Fun With Carbs

I just had dinner with my favorite foodie friend, Kat (chicken fried rice, I overcooked the rice) and we made short work of a bottle of my favorite Malbec, Punto Final. I’d say I’ve been drinking this wine for two or three years now – I picked it off the rack the way I pick many of my wines. That is, if the label catches my eye. I know it’s a very ‘judge a book by its cover’ method, but trust me, it’s worked for me.

I also keep my wine choices within a budget – you’ll rarely see me spending more than $15 for a bottle. I’d rather put three or four new bottles on my rack than chance an expensive one that I may not like. That’s not to say I wouldn’t like the pricy stuff, though. Rob and I received a bottle of 1999 Dom Perignon for a wedding present, which we drank at the reception. The good stuff is GOOD.

Anyway, as my oenophilic tastes have evolved, I’ve found myself really getting into Malbec, a wine that seems to increase in popularity every year. Many of my favorites originate in Argentina, where the grape has had much success. Punto Final has apparently earned top honors from Wine Spectator (87 points for its 2004 vintage) and Wine Enthusiast (Top 100 Best Buy for 2006 & 2007.) And see, I just liked the pretty black-and-orange label.

It’s a bold red, smooth and fruity with notes of spice. It’s heavier than say, a Rioja, its light, fruity Spanish counterpart.  Good for fall and winter.

Malbec seems to be expensive by the glass at restaurants – a fact I learned the hard way last summer when I offhandedly ordered a glass without looking at the menu at Max’s Tavern in Springfield. Then I ordered another one. When my $26 bill came (yes, that’s $13 a glass), you could have practically scraped me off the ceiling. Needless to say I’ve learned to ask for prices.

If you’re a wine person and you’re within driving distance of Table & Vine in West Springfield, Mass., I highly recommend a visit. It’s a huge retailer with an enormous selection of wines organized by region of origin, thousands of beers (including tons of hard-to-find microbrews) and an impressive offering of spirits. They also have an awesome selection of specialty foods – a big cheese counter, fresh breads, olives, spreads, chocolates and much more.