2008 Turnbull Cabernet Sauvignon

Oakville, in Napa Valley, California, is home to Turnbull Wine Cellars. Turnbull produces two white wines and a number of red wines. The reds are primarily blends, utilizing many of the seven different varietals grown in their vineyards.

The 2008 Turnbull Cabernet Sauvignon was 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 7% Syrah, 4% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, 2% Petite Sirah, and 1% Malbec. The wine was aged in new French oak barrels for 20 months. The ABV was 14.5%. There were 6600 cases of this vintage produced.

I found this wine on the list at Salt Creek Grille in Rumson, New Jersey. The restaurant’s wine list is predominantly California offerings (at one point it was exclusively California) with a very wide range of prices.

As I had not previously tasted Turnbull, I decided to give it a try.

2008 Vina Cobos Bramare Malbec

Vina Cobos produces wines from the Lujan de Cuyo region in the province of Mendoza in Argentina. The winery produces a full line of red and white wines utilizing Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay varietals.

The 2008 Vina Cobos Bramere Malbec was 100% Malbec. The grapes for the wine were sourced from the Marchiori Vineyards, near the town of Pedriel in Lujan de Cuyo. The wine was aged in French and American oak (70% new, 30% old) for 18 months. The label listed ABV was 15.2%.

My previous Malbec samplings (2007 Zapata Argentino and 2007 Zapata Alta) went quite well. I really like the Malbec variety.

In search of something outside of Bodegas Catena Zapata (which is a fabulous winery), I came across Vina Cobos.

2007 Nicolas Catena Zapata

Bodega Catena Zapata produces a line of wines utilizing the Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec varietals. The winery is based in Mendoza, Argentina, and harvests its grapes from six vineyards in the Uco Valley and Lujan de Cuyo regions.

I had previously sampled their 2007 Catena Alta Malbec and their 2007 Malbec Argentino. I opened the 2007 Nicolas as Part II of World Malbec Day on the 17th of April 2012 (okay…I admit it, I was just looking for any reason to taste this bottle!).

The 2007 Nicolas Catena Zapata was a red blend, composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Malbec. The wine was produced with grapes from 4 of Zapata’s vineyards (La Piramide, Domingo, Adrianna, and Nicasia). The 2007 Nicolas was aged for 24 months in new French oak.

Of all the wines I have tried from Catena Zapata, this was one of the best I have ever tasted.

2007 Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino

Catena Zapata, based in Mendoza, Argentina, is one of that country’s most well-known wineries. They produce a number of red and white wines, utilizing Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec varietals.

I previously tasted their 2007 Catena Alta Malbec. The Catena Alta was produced using grapes from four of the winery’s vineyards. The Argentino product utilized grapes from the best lots of two of their vineyards (the Adrianna and Nicasia vineyards).

The 2007 Malbec Argentino was 100% Malbec. The wine was aged for 24 months in new French oak. The label listed ABV was 14%.

Similar to my experience with the Catena Alta, the Argentino was a very, nice bottle of wine.

2007 Bodega Catena Zapata Catena Alta Malbec

Bodega Catena Zapata is one of the most renowned wineries in Argentina. They produce a number of white and red wines. They have worked extensively with the Malbec variety. Their wines include single variety Malbecs, as well as blends. The Alta product utilizes specific lots within the family’s vineyards.

The 2007 Alta Malbec is 100% Malbec. The wine was aged for 18 months in French oak.

This wine is a great representation of the Malbec variety.