A Georgia Malbec

In celebration of Spring and the fourth annual Georgia Wine Highway Weekend, I finally had an excuse to open the Tiger Mountain Vineyards 2007 Malbec (a special thank you to Martha Ezzard, co-owner of Tiger Mountain Vineyards, who sent me a sample).  I’ve shared my excitement for Georgia wines in the past, and especially Tiger Mountain Vineyards (see my earlier post).  Great hospitality, fabulous wine, and incredible views make this winery a must stop along the wine trail when visiting North Georgia, and is another fine example of the potential offered up by Georgia.

Harvesting Malbec at Tiger Mountain Vineyards. Photo Credit: Peter McIntosh

The 2007 Malbec comes in at 12% alcohol, includes a cork closure, and is made up of 90% of the varietal grape.  A splash of Tannat was added for color and more tannin.  The wine retails for $22 and is available for purchase from the winery.  We decided to pair alongside locally made beef empanadas from Whole Foods.  Our cheese expert recommended two cheeses, a Pata Cabra goat cheese, and a Mahon Do Reserve spanish cheese.

Due to the young age, I chose to decant and let sit for an hour before pouring.  A great decision, because the wine opened up nicely.  In the glass, the wine exhibited a beautiful, deep, inky color.  On the nose, I picked up plum, hickory smoke, currant, and strawberries.  The bouquet on this wine is worth the price of admission.  In the mouth, I got raspberries and strawberries.  A surprisingly smooth, light bodied wine, that paired perfectly with our selections.

Tiger Mountain Vineyards 2007 Malbec

Once again, Tiger Mountain Vineyards has produced a crowd pleaser and proves Malbec has a bright future, high in the North Georgia mountains!

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