Comments on: A beverage breakthrough for neo-neocon

By: waltj

waltj — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:07:38 +0000

Hmm, have a bottle of Malbec sitting in my wine rack right now. Picked it up fairly cheap a couple of months back without really knowing what it was, but I’d never tried Argentine wine before so I figured what the heck. Now, I’m looking forward to trying it. Tomorrow at (Christmas) dinner.

By: Ozyripus

Ozyripus — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 00:24:22 +0000

How nice it is to have been ahead of the Eastern crowd, when the value of an ignored, merely West coast selection has been discovered. A few years ago, I had been telling my few friends who appreciated wine, in this still-civilizing western town, that Argentinian Malbec was a steal of a treat!

Trader Joe’s had not too long before extended its outposts from trend-creating California into this rustic, neighboring territory. When I saw cheap (yes, cheap!) Argentinian Malbec on the shelf, I thought of stories of the vineyards of the desertic eastern slopes of the Andes that had been told to me by a close Argentinian friend. One trial convinced me; it’s not a really heavy red, but a beautifully brisk and full taste, as I should have expected from the informant.

But beware, as others have correctly mentioned, provenance seems to be everything, down to the label (winery). I prefer the “El Portillo” label; I have yet to find a better Chilean label, though I prefer their politics.

By: Lurch

Lurch — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:42:49 +0000

Try some of the reds from Washington State. Beats California hands down.

By: Artfldgr

Artfldgr — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:11:33 +0000

with all the alcohol delivery systems there is bound to be one that someone would like…

its like dirty underwear politics… keep throwing it at the wall and eventually you will find something sticks.

By: dane

dane — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 13:41:32 +0000

I think the same people that sit around and write the descriptions for the wines are the same people that dream up pint color names – a lot of time they bear no relation to what they look (or taste) like but they sound appealing. I’m the same as doom – if I like it I will drink it. I continue on my quest to find the best bottle of wine under $10. The great thing about this is that it constantly changes. Again the law of supply and demand. A bottle currently at $7 will be over $10 next year if it is good – but there are always new contenders entering the marketplace. Granted I end up with some bottles here or there that I take a sip of and relegate the rest to my next recipe that calls for some red or white (unless it is the rare bottle that I use instead of Draino). Still it is fun and not too expensive and I have made some wonderful discoveries along the way.

By: Doom

Doom — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 07:11:57 +0000

Hmm, sounds good. I do like wine, though I have no idea as a sampler. I either like it or not. I rarely sense the plum, or black cherry, or whatever, and I often disagree with what the “pro’s” like, to a degree. Still, I love to see a real human find something interesting and pass that along. I will have to see if I can find such a wine.

You peaked my curiosity. Thanks! I might have to try a tempranillo too. Foods and drink are so fun to explore. Once in a while something special, if only for a while, is found. Thanks again.

By: Thomass

Thomass — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 05:51:35 +0000

Dane was onto a good point. This grape just might not come out as well in Europe and/or France. Got your weather, irrigation practices, soil (which breaks into a ton of variables itself), et cetera….

Same deal with other plants. Grow an onion in a place with low sulfur and it comes out sweet instead of strong. Grow a Hungarian pepper in Hungary and it has flavor while in the US it tastes like a bell pepper (re: nothing)…

By: Lem

Lem — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 03:28:50 +0000

Good for you Neo.

By: AWToday 21/12/08 « AWToday

AWToday 21/12/08 « AWToday — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 01:05:06 +0000

[...] neo-neocon » Blog Archive » A beverage breakthrough for neo-neocon Malbec has found renewed acclaim and initial glory in the sun-drenched climate of Argentina. This is Argentina’s signature grape and it is quickly making a new name for itself with red wine lovers….Malbecis typically a medium to … neo-neocon – http://neoneocon.com/ [...]

By: Trimegistus

Trimegistus — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:04:53 +0000

Malbec is the only wine I drink with beef. Those Argentines know their stuff. It’s like steak in a glass.

Interesting factoid: Argentina produces more wine than Italy, but only started exporting a few years ago. Before that, they drank it all themselves!