Wine of the Week: El Ganador Malbec
Beth Ribblett
2006 El Ganador Malbec
Malbec seems to have taken over the wine world as the most popular grape variety. Argentine Malbec, in particular, continues to fascinate the palate of not only the casual wine consumer but also the lifelong wine aficionado. From its humble beginnings as both a Bordeaux blending variety and a mainstay contributor to the rare wines of France’s Cahors region, Malbec has come into its own as the premier variety for top quality Argentine red wines.
The relationship between Argentina and Malbec dates to 1868 when French agricultural engineer Michel Pouget first imported the variety to South America. In the 1980’s, many vine growers took part in an effort to remove Malbec from the vineyards of Argentina, and it was only in the 1990’s that the variety achieved popularity in export markets. Needless to say, today Malbec is thriving in Argentina and is one of our most popular varietals at Swirl!
Bodega Tiza’s El Ganador Malbec is made from fruit sourced from the property’s vineyards in the Lujan de Cuyo sub-region of Mendoza. 10% of this production is aged for six months in new French oak and then allowed to rest for an additional six months in bottle prior to release. The resulting wine features a fresh, chunky personality brimming with bright red fruit aromas and flavors. An exceptional value, El Ganador is a stand out in the $10 Malbec category!
Malbec seems to have taken over the wine world as the most popular grape variety. Argentine Malbec, in particular, continues to fascinate the palate of not only the casual wine consumer but also the lifelong wine aficionado. From its humble beginnings as both a Bordeaux blending variety and a mainstay contributor to the rare wines of France’s Cahors region, Malbec has come into its own as the premier variety for top quality Argentine red wines.
The relationship between Argentina and Malbec dates to 1868 when French agricultural engineer Michel Pouget first imported the variety to South America. In the 1980’s, many vine growers took part in an effort to remove Malbec from the vineyards of Argentina, and it was only in the 1990’s that the variety achieved popularity in export markets. Needless to say, today Malbec is thriving in Argentina and is one of our most popular varietals at Swirl!
Bodega Tiza’s El Ganador Malbec is made from fruit sourced from the property’s vineyards in the Lujan de Cuyo sub-region of Mendoza. 10% of this production is aged for six months in new French oak and then allowed to rest for an additional six months in bottle prior to release. The resulting wine features a fresh, chunky personality brimming with bright red fruit aromas and flavors. An exceptional value, El Ganador is a stand out in the $10 Malbec category!