A well-balanced Malbec

If you like red wine, you may be familiar with the grape variety called Malbec.

It is very dark in color and has a rich flavor. It is a specialty variety of Cahors (southwestern region) in France, where it is called black wine because of its dark color and strong astringency.

Malbec is also the main variety in Argentina, and many of the wines produced there are concentrated, powerful red wines that are perfect for the country's meat-eating culture.

Compared to Cahors, Argentine Malbec tends to be richer in fruitiness and has a slightly mellower astringency.

And there is a small amount of Malbec wine in New Zealand.

It is mainly grown in Hawke's Bay in the North Island.

Hawke's Bay has a warm climate in New Zealand, but is not as warm as the growing conditions in Cahors or Argentina.

The resulting wines tend not to have a strong, punchy flavor, but rather a gentler, softer taste.

The Decibel Gimlet Gravels Malbec 2018 that I'm introducing today has a soft flavor. It's a medium-full-bodied red wine.

This wine is made from grapes grown in a special plot of land in Hawke's Bay called Gimlet Gravels.

The producer, Decibel Wines, has been producing Malbec wines since 2009, and Malbec has now become the identity of their wines.

This wine is fermented with wild yeasts, aged in oak barrels for 21 months, and then bottled and shipped, which is a longer aging period in barrels than other wineries.

Deep purple in color, it has a complex aroma of violets, blackberries, and American cherries.

It has just the right amount of acidity, moderate spiciness, and soft tannins, giving it a well-balanced overall flavor.

It also has great potential for aging in the bottle, and I think it will remain delicious until around 2028.

What dishes pair well with...

• Bean stews such as cassoulet
• Tripe stewed in tomato sauce
• Simmered beef
• Sukiyaki
• Thickly sliced beef tongue steak
• Lamb steak

This dish goes well with this.

The combination is even better with just the right amount of spice.

About the Winery "Decibel Wines"

Decibel Wines is a winery founded by Daniel Brennan, a former musician born in New York and raised in Philadelphia.

Although he has an unusual career, his connection with wine goes back a long way, and its roots lie in his ancestors. His great-grandfather made wine in Sicily, Italy, and his grandfather immigrated to the United States. The family-run restaurant also sells New Zealand wines, and Daniel has been exposed to New Zealand wines since he was young, realizing their great potential.

After that, he trained in California and Italy, and then moved to New Zealand in search of the ideal place. In New Zealand, he studied oenology in Hawke's Bay, made wine at a local winery, and launched his own winery in 2009.

Decibel Wines uses grapes from contracted farmers in Hawke's Bay, Martinborough, Nelson, and other areas to make its wine. The fields of these farmers are certified sustainable, and some of the fields are transitioning to organic and biodynamic farming methods.

About Hawke's Bay

Hawke's Bay is located in the eastern part of the North Island and is characterized by abundant sunshine and a relatively warm climate, and boasts the second largest grape-growing area in Australia.

Hawke's Bay specializes in producing red wines, particularly those made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Syrah, while fruity Chardonnay is a popular white wine.

The Gimlet Gravels, an area created when what was originally a riverbed was pushed up by an earthquake, is one of Hawke's Bay's important sub-regions.

Decibel Gimblett Gravels Malbec 2018

item	Content
Winery Name	Decibel Wines
Country of Origin	new zealand
Origin	Hawke's Bay Gimlet Gravels
kinds	red
Grape variety	Malbec
Vintage	2018
Alcohol content	13.0%
capacity	750ml
certification	Sustainable Certification
remarks	Screw Cap

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