Colomé, Valle Calchaqui (Salta, Argentina) Malbec 2011

I’ve said it before — I’m not a huge fan of Malbec, though I’ve given enthusiastic reviews to a few pricey bottles recently.  Here’s a bottle that I can get enthused about, and can also afford.  At pop and pour, the first thing to hit you is the black pepper, which is joined by rising blackberry and black currant fruit with some time in the glass.  Notes of flowers and meat are also present.  On the palate, the aroma profile is well translated, with firm grip holding everything up through a long peppery finish.  I hear Argentina is all about the beef, and I’m looking forward to tasting this wine next to a big slab of it in its native habitat.