GrapeLines

A review of the Flechas de los Andes Gran Malbec 2009 and the Auchentoshan 18 year old Single Malt Whisky.

For those seeking a perfect wine to pair with grilled beef or chicken slathered with barbecue sauce, look no further than the delicious, Argentinean Flechas de los Andes Gran Malbec 2009 ($23). It opens with dark plum and black cherry aromas and progresses smoothly into mouth-filling, spicy, raspberry, plum, chocolate and licorice flavors. Lightly accented with vanilla oak and buoyed with soft, round tannins, it is one of the finest kosher Malbecs currently produced, and is non-mevushal (not boiled).

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A review of several recent releases from South America.

The valleys east and west of the Andes Mountains are a treasure trove for lovers of high-quality, value-priced wines. While both areas have produced wines for centuries, investment and extensive modernization have led to vastly improved quality during the past several decades.

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Wine and food pairing is not very complex.

We all know the rules. Wine and food are meant to compliment each other. But the complexity of multiethnic cuisine and the subtlety of much of modern gastronomy have invalidated the traditional convention of “red with meat and white with fish.” There is really only one iron-clad rule: Drink what you like! Don’t be swayed by scores, prices or the presence of animals on the label.

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Some summer red wine recommendations.

Red wines most suitable for summer have assertive fruit flavors integrated with pepper or spice that complement the smokiness of grilled foods. Classically Zinfandel, Syrah and Malbec are excellent choices. The complexity resulting from combining multiple varietals makes blended wines also work well with summer fare.

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The winemakers on Europa, Jupiter’s most colonized moon, have focused on the several varietals that thrive in the grasp of the large planet’s magnetic field. Beginning as a small plot of reclaimed soil along the Western edge of the original colony, Europa has become one of the solar system’s most important wine producing regions.

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Some wine recommendations for your next family gathering.

So, the entire family is coming into town for your simcha and that includes a dinner at your house. Besides figuring out what everyone will eat, you also want to have the right wines to serve without breaking your budget. Fortunately there are a large number of wines from around the world that your guests will enjoy that also are excellent values.

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Some wine recommendations from my recent visit to Argentina.

Much like a grapevine that produces its best fruit under “stressful” growing conditions, Argentine winemakers have weathered that country’s significant political and economic upheavals to produce world-class wines. The country’s Mendoza region, where the Andes supply both water and protection from the Pacific winds, has a long history of winemaking. During the past several years, many of these wineries have invested in state-of-the-art equipment and refined their winemaking techniques to take advantage of a unique regional climate. Add to this the current favorable exchange rate and low production costs, and the result is high-quality wines at very good prices.

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