As a pure varietal wine, Malbec is underrated. Present in Cabernet or Shiraz blends but largely forgotten or unappreciated, it wasn't until the rivers of Argentinian Malbec started to hit world shelves that we sat up and took stock. Since 1961 Bleasdale has been a leading Australian producer from its historic Langhorne Creek vineyards in a region and terroir where it has done particularly well, winning a swag of awards. Contrary to the sad happenings in the Ashes cricket, this Second Innings is not a disappointment. An inky intense purple in colour once poured. Opens up with a perfumed bouquet of blackberry, plum, violet and smokey oak. Some hints of anise and black olive, which I liked. At the front end the palate is dry, medium-weight and savoury. Pleasing earthy dark fruit flavours swathe the middle order. It's not a fruit bomb as such nor has it been visited by the oak monster. Well-balanced backbone of ripe tannic acid, fruit and oak flavours. A smooth and soft texture to finish at the tail end.
I'm a fan of varietal Malbec and its underrated Bordeaux stablemate Petit Verdot. This vintage makes an excellent quaffing wine, value-driven and flavoursome. It's big, opulent tastes are approachable, satisfying and healthy given the presence of polyphenols, antioxidants found in abundance in red grape varieties such as Malbec. So you get to enjoy the wine in the knowledge it is beneficial to heart health. Recommended as an alternative to Shiraz or to ponder over what has gone wrong in England.
Source: Winery Sample. Alcohol: 13.5%. Closure: Screwcap. Price: $15.00. Rating: 89 Points.
Website: http://www.bleasdale.com.au/
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