M is for Malbec
What's not to like? Malbec's profile is ideally suited for most palates and particularly for this time of year. It's mid to full bodied, with black and blue fruits predominating with a good lash of chocolate and a pretty twist of rose petal. It's perfumed, robustly structured, good with steak and generally delicious. It's from Cahors in France (traditionally known as Cot) and found a neo-classical style in Argentina. The wines of Cahors were previously known as the black wines of Cahors as they were unapproachable for years and years - Argentina brought a more aproachable style to the market which, like Marlborough Savignon Blanc, managed to bring legions of new wine drinkers to the fore. 
Tom from Succession called his wine "the kind of wine that separates the connoisseurs from the weekend Malbec morons". Well, I am one of those Malbec morons - particularly in BBQ season. Get over yourself Tom! (Also he was talking about his own dreadfully poor wine he and Siv had released - Californian Spatburgunder?).
We love Tom from Succession but he is that most loathsome of wine nazi that makes the most noise in the room when it comes to wine, attempts to trip up sommeliers and is generally unpleasant when the subject comes up. Tom seems to echo the main, or only criticism that besets Malbec, generally that the wine nazis don't drink it because it is limited. The hell it is we say. Don't be Tom. We have discussed the traditional Argentinian neo-classical style in these pages before, but Mendoza has long since started to innovate to hone ever more cutting edge styles from the grape. Wendouree is a Malbec specialist in Australia that is harder to come by than DRC - they sell all their wine via mailing list lottery, with a 10 year wait to even get into the lottery. Malbec's sturdiness in the heat means it is growing in significance in Bordeaux. Cahors, it's spiritual home is enjoying somewhat of an under the radar renaissance. Tom and the wine nazis are simply off the pace.
Forget the noise, just let your palate and your taste buds decide, and also your company! If everybody loves Malbec then surely you should just have some ast home for company and barbacues. Are you going to treat your friends and family to a big juicy glass of wine that goes with a BBQ or be like Tom and talk about your "agricultural wine" that you have to "meet half way" even you admit is "not very good".
Don't be like Tom.
Salut. Rory
