Some Reds Were Made For Summer Too

The story: Last week I wrote about exploring some inexpensive white wines to be used as cooling, refreshing, and relaxing agents on my porch this summer. Within days I came across an inexpensive, full-bodied malbec from Argentina that made me think of hot days around a barbeque as well. I'm not sure why some robust red wines make me feel like winter and others towards 85 degree nights on the patio, but I offer this one up to you as a great choice for your summer grilling.

Argentinian malbec is probably something you have been exposed to over the last couple of years. It has emerged as one of those grapes that was always known, but has excelled in an up and coming region, inserting itself into a niche that previously no one even knew needed to be filled. There are many versions that offer quality at a great price, and there are more and more examples offering more complexity and structure at a higher price point.

The wine: The specific wine that grabbed my attention as a great bottle for your next BBQ was the Doña Paula Los Cardos Malbec 2008 from Mendoza. Doña Paula is the product of a Chilean wine company who bought huge tracts of vineyards in the Mendoza region, and now produce some great wines of many varietals all from their own fruit. The Los Cardos is their entry-level offering, widely available for around $7-$10. This wine has a dark violet core, fading to ruby red at the edges, and mostly translucent. It has a nice nose of fresh blackberries and a touch of cigar tobacco. The wine is medium to full-bodied and offers flavors of dark cherries, some more tobacco, and some mid-pallette spice before finishing in a slightly earthy medium length finish.

The verdict: This wine drinks more expensive than it costs (my definition of value?) and would really be delicious with any grilled red meat. It has a nice sense of balance, offers up lots of fruit, but enough acid to keep it refreshing. I score the wine a 3 out of 5 and say if you come across it you should buy it.