Wine Review - 2008 Graffigna Grand Reserve Malbec: Violets In A Glass
Tonight's wine was a purchase from the NSLC Wine Festival in September. We have a couple of them left from our original stock and this one was a stand out at the show.
From Graffigna Wines, this Malbec is a nice version of Argentina's signature grape. We liked it a lot at the time of purchase but a few months on we wanted to see if we were still into it.
As expected, this is a dark wine through and through. We love the look of Malbec on a good day but this one is great. Deep purple colours are the order of the day with a thick skim in the glass. The legs run pretty slowly but at 14.5% alcohol can't say it is a surprise.
The nose is very, very oaky and we get a lot of dark fruit and stone fruit, maybe black currents and plums. There is a cocoa undercurrent in there as well which changes the finish in the nose and makes it a little smokey.
The tastes are all violets and blackberries. We really love the flavour profile which contains a bunch of bold tannins surrounded by balanced fruit and oak. Totally enjoyable and has an elegance that makes it a superior to a lot of comparable Malbecs out there. Really nice. A bit tart, in the mid-palate maybe but still great.
On a more humorous note, we found an article today that debunks many of our typical wine descriptors. Give it a read here.
| Tasting Notes: | Score: | |
| Sight (0-5) | Deep purple wine with slow legs and slight thickness. | 4.0 |
| Smell (0-5) | Oaky with lots of black currents and plums. Cocoa notes and smoke finish the smell. | 4.25 |
| Taste (0-10) | Violets and blackberries dominate with bold tannins balanced with fruit and oak. | 8.25 |
| Total: | 16.5 / 20 (82.5%) |
This one clocks in at $20 which is more than a lot of Malbecs on the market but this one has a lot going for it. You can find comparable ones, cheaper but this one certainly holds it own.
Keep on tasting!
Chris & Shannon
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