Ok, so what we are looking for:
- Thick, heavy, full bodied, aggressive
- Spicy
Lets start of with A, like for Argentina
Don David Malbec Reserve, 2010
This has it all. A really nice and think a-bomb full of tannins, bit of berries and cherry and that oak for an extra boost. It's like a bodybuilder! I've had lighter, smoother Malbec, but I have no prefrence in what it should be. Both ends work and Malbec is definately my number one grape pick from Argentina. Plough and drink with some strong cheese. (AND MEAT.)
Adabal Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva, 2007
The spanish really know how to bring that spicyness to the table - pepper, oak and tannins really work together nicely here. This like drum & bass for your palate and not the hit list stuff, I mean the deep hard-for-your-grandmother-to-understand stuff. A good year in oak certainly does the trick and a Cabernet is always a strong (not boring, you...!) choice. The catalan Cabernet delivers, now go and recieve.
Mayu Reserva Carménère, 2009
Mayu has less tannins than the other two, which might be a game changer to many, when concidering these heavy giants. It is rich, full of nice berry aromas, an oaky feel and warmth in the aftertaste. The ridicilious alcohol percentage, structure of the ever-so-lovely Carménère and the epic Zen of Elqui Valley work together to make this an easy to down, yet heavy nectar. Carménère is still my top grape pick from Chile. Please try to prove me wrong if you can.
To top things off I would like to give a musical recommendation to the
Machine Head are trash metal giants and the two latest albums have taken them to a more progressive style, which I enjoy. The refrence to blood in the beginning of the song goes well with thick full bodied red wines. "I Am Hell" might be the feeling when you have 20cm of snowfall to go through in your front yard. Listening to this gets you through it much faster.
Now is the time to try something heavy! I would love to hear your thoughts about these wines (or the music) so please do comment. Porvoo people remember that "Viiniä, Viiniä" kicks off at Porvoon Paahtimo 2nd of March! Some tickets still left!