-$18 a bottle, and available in local and online wine shops as well as good grocers, the Terrazas Reserva Malbec 2005 certainly earned a spot in my wine rack. I think that I'll need to extend my trip to Argentina to find more of these excellent bad grapes before the summer ends.
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