2002 Chateau Eugenie Cahors

One good thing about being part of a group like the Grape Nutz is that my fellow wine lovers know my tastes and favorites in the bottle and are more than willing to point out an excellent option that I may overlook or simply know nothing about.

That was the case with this French malbec. I am a huge fan of Malbec…..HUGE….for it’s mellow flavors and ridiculously inexpensive price tag. Malbec, in all it’s glory, is a red wine lovers dream; full of flavors, low in tannins and easy on the wallet. So as my fellow Nutz and I were perusing a local wine market after a wonderful tasting they did for us, I heard my friend Nikki calling out to me excitedly, and when I approached her, she pushed this bottle into my hands, gushing about how it would be the finest Malbec I have ever had.  I purchased it and tucked it into my wine rack, awaiting an occasion that I saw fit to open it, and more importantly, share it.

Then my curtains arrived via my best friend Joanna, who had offered her sewing expertise as a birthday present to cover up some rather bare windows in our house. Once hung, gushed over and proclaimed absolutely perfect for their seamless blending into our new decor, I cracked open the Cahors and we raised a glass.

Wow…..Nikki was absolutely right. This was by far one of the best Malbecs I have tasted. It was so silky and smooth on the tongue, rich in burgundy color, with licorice, leather and blackberry. The finish was really mellow, starting out somewhat strong but fading quickly, without much fanfare. The French malbec is not as fruit forward as it’s Argentine counterpart, but it was, in itself and like any variation on a theme, full of it’s own merits and capable of standing  on its unique accolades.