Alamos Malbec and Alamos Chardonnay

Remember the Alamos! A friend of mine made this quip as we were sitting down to dinner with a bottle of the Argentinean Malbec from Alamos. It’s not a bad rallying cry when you are looking for very drinkable wines with a high QPR (Quality Price Ratio).

The 2008 Alamos Malbec is dark, almost inky, in color. Malbec is the signature wine of the Mendoza region in Argentina. Malbec is a favorite with us because it isn’t quite as high in tannins, which my wife avoids. She is a relatively new red wine drinker and prefers a more fruit forward style.

  Malbec can deliver what the Green Dragon looks for, but with a complexity and richness that can satisfy anyone who appreciates a nice red.

The nose for the Alamos Malbec shows black berries and a bit of spice. The has a smooth, medium body with flavors of black raspberries and currants with a touch of spiciness and smoke. This wine is aged in both American
and French oak. It also has 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Bonarda (another red Argentinean grape).

The 2008 Chardonnay is a bright golden color. It has a citrus and floral bouquet. The flavor notes are apple and pear with a nice acidity that gives it a bit of a snap. There is a touch of oakiness, but this Chard is more spicy than big and buttery. This may be due to how the wine was finished. The wine is aged for nine months in seasoned French oak, but 10 percent is aged in new French oak to highlight the smokiness.

We paid about $13 for each bottle of the Alamos, which is a great bargain. These are great buys and a nice change from the value California brands.

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