Wine Review - 2010 Rigal 'The Original Malbec': Blind Tasting Of Thin But Good French Malbec
This wine is $15 locally and was part of a Blind Tasting which didn't last that long. As soon as it was in the glass, it just looked like Malbec. Very dark and purple but as it was poured the bubbles were dark purple. Totally Malbec.....or Carmenere, nope Malbec. From there it had to be either Argentina or France and it was thin so France it was. Bam! Blind Tasting over. This Malbec from Rigal Wines is made from grapes of the Cahors region and is really good.
Very typical of Malbec in terms of the colour palette but the thickness was a lot less than our typical experience with the South American version. But, once you swirl it, it hugs the glass but runs down very slowly. Interesting.
The nose is very mild with a touch of red fruit but not much in terms of oak, maybe some vanilla, but not a lot to offer. We liked the smell but it was super soft.
The flavours were a bit more bold but the key word for this wine is approachable. It is a very smooth and the tannins are not overly tart. It is a great dinner party wine which would go with a variety of foods and at $15 is a great value. We would say there is a cinnamon base with ripe blackberry fruit. While we wouldn't call the wine complex, it has definitely got a bit of balance. Overall, a nice wine for the price.
Very typical of Malbec in terms of the colour palette but the thickness was a lot less than our typical experience with the South American version. But, once you swirl it, it hugs the glass but runs down very slowly. Interesting.
The nose is very mild with a touch of red fruit but not much in terms of oak, maybe some vanilla, but not a lot to offer. We liked the smell but it was super soft.
The flavours were a bit more bold but the key word for this wine is approachable. It is a very smooth and the tannins are not overly tart. It is a great dinner party wine which would go with a variety of foods and at $15 is a great value. We would say there is a cinnamon base with ripe blackberry fruit. While we wouldn't call the wine complex, it has definitely got a bit of balance. Overall, a nice wine for the price.
| Tasting Notes: | Score: | |
| Sight (0-5) | Deep purple wine which looks thin but sticks to the glass. Totally Malbec. | 4.0 |
| Smell (0-5) | Red fruit and a hint of vanilla are the main notes in the nose. Very soft and subtle...maybe a little too much so. | 3.75 |
| Taste (0-10) | Blackberries and cinnamon dominate the flavours which make this wine stand out as a fairly balanced wine. Not too complex but that is not too tart and finishes quietly. | 7.75 |
| Total: | 15.5 / 20 (77.5%) |
Again, this is a dinner party wine which tastes a little more expensive than the price tag. As a French Malbec, this is a tasty wine. Try it and it could become an everyday wine.
Keep on tasting!
Chris & Shannon
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