Carinae, Malbec 2012, Mendoza, Argentina

Tasting Note: This malbec tastes purple.

I wondered why this winery, owned by a cute French couple who run it in mom-and-pop style, seemed so popular when I visited Argentina.  Now I taste and understand why it so revered among malbec styles produced in Mendoza.

Smooth fruit, with slightly more acidity than is common for the region – a pleasing characteristic. Leggy. Delicious. A definite French style expresses itself mid-way down your tongue. This wine craves food and is comforting and elegant in expression like a well-loved, well-crafted sweater.

I wonder how extensive their distribution is to end up on my neighborhood corner? This malbec is definitely a must-try that my basement floor will see more of soon. Oh yeah, and this blend was made with consulting help from flying winemaker Michel Rolland. So if you find you like this wine, you may want to look for others made under his tutelage in Argentina and around the world.

Bottle Note: Carinae (Latin: from Carina). Carina – one of the most stunning constellations in the southern sky, situated in the milk way – is comprised of a multitude of stars. Carina looks down upon our vineyards every night during harvest. This wine was crafted exclusively from grapes harvested in vineyards. It reveals the intense berry aromas that are typical of this variety. It is intended to be consumed young. Wine making consultant Michel Rolland and his team bring years of experience in crafting wines of complexity and elegance to the wines of Carinae.