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Looking for a good Malbec

Before we get into the topic: Ok, I am new to wine. I have been drinking teas of varying grades for years, but recently I've been looking into trying to learn more about wines. I've done your usual, going to various shops; comparing prices; trying to learn the difference between the types of grapes; etc. I have a most interesting problem: I am living on mainland China. Concerning wine, I have to wade knee-deep through the exact same problem that I have with buying tea in China; uneducated but rich investors/buyers creating a mock bull market to simply amuse themselves. With wine it's not so serious because I just need to look in the "imported" section and pray for the best...but there again, I recall seeing some of the same brands in the Food-Lion here marked up 10 times.

But, I digress.

I seem to dig more spicy wines, and it seems that much comes from South America. I've found a few Malbecs around here of unknown origin that I think are ok, but would no doubt offend the more serious wine drinkers here. My question is two-fold: What are some better Malbecs I should be trying to search for and would anybody know any vendors/ shops/places online to buy wines that would be accessible from mainland China? I am a hop away from HK, if any of you fine folks are in HK.

Thanks, and I hope to learn much from this newsgroup as I have from rfdt.

Reply to
Mydnight
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Reply to
Joseph Coulter
Reply to
Joseph Coulter
Reply to
Joseph Coulter

To paraphrase the party-guest in the motion picture, "The Graduate," it's "Mendoza," (replaces the word "plastics."). If I am seeking Malbec, I always go to Mendoza, and am almost never disappointed. Argentina has embraced this varietal and the Mendoza region seems to have a strangle-hold on Malbec. There may be weak ones out there (what area of the world doesn't have a few weak wines?), but you cut your losses by looking there.

I do not know how well they may be represented in China, but it is not a varietal that is a darling of the collectors. It is not immune to the problems, that you mention, but is less likely to be affected, than say a 1er Cru Bdx, or cult Cal-Cab.

Hunt

Reply to
Hunt

Joseph Coulter wrote:

[SNIP great recs.]

Joseph, what a great list. I have not experienced almost 1/2 of your list, but will keep it handy, when going out after Malbec. If the remainder is as good, as the ones, with which I am familiar, they should be excellent.

Only hope is that some are available to the OP.

Hunt

Reply to
Hunt

As I said in an above post, I've located some of the producers like Dona Paula, but it was not the same as he said. So far, I have not been able to find anything on that list, and I don't plan to be able to. Most of the vineyards, I'm finding, are shipping the lowest quality stuff over and marking it up to take advantage of China's uneducated wine market. The stuff I've found here has retailed in winesearcher for like 4-8 dollars, most of it, and they sell for like

10-15.

Rather disconcerting.

Reply to
Mydnight

It should be a great list, the restaurant is as good as it gets in BA, but in keeping with Argentine spirit nothing there is over priced so one can eat high and drink well for a song.

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Reply to
Joseph Coulter

If you like 'spicy' wines, you may want to look into southern Italian wines and wines from Sicily and Sardinia. Monica di Sardegna is a particular favorite of mine.

Reply to
UC

That is a pity. With the Chinese economy doing so well, and a bit of "globalization," I'd think that soon, this might change, and hopefully for the better.

Hunt

Reply to
Hunt

In Beijing and Shanghai you can get 2nd notch up from the worst for double the price. I guess that's progress...of some kind.

Reply to
Mydnight

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