Here's to Malbec, Both Far and...Really Far

It's Friday! (Were you wondering? If so, yes, I can confirm it is Friday.)

Better yet, it’s a holiday that you can celebrate from the safety of your home. It’s Malbec World Day, marking the date when then-president Domingo Faustino Sarmiento asked Miguel Pouget to bring French grapevine cuttings to Argentina.

Completist that I am, obviously I had to taste some French and Argentinean for you. Thanks to Princeton Corkscrew for their online ordering and extremely safe pickup practices.

2018 Fabre Montmayou Barrel Selection from Argentina ($15) is great fun. The color is purple/garnet, with a big fruity black cherry nose. Great aperitif!

2015 Chateau la Caminade ($25) comes from Cahors in the southwest of France. It's not really totally fair to compare these, as the French wine is obviously older and at a different price point, but I was going for French wines that are malbec only. (But now that this post is over, I’m definitely going back for some of the malbec blends Corkscrew has to offer!) This is a super savory wine, with garnet color, and blackberry and cocoa on the palate.

And a shoutout to Constant Reader P, holding it down in Sao Paulo. His latest malbec recommendation is the “intense” 2017 Bodegas Salentein Primus. P, keep those malbec recommendations coming, and I'll do what I can from New Jersey!

Happy Malbec World Day, and drink up safely. Got a preference between French or Argentinean malbec? Let me know!