We had a couple of wines we wanted to try so we had our friend Dave over last night for a BBQ and wine tasting. The wines are from completely different parts of the world but we still felt they would be good to match against each other. They were a Malbec from Argentina and a Bordeaux from St. Emilion in France. You may think this is a strange combination to try together but they are both big, rich wines and should pair well with the charcoal grilled pork chops.
2007 Alta Vista Terroir Selection Malbec
This wine is from Mendoza, Argentina with 85% of the grapes from the Uco Valley and the rest from Luján de Cuyo from vineyards at 3200 feet and higher. Yields are limited with about one bottle of wine per vine. The name “Terroir Selection” refers to the fact the wine was made from grapes from four different vineyards. The Temis and Albaneve vineyards in the Uco Valley and the Serenade and Alizarine vineyards in Luján de Cuyo.
The wine was a dark ruby color with smoke, dark fruit and a hint of vanilla and spice in the nose. In the flavor there was big rich dark fruit and some rubber tire or asphalt as you often get with Malbec from Argentina. The tannins were big and grippy, this wine could age several more years without a problem. The finish was of moderate length with flavor and tannins.
2009 Chateau Fonplégade Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
From the right bank in Bordeaux the Chateau Fonplégade is 91% Merlot, 7% cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. This blend reflects the percentages of the grapes grown in their 18 hectares (44 acres) of vineyards. After picking, the wine is aged in new French oak for 18 to 24 months. Chateau Fonplégade is completely hand farmed and organic, no chemicals are used. At the same time they are using modern techniques in farming and wine making in a recently renovated facility.
This wine was also a dark ruby like the Malbec. You really could not tell them apart without smelling or tasting them. The nose had ripe dark fruit and some mint or menthol. The flavors were dark ripe fruit with leather and tobacco. There were plenty of grippy tannins along with a roundness in the mouth. The wine finished long and flavorful. While very good now I would like to try this wine again in a few years and see how it is when the tannins mellow a little.
While each wine had a distinct flavor profile both of these wines were very good, big, richly flavored wines and went well with the pork chops. The tannins in both wines became more civilized with the meat. I think they would do even better with a grilled steak, they can stand up to whatever you want to pair them with.
Disclaimer: These wines were provided as tasting samples.
