Dona Paula Estate Malbec 2011
Malbec originates in South West France, particularly around Cahors (where it is called Cot or Auxerrois), but is also found occasionally in the wines of Bordeaux; eg in the wines of Cotes-de-Bourg and Blaye. Cahors wines are still made from the grape and they can be delicious (if occasionally a little rustic), but it is to Argentina that we turn to for Malbe these days — and rightly so given the delicious wines it produces at all price levels.
Malbec was first planted in Argentina in 1853 and in the hands of Italian and French immigrants, and thanks to the sunny climate, it soon thrived. This is a rather thin skinned grape but it can produce wines of intense colour and with an aromatic richness that I find hard to resist.
