Steak with Argentine Malbec
A juicy sirloin steak with gravy. A delicious entrecôte with such a lovely strip of fat. Or a tender, marbled rib eye. Suddenly got a huge appetite too? And, of course, all this meat is crying out for a good glass of wine. A full-bodied, robust red wine. One that holds its own alongside such a fine piece of beef. Choose bold Argentine Malbec.
The ultimate combination
A good steak comes from the rib, the loin, or the rump. The word is a corruption of the English beefsteak; a steak from a cow, in other words. Words such as ostrich or venison steak are therefore inherently odd; a so-called contradictio in terminis. But that aside. Back to that cow and its wine.
Malbec seems to have been made for this type of meat – preferably with gravy or a delicious strip of fat. With such a pronounced piece of meat containing lots of protein, a smooth wine completely disappears. A powerful wine with plenty of – initially somewhat harsh – tannins is much more delicious. Like the South American Malbec. It is full-bodied and spicy, with plenty of delicious fruit and firm tannins. Combined with steak, the wine becomes even fuller and softer, while the meat becomes juicier and more flavorful.
a smooth wine disappears alongside powerful meat
French or Argentine
The French grape variety Malbec shows a very different side in Argentina than in its homeland. In the Bordeaux region, they are serious, somewhat austere wines, such as those from Cahors. Often beautiful and interesting too, but intended for the experienced wine drinker.
In Argentina, things are different. Malbec has even been declared their national pride. The variety ripens perfectly on the foothills of the Andes. Vineyards at high altitude – where the grapes experience very warm days and cold nights – produce exuberant, fruity wines that are rounder in flavor than their French counterparts. These Malbecs are full-bodied, friendly, and warm. Also rich in tannins, but much softer and more sultry in flavor. You smell violets and taste blackcurrants, blackberries, and plum.
exuberantly fruity thanks to warm days and cold nights
Bio-dynamic in the Andes
Malbec does particularly well in the area around Mendoza. Bodega Luigi Bosca is one of the larger wineries in the area. They produce a huge range of wines in all kinds of price categories, from delicious easy-drinking wines such as La Linda, to impressive showstoppers such as Gala and Los Nobles.
My absolute favorite is their Malbec, Terroir los Miradores: intense, spicy, soft tannins, and still with a lovely freshness. The Los Miradores vineyard is located in one of Argentina’s best wine-growing regions: the Valle de Uco. This highest-altitude vineyard of Luigi Bosca (1,150 meters) is also farmed biodynamically. A perfect combination of winemaker, soil, climate, and grape, really. Hence that freshness and unique flavor.
And naturally, those Argentinians understand better than anyone that good meat requires the perfect wine. A classic case of 1+1=3.
Want to taste these Argentine Malbecs yourself?
Finca La Linda, Malbec
among others at Abels Wijnen (from € 6.75)
Bosca Gala 1, Malbec/Petit Verdot/Tannat
among others at Totaalwijn.nl (from € 18.25)
Luigi Bosca Terroir los Miradores, Malbec
among others at Buyyourwine.com (from € 18.45)
