Sep

3

For six bucks, our threshold for what constitutes a recommendable wine is very, very low.  However, with that being the case, the Viu Manent Malbec 2007 exceeded our expectations by quite a bit.  In the nose we found blackberry and hints of oak along with herbal scents — the combination seemed slightly strange at first, but we eventually found ourselves more intrigued than anything else.  In the mouth, we found more of the same with a bit of tea flavor in the finish.  The medium tannin and light acidity matched the body nicely.

The Viu Manent was hardly as fruit-forward or heavy as the Malbecs that we’ve had from Argentina (which is more famous for the varietal), and the alcohol content of 14% reflected the lighter style.

Overall, we felt that our money was well spent.  Heck, we’ve paid twice as much for other wines that weren’t half as good!

Where to get it: We bought our bottle at Plumpjack Wines in Noe Valley.  They ship.  You can also find it using the Snooth search function under “Wine Locator” in the right hand column of this page, or by visiting wine-searcher.com or winezap.com.

Jun

3

The Domaine de la Pépière Cuvée Granit 2006 is classified as a Vin de Pays (the link is to Wikipedia), which is a classfication level below that of the French wines, appellation d’origine contrôlée, that we’ve reviewed in the past, and the wine hails from a poducer known more for its whites — Muscadet, to be precise — than reds.     

Still, we found this blend of Cab Franc, Merlot, and Malbec from the Loire Valley to be so very nicely balanced, flavorful, and light as a feather in terms of body that we felt it was a perfect Weekday Wine candidate.

We picked up two flavors that dominated our glasses: green bell pepper and smoke.  But what this wine lacked in complexity was more than made up for in terms of its simple, easy-drinking character.  This is a crowd-pleaser that would be an excellent companion to a home-cooked meal.

Where to get it: We bought our bottle at K&L Wines in San Francisco.  They ship.  You can also find it using the Snooth search function under “Wine Locator” in the right hand column of this page, or by visiting wine-searcher.com or winezap.com.

Mar

11

Ok.  The price is not a typo, and as soon as you get a whiff of this one, you may have an even harder time believing me.

While the Argentines make a lot (and probably most) of the world’s Malbec, the grape actually originated in France.  As you might expect, the French version is of a different style: subtler in body, less fruity, and earthier.  But why the low price considering the weak dollar?  Quite honestly, it’s completely beyond me.

In evaluating this wine, we found aromas and flavors of almond, blackberry, black currant and a tinge of herbs.  We thoroughly enjoyed the interplay of the wine’s medium body with its bright acidity and gradually revealing, velvety tannins.  This bottle would pair well with food, but it also stands up great on its own.

As weekday wines go, the Château de Gaudou Cahors Cuvée Tradition 2004 is hard to beat.  Remember back when we reviewed the Pascual Toso last month and raved about the value?  This is better.  Better tasting, better value, and better quality.  Given the option, I’d choose the Château de Gaudou over the Pascual Toso every day of the week and twice on Tuesday.

Special thanks to Drew at Plumpjack in Noe Valley for an outstanding recommendation.   

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