Malbec – Alamos

Our wine tonight is the 2018 Argentine Malbec from Alamos.

We just love Malbec from Argentina.

Cultivated of the Mendoza, Argentina Vineyards. These vineyards are among the highest elevations of any of the world’s vineyards.

Vintage 2018

100% Malbec

The most respected James Suckling rated at 91 points.

Decanted for 60 minutes.

Deep inky purple color.

Nose very expressive of black cherries, plum, cocoa, fresh violets, cedar and a pronounced smokiness.

Dry, medium bodied, with low to medium tannins.

Flavor notes of black cherry, blackberry, red plum, and a distinctive mid-palate of vanilla, black currants, black pepper, and spice, while the lingering finish is reminiscent of a freshly baked hot out of the oven blueberry pie.

An excellent traditional Argentine Malbec.

9 months aged in 60% French oak and 40% American oak.

13.5% ABV

At the price, often under $10, this is a great drinking wine.

Jen-Nis Marketing scaring at 90 points.

Barrel Aged Malbec – CityScape Winery

Our wine tonight is the Barrel Aged Malbec from CityScape Winery in Greenville County, South Carolina.

In celebration of #WorldMalbecDay

Malbec – CityScape Winery

Vintage 2018

Cellared for 12 months.

Decanted for 90 minutes

100% Malbec Grapes sourced from Yakima Valley in Washington.

Aged in a mix of medium and medium plus oak barrels.

Inky purple color with a thin bright purple rim.

Nose of black cherries, blackberries, smoke and mild cedar.

Medium to Full bodied with well balanced tannins, shows bountiful thick legs.

Flavor profile of black cherries, black licorice, pomegranate, red plums, oak, vanilla, and soft herbal and spicey notes fading toward more complex earthy tones and a light hint of brandy.

This wine paired beautifully with our Italian takeout for dinner.

An excellent drinking and palate pleasing Malbec, one you wouldn’t expect was produced and bottled in South Carolina.

13% ABV

Gold medal winner in the 2019 Palmetto Wine Competition.

In 2019 the Palmetto Wine Competition judges were harsh on vinifera wines so the fact that this Malbec won a Gold medal is a testament to its superior character!

We spoke with with CityScape winemaker Josh Jones and he said they would soon release a 2019 vintage Malbec. Josh said the 2019 was intensely more peppery and spicy than this 2018.

We’re anxiously awaiting!

Wines of 2019

While scrolling back through our pictures of 2019, found some really interesting wines which we never wrote about. Our goal remains to promote locally produced, yet certainly that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy other wines from around the world. In fact, we feel tasting other wines from around the globe helps us to understand, judge, and appreciate locally produced wines.

We go regularly to our local wine bar, Bond Street Wines in Spartanburg, South Carolina where proprietor Jeff House shares and teaches about unique wines from around the word. Jeff is one of the most knowledgeable wine people we have encountered. He has a penchant for sharing unique, small batch, affordable and amazing wines with interesting back stories.A tasting at the wine bar generally consist of whites and reds which normally share a general characteristic, such region, varietal, or wine maker.

This one, vinhas Atlas, while a nice fruit forward flavor, was crystal clear, not sure that’s a good thing though….it’s wine not water.

This mead we tried at Savannah Bee Company in Myrtle Beach. Our niece gifted us this rosé in a lighthouse shaped bottle.

The tastings often include Whites and Rosé

Yet Big Bold Reds are Prevalent!

Pinot Nero

Pinot Nero is Jenni’s “regular” at our favorite local Italian restaurant, Renato’s downtown Spartanburg. Pinot Noir fermented without skin contact to produce a full bodied white!

A nicely aged bold red likewise makes us smile!

Wine is such a great field to study. There exist so many different varietals and different wine regions along with different wine making techniques. There is really only one way to learn, and that is to drink it! Cheers!

Rosé of Malbec – Doña Paula

Our wine tonight is the 2017 Rosé of Malbec from Doña Paula, Mendoza Argentina.

Region: El Alto Estate, Luján de Cuyo.

Vintage 2017

Salmon pinkish/ light amber in color.

Rosé of 100% Malbec.

Early harvest. Hand picked.

Nose of Bartlett pear, strawberries, raspberries, violets, and hot buttered croissants.

Off dry. 1.8% RS

Crisp on the palate with notes of raspberries, strawberries, cherry, red plum, almonds, tea, and minerals. A lingering finish of biscotti, toasted almonds, cedar, and orange peel.

12% ABV.

$10 per bottle.

WineryEscapades.Com scoring on the American Wine Society 20 point scale.

Appearance: 3

Aroma: 3

Taste: 4

Aftertaste: 2

Impression: 1.5

Total: 13.5

Bronze medal worthy

Rosè Malbec – Cuvelier Los Andes

Our wine tonight is the 2017 Rosè Malbec from Cuvelier Los Andes in Mendoza Argentina.

Nose of ripe red berries

Flavor notes of strawberry, passion fruit, and over ripe red plum. Lingering finish.

100% Malbec.

Off-Dry

Direct Press Rosè

Winery Escapade scoring on the American Wine Society twenty point scale.

Appearance: 3 Aroma: 4 Taste: 5 Aftertaste: 3 Impression: 2

Total: 17 – Silver Medal worthy

12.5% ABV

Priced at $20 bottle.

Cranberry Malbec – Old Rock Quarry

Our wine tonight is the Cranberry Malbec from Old Rock Quarry Winery in Enoree, South Carolina. The beautiful wine glass was painted by the gorgeous Jenni Mitchell Turner at a recent Old Rock Quarry sip and paint event.

Cranberry Malbec – Old Rock Quarry Winery

Our wine tonight is the Cranberry Malbec from Old Rock Quarry Winery just off I-26 in Enoree, South Carolina.

Beautiful light cranberry color, nose more of black cherry. Flavor notes of cranberries , blackberries, and black cherries.

Visiting this small rural craft winery is like visiting old friends and hanging out in their backyard drinking homemade wine!

Moonstruck – Sweet Home Carolina

Our wine tonight, pi day 2018, is the 2014 Moonstruck from Sweet Home Carolina Vineyard and Winery. Moonstruck is a bold, flavorful, dry Malbec. The label features a waterfall scene originally captured on canvas by the wineries own artist/winemaker Lyn Layton-Koren. Sweet Home Carolina is small boutique winery in North Carolina’s Yadkin Valley. #NCWine