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Mission Codename: The Magpie

Operative: Agent White

Objective: Secure an exclusive allocation of the delicious Primera Riserva from the up-and-coming Urraca Vineyards

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Urraca Vineyards

Wine Subject: 2005 Primera Reserva (Malbec/Merlot Blend)

Winemaker: Walter Bressia

Backgrounder:

One of the six component varietals that go into a true French Bordeaux wine, Malbec (named for the Hungarian peasant who first brought the grape to France) is a thin-skinned grape that requires more time to mature than its Bordeaux brethren, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In America, where very little Malbec is grown, the wine is often used as a minority component of Meritage blends. Argentina is, perhaps, best-known for producing exceptional examples of the varietal.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Dense and dark purple with ruby highlights through its dark but clear core. Along the edges the color lightens just slightly to garnet. When swirled, this slightly viscous wine leaves slow medium-thick legs that thin as they descent to the wine below.

Smell – Complex and redolent with spicy bold and ripe fruit including blackberry, blueberry, black cherry and plum layered with exotic and sweet spice, sweet floral notes, and hints of vanilla, oak and soft wild fennel.

Feel – The full-bodied classic is smooth, expansive and mouth-coating on the palate with fine but textured firm tannins and balanced acidity that supports the ripe and spicy fruit long into the finish.

Taste – Rich and plush fruit black and red fruit flavors that are well integrated with sweet spice and a subtle earthy component. As you explore this wine, hints of tobacco, bittersweet dark chocolate along with oak and other wood notes add both complexity and roundness to the many intense fruit flavors up front, emerging and evolving as you continue to enjoy this savory wine.

Finish – This wine finishes smooth and long with lingering spicy and earthy fruit layered over its subtle oak flavors. The finely textured tannins seen to go on and on, making the mouth water for yet another sip (until you’ve polished off your glass and eventually the entire bottle).

Conclusion – The 2005 Urraca Vineyards Primera Reserva is a lovely example of why Malbec is so popular as a varietal wine from Argentina. The addition of Merlot adds an Old World rive droite texture to the structure along with adding subtle complexity to the aroma and flavor profile. A lovely wine that will pair well anything from simple burgers and grilled meats such as lamb chops with garlic and rosemary.

Mission Report:

Once upon a summer night, while I pondered what to drink,
Over many a curious bottle in my cellar,
Head held heavy, growing tired in the chilled air,
Suddenly there came a tapping,
As if someone was rapping, rapping on my cellar door,
‘Tis you, Agent Blush?’ I muttered, ‘tapping on my cellar door – Only this, and nothing more.’

I distinctly remember the warm moist air of late summer,
And retreating to my cool dark cellar to escape the weather.
Eagerly, I search for a bottle; to waste away until tomorrow, Secretly wishing to decrease my sorrow with a visit by my Angel Blush.
From the many dusty bottles, rare and radiant, whom the angel named Blush – Nameless here for evermore.

And the silky flavors, and round texture of a purple Malbec
Thrilled me with complexity and spice, fantastic flavors never felt before;
So for now, to the last sip, the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
‘Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my cellar door –
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my cellar door -
This it is and nothing more,’

Deep into the dark core peering, long lingering wine I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams of another glass, a longing I have had many times before
But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token
Any the only words I whispered where angel Blush and Malbec no more.
Merely this and nothing more

Back into the cellar turning, all my palate within yearning
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before
Sipping again, then swishing, swirling and swallowing, it must be angel Blush
Let me see then, and what thereat is, and this mystery explore – Let my heart be still to enjoy this wine and this mystery explore
Tis the Spy Dog and nothing more?

Open here I flung open the door, when with many a flirt and a flutter,
In there stepped a stately singing magpie of Urraca lore
Not the least obeisance made her, not a minute stopped or stayed her
Perched upon one of my many bottles just next to my cellar door.
Perched, and sat and nothing more.

Then this ebony and white bird beguiling my intense focus into smiling
Tempting me with wine in hand there I look,
Quoth the magpie, another sip I took…

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of the Mendoza region in Argentina can be seen in this satellite photo.