Mile High's Wine of the Week: April 24th
Finca Flichman Paisaje de Tupungato 2010
Regular Price:
$18.99
Sale Price:
$9.99
Sale End:
4/27/2014
Warm weather entertaining season is right around the corner now that Spring has finally sprung here in the Mile High City. This week we have a fantastic Malbec based blend from Argentina that is sure to delight you and your guests when you serve it at your next backyard barbeque. The 2010 Finca Flichman Paisaje de Tupungato is the estate’s version of a South American Bordeaux style blend. A healthy dose of the classic Malbec grape gives this blend fantastic density as well as a whole host of wonderful black fruit flavors. Notes of roasted plums, blueberry compote, and pithy blackberries are startlingly pure up front. Cabernet adds structure to the blend delivering supple tannins and a certain amount of lift to the mid-palate. Then a splash of Merlot is used to soften the wine’s edges as well as to make the finish pop with hints of espresso and dark chocolate. Give it an hour or so in a decanter to soften this bold red’s edges and turn it from a brooding beast into a perfect pairing for pepper crusted flank steak with chimichurri sauce. Or toss it into the cellar for a couple of years in order to allow it to mature slowly. Either way, this is every bit of a $20 bottle of wine but this weekend, if you act quickly, you can get it for half that.
On to the Tasting Notes:
This is definitely the way I like to drink Malbec! I often find straight Malbec to be a little too opulent and flashy for my tastes. But the 2010 Finca Flichman Paisaje de Tupungato avoids those pitfalls through the careful use of some Cabernet and Merlot. The end result is a wine that delivers wonderful density and fruit, yet still manages to offer up a style that seems serious and food friendly. When I tasted it for the first time I did so knowing that it was about a $20 bottle of red. At that time I was impressed by how engaging and complete it was. So I decided to start the conversation about making an email special out of it. You can imagine how happy I was when the deal was done and I knew that we would be able to offer it to you for only ten bucks!
I opened a bottle fairly early in the day when my palate was good and fresh. As soon as I poured a glass, I was impressed by the lovely aromas of cocoa, macerated strawberries, incense, and saddle leather. Instead of going in for a sip though, I left the glass on the desk to breathe for about 45 minutes before I sat back down to write this review. When I returned I found the nose was every bit as sultry and seductive as when I left. So I went in for a sip. The entry was awash with sweet fruit. Notes of ripe raspberries, roasted black plums, blackberries, and crushed blueberries all bathed my palate leading me to wonder what would happen on the finish. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed with the way the Malbec blend finished. Crystal clear acidity and just the right amount of fine tannins gave the wine a real sense of symmetry on the palate. Intriguing notes of blackberry seeds, toasty oak, mocha, and mineral hung around long after I had swallowed and made me yearn for a bite of steak.
Food Pairing:
I love making beef fajitas during the summer since I can pretty much do everything on the grill out back, which keeps the kitchen cooler and makes cleanup a breeze. This delicious Argentine blend will be a fantastic pairing for just such a meal, since it has more than enough character to stand up to the intense flavors of my fajita seasoning.
You MUST mention this special or print it out to receive the price on the above wine.
This price expires 4/27/2014 at 6pm and is limited to in-store quantities.
No rain checks given. Call (303) 936-0272 to reserve bottles with a credit card.