Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Celebrate World Malbec Day with a glass of Malbec from Argentina - or France!

Did you know it's World Malbec Day today - April 17?

Neither did I until a few weeks ago!  But it's a great idea, because Malbec is a wonderful grape that deserves it's own day.

Malbec Day has only happened the last two years and it may create a trend - of course, there are almost enough grape varietals for the 365 days of the year!
Norton

Colome
I recommend celebrating with Norton's Malbec Reserva 2010 from Argentina's Mendoza region - a fabulous wine that is both very reasonably priced at just $17.99 [on sale by $2 right now], very accessible with over 1,200 bottles in BC Liquor Stores and also in some private stores and best of all - it is #51 on the Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2012 - rated at 91 points out of a possible 100!

I enjoyed a bottle a few days ago and it is a remarkable value, full of berry, plum and smoky flavours.

But for my own Malbec Day dinner I'm going with another great 91 point wine - the Bodega Colome Estate Grand Altura 2010 from the Calchaqui Valley in Argentina - which the Wine Spectator promises is a suave, racy wine that will deliver game, crushed cherry and wild berry notes - all for $30 from BC Liquor Stores, who have only 176 bottles left!

Happy Malbec Day!

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Sunday, April 14, 2013

Number 3 of Top 100 Wines of the Year available still in British Columbia!

Two Hands Bella's Garden Barossa Valley Shiraz still on LDB shelves - 95 point wine ranked as #3 on Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2012

Many people in BC like to think of themselves as wine experts and savvy collectors - so why is one of the very best wines in the world still on BC Liquor Store shelves?

Not only is it #3 on the Wine Spectator's Top 100 of 2012, it was also rated 95 points by Robert Parker, the other key wine critic in the world.

At $80 clearly it's not cheap but neither was the extremely expensive 2009 Bordeaux [well overpriced in my opinion -and near impossible to get because of hyped frenzy buying].

And lots of cult California cabernets and other wines fly off the shelves - but this fabulous wine that I have enjoyed in previous and also highly rated vintages can still be found - 101 bottles are still listed in BC, including 55 in Metro Vancouver - though none in the city itself.

My advice?  Don't delay - some smart restaurant may just buy up the whole supply - and then charge $160 to $240 a bottle for this masterpiece!

And I've already got mine in the cellar!