Tasting - La Posta Cocina Malbec

Name: La Posta

Variety: Malbec

Region: Cuyo

Country: Argentina

Year: 2011

Price: $14.95

Winery Review: "The 2011 Cocina Malbec is from La Consulta, Altamira, and Vista Flores in the Uco Valley and sees some French and American oak (20% new). It has a tight nose of black cherry and boysenberry fruit with hints of violet. The palate is medium-bodied with full tannins. The finish is smooth and there are some pleasant mulberry and dark plum notes on the aftertaste. This constitutes easy-drinking Malbec. Drink now."

My review: The aroma, like the previous Dom de la Guicharde, was bitter and hinted of cherry. It was potent in an unusually petroleum-like sense for lack of a better way to describe it. The wine itself had a smooth texture as it ran down my soft palate, but also similar to the Dom it took my taste buds by surprise with a slightly abrasive acidity. It was not an acidity from a citrus fruit, but more of like the acidity from a pomegranate seed. There was a grainy quality to it, and it was as if it was taking the time to rub over each of my taste buds. It had a full weight that I could imagine pairing with a thick, medium rare steak (even though I did not have one on hand at the time of the tasting!). I did not enjoy this wine as much as the previous Domaine de la Guicharde, however I am having trouble explaining why. I am hoping that by the end of this course, I will be able to better articulate my preferences... but it is still early in the semester and I have time to refine my olfactory senses.