cahors malbec

The 2003 French Cahors is pleasant, consistent Malbec from Georges Vigouroux that is hard to beat for $12. The region is an ancient wine region renowned for it's dark black wines in the Southwest of France. It is a blended wine made primarily with Malbec. Wines from this area have rustic, dark, full flavors that are perfect for the coming winter. Imagine drinking this beautiful bottle in front of a wood fire with a dinner of steak and potatoes. That's my approach anyway.

I love this wine. Even though 2003 was an extremely hot vintange in Europe, the heat wave did good things for many wines. In this wine you get deep color, aromas of blackberry and wood. Still young, this is a big wine with an acidic tightness. I've had it before and will again. Aging wouldn't hurt it either.

marti fabra grenache

Marti Fabra Seleccio 2002 is one of the great Spanish reds made with hand selected grapes from old estate vines (50-80 yrs old) in the Carignan area. The soils are poor like you want them to be on weathered shale and Jorge Ordonez and company blend this wine to excellence.

70% Grenache
10% Carignan
10% Tempranillo
5% Syrah
5% Cabernet Sauvignon

Aging for 8 months in Allier French oak barrels in the cellar of the country house doesn't just make for a nice story, the wine shows the care it is given by the Carreras family.

Nose: Big aromas of sweet black cherry, rose perfume, clean with pronounced spiciness

Color: Deep garnet like a dark red lipstick, almost opaque

Taste: Developed smooth velvet mouth, round tannins, light mineral tasting, with burnt cherry fruit on the back of the palette, and medium acid. The French oak comes out in the bright vanilla overtones, good length with a lingering pleasant acid and fruit that reminds you to take another drink.