Varietal: Â 100% Malbec
Region: Â Patagonia, Argentina
Cost: Â $13 (SRP)
Winemaker’s Notes: Â Our wines have a deep ruby color, rich, smooth blackberry flavors and vanilla aromas.
My Review: Â It’s not often that I get to compare consecutive vintages of wine, so I actually looked forward to opening the 2011 Ruta Malbec 22 as I had tried the 2010 Ruta 22 around this time last year. So, when my wife and I decided to make some beef stew, we took screw to cork, opened the bottle, and gave it a swirl through our glasses.
Much like the previous year, the wine was a deep ruby color with slashes of purple throughout. On the nose I picked up dark fruit and spice, though I wouldn’t say I could single out any of the vanilla. In the mouth it was more dark fruit, including black cherry and blackberry that just barely avoids being a fruit bomb, in part because the wine does have a bit of body to it, though I don’t think I’d go so far as to call it full-bodied.
Paired with a hearty beef stew that had been in the slow cooker all day, it did a good job of holding up against the meat, potatoes, and veggies in the stew, while adding something of a counter note with the fruit notes that I wouldn’t call bright, but certainly stood out against the food.
Much like the 2010 vintage, I wouldn’t go so far as to call this a great wine, or even a great Malbec, but for the price, it’s a good value, and certainly better than some Malbecs I have for the same or more, and versatile enough to go with a range of foods.
Editor’s Note: I received this bottle of wine as a free sample.
