Marcus James Malbec, 1998 (Argentina)Mar 06 '03 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Marcus James Malbec, 1998 -- A value prided performed from Mendoza, Argentina.
During the past few months, I've been "going to school," sort of speak, on wines marketed by the Canandaigua Wine Co. (a unit of Constellation Brands). Canandaigua is America's number two wine company and, despite the softness in the wine industry (slackening demand, increased supplies, falling prices and companies on the verge of bankruptcy), it still seems to be pursuing a strategy to increase its market share. Witness the recent mega-merger discussions with BRL Hardy: http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Daily/News/0,1145,1942,00.html Indeed, I have been drinking more wines from Canandaigua -- partly because it doesn't seem have any trouble in slashing prices in order to move inventory. There are some tremendous buys on the market right now. One of Canandaigua more recent international labels is the "Marcus James" brand. Wines marketed under this brand, include wines made in Argentina by Fecovita, and wine produced in South Eastern Australia. There may be other international offerings, but I haven't discovered them yet during my store surveys. Marcus James is not a well-known brand in the U.S.A., but this a "growth brand" and shipments have increased from 575,000 cases in 1993 to over a million cases per year. (http://www.beveragenet.net/sreport/establish.asp) Malbec is not a particularly popular varietal in the U.S.A. It is popular in France, where it is used in various red wine blends (usually in small proportions). You'll find it used in Pomerol wines like Château La Conseillante (5% Malbec); in California Merlot wines like Monterra Monterey County Merlot (5% Malbec); and even in Shiraz wines from Australia, like Lindemans Bin 50 Shiraz. In Argentina (the fourth largest wine producer in the world according to the Beverage Tasting Institute's 1999 edition Buying Guide to Wine), Malbec is the most widely planted grape variety. Marcus James Malbec, 1998 Alcohol: 12.0% by volume. Production: 80% Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina. Appearance: Dark purple (but not inky) with purplish-brick cast and a bit of lavender at the edges. Aroma: Spicy raspberry and cherry with a touch of clay. Flavor: Plums and dry cherries with a bit of dusty earthiness. Firm, but not aggressive with a pleasant, round, spicy fruit finish. Clean, medium-bodied, direct and accessible. A well made wine at a super-affordable price. If you like Merlot or Shiraz wines with round, fleshy-fruit flavors, then this Argentinean Malbec is worth a sip. Price and Availability: The typical retail price for Marcus James wines is $6.99 per bottle. Canandaigua has been dumping inventories at close-out retailers. I purchased this wine for $2.99 at a Big Lots! location in Murrieta, California. A good bargain if you can find this one for under $5. Check around. Recommendations: Substantial enough to serve with heavy game and red meats, but equally comfortable with pizza or tomato-sauce based pasta dishes. Medium bodied, with a pleasing-but-not-sweet fruit flavor featuring just the right amount of acidity. Verdict: For the price paid, 3½ stars. Get's the job done with some change to spare. Really something that should retail in the $6-to-$8 price range. Appearance: 4/5 Aroma: 21/25 Flavor: 33/40 Body: 7/10 Overall Quality: 16/20 ------------------------------ My Score: 81 -- 3½ stars. Vinted and bottled by Fecovita Mendoza, Argentina Imported by Marcus James, Madera, California  |
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