Fernando Cabrini, Malbec "Home Ranch Selection", 2007

K & U have been having quite a winning streak in my cellar for the last couple of months, so I had high hopes for this argentinian malbec, a variety I felt pressured into trying by all the buzz about it - on this blog and elsewhere.

And a wonderful bottle it is:

Inky dark red colour. Smells of thick blueberry jam mixed with hot tar from a road construction site. In the mouth, dark cherry fruit, very meaty (not to say bloody), gamy and spicy, with tastefully applied oak, good lively acidity and powerful tannins giving it length and focus. Completely fills up the palate. This is the wine to have with steak (grilled when in civilised company - but I'm sure raw would be just fine with this wine...). Reminded me very of south west of france wines, where Malbec actually has its home, but those are seldom as open and generous.