Swill or Swell: Episode 11

Amancay Malbec Reserve

watch the episode here

Welcome to Swill or Swell, a weekly series where I taste grocery store wines and let you know if they’re worth the buck or just meant for the drain!

​CAVEAT! As you read this, please keep in mind that wine is subjective! This means that everyone enjoys different things and something I like might not be something you like and vice versa. I’ll be as objective as I can with facts about the wine’s quality, but in the end if your opinion differs from mine...that’s perfectly fine! Wine is only worth drinking if YOU like drinking it!

LET’S INTRODUCE THE WINE

Today I’ll be tasting 2019 Amancay Malbec.

​I purchased from Trader Joe’s for $7.99 and chose this wine in particular because I thought it would be a great burger/grilled steak wine to be on the lookout for next summer.

AMANCAY MALBEC FUN FACTS

Let’s start with a little about the varietal, Malbec.
- Malbec originated in France but made a home for itself in Argentina
- This varietal makes up 75% of plantings in Argentina
- Higher elevation gives this varietal more acidity
- This is one of those grapes you can tell by almost color alone. It’s a unique deep purple color with a bright magenta tinted rim.

​Now let’s talk a little about the Uco Valley Region in Argentina.
- Located in Mendoza, this region is home to several of Argentina's top producers
- There is a high elevation at the foot of the Andes mountains which adds to its diurnal temperature
- This region of Argentina is equivalent to Napa! Wine tourism is becoming one of the region's key industries.

WINE TASTING NOTES

Look: Deep bold purple/ruby, magenta rim
Smell: Dark fruit, a little mint, a little spice and a hint of a green vegetal note, dark fruit (blueberry, blackberry), pomegranate, tobacco  
Taste: Acidity? Tannin? Alcohol? Body?
Think:
Food Pairing -  Blue Cheese (brings out the fruitiness), Burger over steak, especially a leaner meat (turkey?) as this is a bit lighter than I expected
Occasion - Dinner party with friends or family, trying to stay warm by the bonfire
Rating - Swell!

Want to learn more? Check out my Instagram every Thursday at 5PM PST for a new episode of Swill or Swell! Have a wine you’d like me to taste? Write your request in the comments below or send me a message on Instagram!

​Cheers!