Argentina is a country known for passion – whether it’s for dancing the tango, for playing futbol or for its unwavering passion for food and the flagship Malbec grape. While Argentina is the fifth largest wine producer in the world, there has been a new focus on varietals, terroirs and regions with a diversity of styles and a rise in organic producers.
The Wines of Argentina, an organization dedicated to promoting Argentina’s top wineries, held the 7th annual World Malbec Day on April 16 where a group of wine enthusiasts gathered in Dallas at Bob’s Steak and Chop House downtown to celebrate some of that diversity. The dinner was themed “Malbec Argentino: You Know Me and You Don’t.”
Daniel Floyd, Bob’s Steak & Chop House and Marcelo Pelleriti, Winemaking Director of Pere Verge
The dinner was led by Marcelo Pelleriti, the winemaking director of the properties of the family Pere Verge. Marcelo is known for his expertise in French and Argentina terroir and was mentored by well-known winemaker Michel Rolland. For over 17 years, Marcelo has directed the harvests in Bordeaux for Chateau La Violette, Chateau Le Gay and Chateau Montviel – spending half his time in Argentina and half in France. This diverse experience has led him to be the first Latin American wine maker to hold a 100 point Robert Parker score for a French wine while receiving high scores for his Argentinian wines simultaneously.
World Malbec Day
Because this was a consumer dinner versus a press event, I didn’t get the usual one-on-one winemaker time to get more of the story of his wines. I can say that we tried a variety of wines and his were the ones that stood out as my favorites of the night. Our line-up was as follows:
First Course
Lamb lollipops with gorgonzola cheese, shrimp cocktail and fois gras crostini
· 2015 Don Michel Gascon Malbec Reserve
· 2014 Agostino Finca Malbec
Second Course
Seared duck with mixed greens salad with sliced apples, spicy pecans and goat cheese with champagne vinaigrette
· 2014 Humberto Canale Gran Reserve Pinot Noir
· 2011 Nieto Senetiner Don Nicanor Single Vineyard Villa Blanca
Third Course
Six-ounce filet mignon with wild mushroom demi, parsnip puree and sautee sunburst yellow squash.
· 2015 Marcelo Pelleriti Signature Malbec
· 2013 Terrazas Single Vineyard Los Aromos Cabernet Sauvignon
Fourth Course
Dark chocolate and nueske bacon bread pudding
· 2014 Clos De Los Siete
· 2016 Dona Paula Estate Black Edition
(The bolds indicate my favorites.)
This event was aptly titled to lure you in to rediscover the region. As I tasted through different styles of Malbec – from reserves to blends to single vineyards; blended wines; a Pinot Noir and a single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from different regions around the country, I can tell you that the wines of Argentina have finesse, diversity and are worth a global day to celebrate.
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