There appears to be a day to celebrate all kinds of weird and wonderful things. January 13th was rubber ducky day.  Thousands of the little yellow bath friends floated down international waters brightening up a dull January.  International Pillow fight day invaded Trafalgar Square at the start of the month.  Feathers flew making Nelson look like he was standing watch in the midst of a snowstorm. Yesterday was “World Malbec Day.”

While you might have missed the day itself, there are still plenty ways you can celebrate the grape. 

Mark Warde-Aldam (correct), the manager of Majestic Wine Warehouse in Summertown, says, “Malbec is the buzz grape of the moment. It is not the most sophisticated grape, but it produces great drinking fodder for the masses.”

The popularity and diversity of Malbec has certainly grown. While it might never be as sophisticated as a wine from Bordeaux, it has a lot more complexity than your average red. Majestic offers a Benmarco Malbec 2011 Dominio del Plata from Mendoza for £12.99 when you buy two. There is a minimum purchase of 6 bottles however.

S H Jones wines have two new Malbecs they are listing. Both are from Luigi Bosca, which I tasted just a few weeks ago. The La Linda 2011 (£8.99) is a fruity, young wine that is easy to drink.  The Luigi Bosca Reserve 2010 (£11.99) is aged in French Oak barrels. It has smooth tannins and acidity that is similar in style to Italian reds.

Oddbins on Little Clarendon Street opened Malbec for tasting yesterday. My favourite was the Filus Malbec 2011 from the Uco Valley in Mendoza (£8). The vines are 60 years old and they produce a dark, full-bodied wine with lots of juice and long spicy finish.

Lee Isaacs manager of the Oxford Wine Company on Botley Road recommends, “One of my personal favourites is the Humberto Canale (£12.99), surprisingly not from Mendoza, but much further south in Rio Negro, Patagonia. There is lots of smoky toastiness here from American oak, but the rich dark fruit, aromatic spice and refreshing acidity keep this wine balanced.”

 

If you don’t feel like going out, you can always order in. Virgin Wines has an interesting blend, Caminito Vineyard Selection Shiraz Malbec 2011(£10.99). The Shiraz adds a different dimension, giving this wine a bit more punch and length. This wine does not go away quietly.  Decanting is recommended.

Of course if you want to go out, order a bottle of Valentin Bianchi Finca Los Primos, 2012 (£21), to accompany your steak next Wednesday during their weekly steak night at The Fishes in North Hinksey. It is full of black currant flavours, with a wonderful smokiness and silky finish. Owain Jones, the well-dressed manager says, “This is the wine the staff choose to drink.” That is always a good sign for me.

You can follow me on twitter @SauvignonBlonde.