Malbec – A Bird's Eye View of Fashion, Food, Travel, Culture, Beverage and Curiosity

RKS 2025 Wine: Jaque Mate 2019 Malbec Reserva

A Pavlovian reaction to “Wine/Argentina” might be “Malbec”! And upon shouting out “Malbec” a response might be Mendoza and if so what can go wrong with a Mendoza Malbec except perhaps for a growing sense of Malbec fatigue. Jaque Mate is from a Luján de Cuyo vineyard at approximately 870 meters altitude. The 25-year-old vinesContinue reading “RKS 2025 Wine: Jaque Mate 2019 Malbec Reserva”

RKS 2025 Wine: Armenian Wine: A Daring Move by The Liquor Control Board of Ontario!

Shame on you who decry the monopolistic Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO)! The “Control” in the corporate name shouts out a paternalistic and profitable heart. The LCBO wants to control what you drink reducing its administrative and business costs as much as possible to maximize profits. No expensive forays into new wine markets onlyContinue reading “RKS 2025 Wine: Armenian Wine: A Daring Move by The Liquor Control Board of Ontario!”

RKS 2024 Wine: The Pavlovian Dog Barking Up the Wrong Tree

Many hearing “Malbec” salivate and bark up the Argentinian tree forgetting or not knowing that Malbec can be found in France. In fact it is one of the permitted grapes for red Bordeaux and has quite a reputation in the Cahors appellation for quality and ageability. Let’s give Prieuré de Cénac Malbec from the CahorsContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: The Pavlovian Dog Barking Up the Wrong Tree”

RKS 2024 Wine: Susana Balbo Rarely Gets Her Malbec Wrong

We try a Susana Balbo 2022 Signature Malbec. 96% Malbec and 4% Petit Verdot. From grapes grown at 1150 meters and aged for 13 months in French oak. Aroma: This wine, verging on purplish, flashes its blackberry, blueberry, black cherry and lavender soul in a smoky frame. Classic lush and plush Malbec. Palate: Smooth andContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Susana Balbo Rarely Gets Her Malbec Wrong”

RKS 2024 Wine: Trivento Golden Reserve 2021 Malbec: Attack of the Killer Blackberries

I had finished watching and reviewing an upcoming film “Pure O”. In this American film the protagonist battles with OCD including obsessing on hacking up his fiancé and being terminally ill with cancer somewhat heavier than Glenn Gould’s obsessive handwashing. “Pure O” will be released digitally on 12April2024 in North America and the United Kingdom.Continue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Trivento Golden Reserve 2021 Malbec: Attack of the Killer Blackberries”

RKS 2024 Wine: Bonarda A Second Fiddle to Malbec? Break Free from Malbec Hegemony!

In New Zealand Pinot Gris plays second fiddle to Sauvignon Blanc. In Argentina Bonarda plays second fiddle to Malbec. Don’t confuse volume of exports as the beacon for quality. Both Bonarda and Pinot Gris have their strong points but are they being trampled by retail stampedes (perhaps right over the cliff)? Location of vineyard isContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: Bonarda A Second Fiddle to Malbec? Break Free from Malbec Hegemony!”

RKS Wine: Valle de Uco Site of The Best Argentinian Malbec?

I recall when living in Montreal at the corner depanneur you could buy a gallon of a red wine called “Malbec” bottled by the SAQ. Goodness knows if it was even made from Malbec grapes and what country it came from. Those corner store wines were never very good. Of course, such could not existContinue reading “RKS Wine: Valle de Uco Site of The Best Argentinian Malbec?”

RKS Wine: Same Grape but Different Countries: Malbec from Argentina and France; Julie Andrews vs. Marylin Monroe?

There is nothing like travelling on a wine media tour to really understand the grapes of a country or region. I have yet to visit Argentina or Cahors in France to make insightful general comparisons on their differing styles of Malbec. But I’ll try and see where my general experience leads us. Argentinian Malbecs producedContinue reading “RKS Wine: Same Grape but Different Countries: Malbec from Argentina and France; Julie Andrews vs. Marylin Monroe?”