Norton Malbec Reserva 2011- $16
This wine is made from 100% Malbec grapes from Mendoza, Argentina.
I’ll let you in on a little secret…. Argentinean Malbec is my secret weapon. Whenever I need to open a bottle for unexpected company at home or order wine at a restaurant and need an inexpensive bottle (but don’t want to look like a cheapskate!) I reach for Malbec from Argentina. It’s fruit forward, pairs great with virtually any meal, and is always a crowd pleaser (especially for those that are new to wine).
Malbec from Argentina is also one of the best value wines on the market. You can consistently reach for nearly any bottle in the $9-$25 range and get a wine that’s deep, dark, rich, and full of berry flavor yet surprisingly full of finesse and not too heavy.
This Norton Malbec Reserva is, in my opinion, the best value of any Malbec coming out of this region.
What it tastes like: Deep red, almost purple in color, this wine starts with a burst of dark fruit flavors. You’ll get enveloped by ripe black cherry, candied blueberry, and sugar plums. As it opens, you’ll notice layers of violets, leather, tobacco, and chocolate. This Malbec is also aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, which imparts vanilla and toasty flavors on the finish. In addition to this incredible flavor profile, what makes this wine so delectable is the silk-like texture and mouthfeel. This is like drinking velvet! You’d swear you’re having an incredibly well-aged, special occasion bottle and not a $16 value wine.
Note: This wine is constantly rated 90+ points by Wine Spectator (92pts this year). To reach the full potential of this wine, you need to let it breathe for 30min or so. You can either use a decanter or for those like me that want to enjoy this wine right away, you can use the Vinturi wine aerator.
Who will love this wine?
BBQ Lovers, rejoice!
-Those that want a food friendly red. This Malbec is extremely versitile and pairs well with a variety of foods. Pasta, lasagna, grilled meats (especially lamb and venison), and phesant are all excellent pairings with this wine.
-BBQ lovers. This deserves it’s own section because Malbec is one of the best BBQ wines available. Burgers, steaks, fajitas, lamb, and anything you can throw on the grill, this is a no-brainer pairing. I particularly think that the smokier and spicier meats rubbed with chili and other spices work best.
-Those that are patient. This wine is decent once opened, but if you wait to let it breathe, you’ll be rewarded with one of the best value wines currently on the market. It develops the layers of rich tobacco, and chocolate and that silky texture. Seriously, let this breathe or use an aerator!
-Those that want to impress others without breaking the bank. As I mentioned earlier, I like to bulk buy this wine and just bring a bottle any time I’m running out the door to dinner, parties, BBQs ,etc. I like that I don’t have to think twice about which wine everyone will like since it’s always such a crowd-pleaser. And at $16, I don’t have to worry that my expensive wine is being chugged once the beer runs out.
Using an aerator turns this wine into a silky smooth pleasure-bomb
Final Conclusion: Must Buy
This wine needs a little patience to fully develop, but that’s easily fixed with the Vinturi. There’s a reason that this wine is consistently rated 92pts by Wine Spectator. It’s quite simply one of the best values you can find.
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