Washington Malbec v. Mendoza

Let's kickoff the new year in Argentina.  Those are the words you are likely to hear from a wine drinker that favors Malbec.  Those are also the words you are likely to hear from many professional road cyclists at this time of year.

One of the first popular stage races of the year takes place in Argentina.  The warmer weather makes it a great place for the pros to start their race schedule as they build toward their season's major race objectives that will take place in Italy, France or Spain.

The Tour de San Luis gives the riders a chance to knock the rust off and begin to put some race miles into their legs.  It also gives us a great chance to see how Washington Malbec stacks up against Argentinian Malbec.

Argentina has become the new home of Malbec ever since France dropped Malbec like a bike racer that just failed their latest out of competition drug test.

On to our first Lucha Vino challenge of the new year.  Where, neither of the combatants have failed a drug test (at least as far as we know...).

2008 Nota Bena Malbec vs. 2010 Achaval Ferrer Mendoza Malbec

WA Malbec v. Argentina

Last Thursday was World Malbec Day.  It was also a day when the pro cyclists were resting their legs and getting ready for Amstel Gold, the first hilly Spring Classic.  If you look at the profile of this race in the Ardennes region you might think you were looking at a well used comb!  This race had over 20 climbs.  Each one has a name and a certain character.  Most are short, with at least one brutally steep section.  For example, the Keutenberg has sections with grades of 20%

The three one day races that make up the Ardennes Classics are often a war of attrition with the winner typically making a powerful move on one of the final climbs.  This year's Amstel Gold followed the formula and former World Champion Phillipe Gilbert made the winning move on the final ascent of the Cauberg to take his third Amstel Gold victory.

There aren't many wines being made in the Ardennes region of Belgium.  So, this week the Lucha Vino challenge features two Malbecs battling it out in honor of World Malbec Day.

Olsen Estates 2009 Malbec v. Bodega Goulart Clasico 2011 Malbec

Washington Malbec v. Argentina

The Giro d’ Italia starts this weekend.  It is a race with great national pride and Italian’s are always motivated to win their country’s championship.

Just like the Giro, the Malbec grape is the source of great national pride.  Not in France where the grape originated.  No, the nation that prides itself on Malbec is Argentina.  Argentina has adopted the Malbec grape and made it the king variety of their country.

To honor the pride of Argentina (and Malbec Day) this week’s challenge features Malbec Madness.  In a match that sees the opponents going to extremes similar to Mad Magazine’s Spy vs. Spy we have Washington vs. Argentina.

2009 Laurelhurst Cellars Malbec v. 2010 Hand of God Old Vine Malbec

Washington Malbec v. Argentina

The pro racers stayed South of the equator visiting Argentina for the Tour de San Luis  These early season races are an opportunity for the established racers to work on their form and for the youngsters to show people what they've got.  It is also a time when some of the lower level teams get their one chance during the season to match up with the big dogs.

This year the overall race winner was Daniel Diaz, a local pro from Argentina.

This week's challenge visits Argentina and celebrates the local's victory with a bit of Malbec mayhem.

Flying Trout Malbec v. 2007 Lamadrid Gran Reserva Malbec

Washington Malbec v. Argentina

This is the time of year that the pro riders are looking for warmer places to ride.  Like the Malbec grape, many riders are heading South.

Malbec has migrated South from France and setup shop in Argentina in the last half-century.  At the present time many people associate Malbec with Argentina rather than its original home in France.  While Malbec is typically a blending grape in most parts of the world, it is often seen as a single varietal in Argentina and more recently in Washington.

This week's matchup features a Washington Malbec taking on a Southern Hemisphere challenger from Argentina.

2008 Gamache Estate Malbec v. 2006 Rutini Malbec

Washington Malbec v. France

This week is the lead in to the Giro d' Italia which starts on Saturday.  We have a smaller 5 day race known as the Four Days of Dunkirk happening in Northern France at the beginning of the week and that is how I chose this week's luchadors.  Why is a 5 day race known as the Four Days of Dunkirk?  Good question.  I hear the race organizer is not very good at math.  Now on to the match.

Washington State Malbec v. France Loire Valley Cot

2008 Tildio Columbia Valley Malbec v. 2007 Domaine Ricard Touraine Le Vilain P'tit Rouge 

Tale of the tape

2007 Domaine Ricard

From the Touraine AOC in the Loire Valley of France.  90% Cot and 10% Cabernet Franc
Purchased for $11.99 from Garagiste.

2008 Tildio Columbia Valley Malbec
Mysterious, the winery's website is not displaying any details about the 2008 Malbec.
Purchased for $21 through the Tildio Wine Club.

Round 1.  First Opening:

The Domaine Ricard is showing some bright dark berry with a bit of leather and must on the nose with a slightly chewy tannin dark fruit body that leads to an acidic tart cedar finish.

The Tildio is demonstrating a nose of black cherry. logan berry. currant, some creamy spice and a bit of peat bog and smoke.  The palate is dark currant and a slightly dry acidic finish that blows off pretty quickly with air.

Stepping into the ring the Tildio is already threatening to dominate the competition.  Tildio is big and round.  Our French Luchador appears to be very uptight.  Perphaps there will be more to the Domaine Ricard in the later rounds.  In round one it is Pretty small and slightly frail.

Round 1 goes to Tildio.

Round 2.  One hour after Opening:

The Domaine Ricard has a nose of dark fruit, sour mineral and a bit of leather with similarly tart palate that is still pretty tight with some interesting notes of grapefruit on the palate and finish.

The Tildio has a nose of currant and cedar spice with some semi sweet chocolate.  The palate is black cherry, bitter cocoa and a tart cedar finish with some vanilla and light caramel.

The Domaine Ricard is still cowering not showing much depth of character.  The Tildio is building toward something that hints at a total body slam in the third round.  Let's see what happens.

Round 2 goes to Tildio.

Round 3. One day later

The Domaine Ricard has turned away from the challenge.  The nose is red fruit with some berry and floral notes.  The palate is watery red berry and tart current with the strange grapefruit character showing on the palate and finish.

The Tildio is still building, stepping into the ring flexing its muscles, with a nose of rich dark currant, some spice and cocoa.  The palate is similar with current and hints of cocoa

Round 3 goes to Tildio.

Wrap up and over all observations

This match was totally dominated by the Tildio Malbec from the Columbia Valley in Washington state.  The Domaine Ricard never opened up.  It remained small and really seemed to be intimated by the larger Luchador from Washington.

To be fair to our French contestant, this might have just been an off day (or off bottle).  My tasting notes from a previous bottle showed very different character.  Prior notes: Nose of blueberry, raspberry and currant with undertones of smoke, peat and hints of pepper.  The palate is dark red fruit accented by cedar and leather that leads to a long finish.

On this day, I would rate the Domaine Ricard an 84 and the Tildio an 87.

Oh well, C'est la vie...