*** I received this wine as a sample. ***

I’m not sure why it is, but I’ve been on a Malbec kick recently.  Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always enjoyed a good Malbec, but it isn’t usually the red wine I usually choose to drink when I’m out.  If I’m looking for a fuller-bodied red, the Cabs and Zins almost always win out…until now. And, as become clear last week, my desire for Malbec isn’t just when I’m at a restaurant.

Hubby and I got up bright and early on Thanksgiving morning to run a 5k Turkey Trot in the freezing cold.  We almost bailed because the temperature was in the mid-to-high 20’s, but  “earning” a little overindulgence while helping a local homeless shelter and food bank has become an annual thing for us.  So, we bundled up and headed to the race.  Afterwards, Hubby and I came home, cleaned up, and headed to his mother’s for Turkey Day festivities, but the cold was sticking to me.  While we were at my mother-in-laws, we plenty of time to eat, drink, and kick off the holiday season properly.  I tried to stand near the oven, not only so I could sneak a bite of her delicious cooking when no one was looking, but also so I could absorb its warmth.

Dinner and the company was wonderful, as usually.  We did end up leaving a little early this year, though, as Hubby’s cousins, aunts, and uncles left for a second round of Thanksgiving meals at other places and my in-laws are huge Ravens fans, so they wanted to watch the big 8pm game.  That meant we were home with enough time to lazily continue digesting, celebrate the second night of Chanukkah, and open a bottle of wine that would help me warm up…and that’s when I reached for one of the few bottles of Malbec in my wine fridge.

The 2010 Aruma Malbec (winery) was from Mendoza, Argentina and was made with 100% Malbec grapes.  Aruma means “night” in the language of the Quechua, the native Indian population of the Mendoza region, and the deep purple of this wine fits its name, as it was as dark as night.  On the nose, there were big whiffs of tobacco, blackberries, and violets with hints of something gamey.  In the mouth, there were blackberries, tobacco, and violets with hints of nutmeg and vanilla.  The wine had a medium body and medium tannins.

Is this worth a glass after work? Definitely!  If you see this wine in the store, grab it; you won’t be disappointed.  At an SRP of $15, this is a wine that will give you a bang for your buck.  It definitely needs time to breathe, as the alcohol was a little overpowering and the wine tasted a little thin when I first poured it.  But, after some time in my glass, the wine mellowed out to have great balance, supple mouthfeel, and beautiful characteristics.  It was a wine that just warmed me up from the inside out, which was exactly what I was looking for.

Question of the Day: What are your thoughts on Malbec?  Do you drink it often or are there other types of wine that you will gravitate towards first?

Suggested Retail Price: $15
Received as a sample.
Overall: 4 Corks