WTNs: 03 Meyney and 04 Zagal Malbec

2003 Chateau Meyney St. Estèphe 13.0%
Lovely aromas of blackberry jam, cedar and vanilla, ever so slightly over the top. Tastes of grapes picked on the ripe side of 2003, lush and mouth filling. Drinking very well now. On the second evening, curiously more tannic and muscular, with a brown sugar sweetness. Excellent QPR.

2004 Hacienda del Plata Zagal Malbec 14.0%
In a recent NYT panel on "Argentine malbecs under $25" this was voted best cost ($12)benefit. Almost nothing on the nose - just a touch of eucalyptus - does not prepare the tongue for the torrent of sweet, jammy fruit that meets it, accompanied by parallel vibrant (but not integrated) acidity. A urine sample performed on this wine showed definite traces of steroids, so I revoked the tin medal I was about to award it.

O, I've pretty much given up on low-end Argentine Malbecs... I mean, if they can't even reach Tin level awards, what's the point?? (my one exception for low end are the Crios from Susana Balbo...great values...).

Thanx for the report on the '03 Meyney. I don't have this in my cellar for some reason, and, as you note, an amazing price for a Bdx from this vintage.

O, I've pretty much given up on low-end Argentine Malbecs... I mean, if they can't even reach Tin level awards, what's the point?? (my one exception for low end are the Crios from Susana Balbo...great values...).

Thanx for the report on the '03 Meyney. I don't have this in my cellar for some reason, and, as you note, an amazing price for a Bdx from this vintage.

However, to my great surprise, I was impressed with the basic (and very inexpensive) 06 Terrazas de los Andes Malbec the last two times I tried it, even though it's extremely mass produced. Very nice quaffer. Unlike the reserva and higher-end bottlings from Terrazas, it is not supercharged. And the 03 Nofal Alonso blend that Otto reviewed recently and that I tasted last week is also worth trying.

On the Bordeaux front, though 03 is much maligned, there are, of course, exceptions, and it has the great virtue of drinking well now. Besides the Meyney, other recession busting 03s I've recently finished cases of (and would buy more if I weren't on probation!) include the d'Aiguilhe and the Potensac.

Your note on the 2003 Meyney prompted me to go back to my own and I was shocked to see it is already nearly two years since I opened a bottle. I have a couple more in the cellar. I liked it very much as it didn't have the robust tannins that you can find in this vintage, although as you say it is a wine for drinking sooner rather than later I think. A rather ripe style with low acidity.

Owaldo, I agree on the d'Aiguilhe. Another great QPR