Here are two more Malbecs from Argentina that you may want to consider buying and opening on Malbec World Day, April 17, 2022. Since 2011 Malbec has been the most cultivated variety in Argentina, and the country has positioned itself as a leader in volume, quality and exports worldwide. One wine is from Finca Decero and the other from Escorihuela Gascon. Finca Decero is a relative newcomer, started in 2000 by Swiss owner Thomas Schmidheiny with the first wine produced in 2006. Escorihuela Gascon’s history reaches back to 1880, when Miguel Escorihuela Gascón immigrated to Argentina, from Spain. In 1884 he managed to buy 17 hectares of land in Mendoza, plant vineyards, and start building Bodegas Escorihuela. Now let me tell you about their two wines.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Finca Decero Remolinos Vineyard Malbec 2018 (BC $18.49)
From the winery, “The grapes spent 5-7 days in cold soak before fermentation in stainless steel tanks. After fermentation, 90% of the wine went into French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation and 14 months to mature. The remaining 10% of the wine remained in tank to preserve the violet aromatics…Remolinos Vineyard derives its name from the little whirlwind spiral formations of soil which form in the afternoon as the gentle wind lifts the dry soil from the paths of the vineyard into swaying ‘dust devils’.”
Appearance: Opaque, dull garnet plus ruby in the glass.
Nose: Medium-minus intensity aromas of candied red fruit, sweet spices, and a touch of oak. With decanting you get candied red fruits, sweet spice, and touches of capsicum, leather, and coconut aromas.
Palate: Dry, full-bodied, round, and velvety smooth. Medium-plus intensity flavours of red cherries and red fruits, candied red fruits, and touches of vanilla and oak. The wine picks up pepperiness and floral from the mid-palate to the finish. Medium, fine-grained tannins and lighter acidity. The floral component comes upfront with decanting. You get a more sweet candied red fruit and red cherry flavour, plus some coconut flavour. The acidity is a bit higher and the pepperiness kicks in sooner.
Finish: Medium length finishing with red fruits and light pepperiness. The tannins get a bit grippy. Less grippy tannins with decanting. You get a mix of sweet and tart red fruit flavours as well.
Decant or not is OK, but decanting gives you more floral and candied red fruit flavours if that is what you prefer.
Rating: 
An opaque, dull garnet plus ruby colour. Lighter aromas of candied red fruit, sweet spices, and a touch of oak. Full body, with a thick, round mouthfeel. Medium tannins and lighter acidity. Red fruit, red cherries and candied red fruit flavours. Floral and pepperiness on the mid-palate to the finish. Light sweet spices flavours as well.
Escorihuela Gascon 1884 Estate Grown Malbec 2019 (BC $17.99)
From the winery, “60% of this wine spends 8 months in a mix of French and American oak barrels.” 80% French and 20% American oak was used to age this wine.
Appearance: A deep garnet with ruby colour, about 85% opaque.
Nose: Medium intensity aromas with a mix of ripe plums, black and purple fruit, blueberries, some meatiness and a hint of oak. A quite smoky and toasted oak aroma after decanting. Black fruit and plum flavours with hints of red cherries and meat.
Palate: Dryish, medium-plus body, smooth and lean mouthfeel. Medium acidity and tannins. Black fruit, blackberries, black cherries and plums. A touch of oak. Fine tannins that firm up toward the finish. More toasty notes with decanting plus softer acidity. Mainly blackberries, nutmeg, and oak flavours. More subtle fruit flavours with decanting.
Finish: A medium length finishing with plum and black cherry flavours, some pepperiness and medium drying tannins. About the same finish with decanting, but with the addition of toastiness.
I prefer the undecanted version of this wine. There are more discernable aromas and flavours, plus the toastiness is much less.
Rating: 
without decanting. Deeper garnet with a ruby tinge in the glass. Medium intensity nose with ripe plums black and purple fruit, blueberries, meat, sweet spices and a touch of oak aromas. Dryish, with medium-plus body, smooth and lean mouthfeel. Black plums and cherries, nutmeg and blueberry flavours. Light tannins but firm up a bit on the finish.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
The 1884 Malbec is available at BC Liquor stores and is currently on sale for $15.99
The Finca Decero Remolinos Vineyard Malbec is available at Everything Wine for $28.98.
