“Most fine wine from Argentina is opened too early,” I was told by Sean Martin on my visit to his clever store in Hyde Park, Albert Winestein. Too true, and while I had wanted to hold on to the 2006 BenMarco Expresivo that I purchased at Albert Winestein in May, I succumbed and opened it for Christmas dinner. A blend of 60% Malbec and 10% each of Syrah, Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot, the Expresivo is a big, rich wine that epitomizes the first class wines that can be made in Argentina. Produced by the Argentine winemaking super-duo, Susana Balbo and her husband Pedro Marchevsky, this blend is well made and certainly could have been cellared for at least a couple more years.
Although Malbec makes up most of this blend, its biggest impact is in the color. The Expresivo has a bright violet color that is often found in Malbec. In the nose, the other four varietals take over, creating an aroma that is more Bordeaux than your usual Argentine wine, with lots of currant, cherry jam, hay, and a hit of barnyard. In addition to the fruits, the wine presents vanilla, dark chocolate, and coffee in the mouth. The acidity and tannins call out for food, and in today’s case, it was a perfect match for rib roast, with the wine complementing the beef and cutting through its richness.
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