Cigar Box Malbec

Cigar Box Malbec comes from Mendoza, the high-altitude Argentine region that has become the benchmark for the grape, and it is bottled at 14.0% ABV. That alcohol level fits the Mendoza style, which tends toward ripe, generous fruit and a fuller body than the Malbecs of Cahors in France. Expect dark plum, blackberry and blueberry at the centre, often with violet, cocoa or a touch of spice behind them. Tannins in this style are usually soft and rounded rather than grippy, and acidity is moderate, so the wine drinks smoothly without feeling heavy. If oak is used, it typically shows as vanilla or mocha on the finish rather than as dominant wood. At the table, this is a wine for grilled and roasted red meat. Steak, short ribs, lamb chops and burgers all suit its ripe fruit and moderate tannin, and chimichurri or a smoky barbecue rub sits comfortably alongside it. It also works with empanadas, sausages, braised dishes and mushroom-heavy pasta. Hard, aged cheeses such as aged cheddar or Manchego are a good match. Very spicy or heavily sweet sauces will tend to flatten the fruit, so keep those for something else. Serve it at about 16 to 18°C, which in practice means 20 minutes or so in the refrigerator before opening if the bottle has been kept at room temperature. Wines in this style are usually made for approachability and rarely need extended decanting. Pouring it into a decanter or simply opening the bottle 20 to 30 minutes ahead is enough to loosen the aromas. A standard red wine glass with a generous bowl gives the fruit room to open up. This is a bottle to drink now. The profile, with its soft tannins and fruit-forward style, is built for near-term enjoyment rather than long cellaring, and it should be at its best over the next few years.