Review of Septima Obra Malbec 2014

We received the product for review and all opinions are our own.

It is always difficult for a parent when their children grow up and move away to start their own lives. Be it moving to a new city, or simply down the road to enjoy the married life. In the end, things always seem to work out, and of course this is the cycle of life. Similar things can happen to grape varieties. They might decide at some point they would be happier someplace else, be it the soil, the weather, or even the altitude. The wine up for review this time around is a great example of that, a grape that found a home in a distant land. Malbec is very French, and it is still a fairly popular grape variety in the Cahors region of France, and a little for blending in Bordeaux. However, I am willing to bet if you were to ask 10 people where Malbec is originally from, 7-8 of them would say Argentina. Why? Well, Argentina provides just the right terroir components to cultivate stunning Malbec. Some might argue they even beat the French in that aspect. Anyway, the story of the runaway grape is an interesting one, but what about the wine? Let us discuss the bottle for review now.

Bodega Septima is a well respected winery located in the coveted Mendoza wine region of Argentina. They have been around since 1999, and since it was the seventh winery founded by the Codorníu Raventós family, the name fell right into place, Septima (meaning seventh in Spanish). The estate vineyards planted in the Luján de Cuyo area of Mendoza sit at an elevation at over 3,400 feet, which makes for an ideal microclimate. The soils are alluvial silt loam, with low contents of organic matter. This makes it quite the place to cultivate Malbec grapes. The 2014 harvest was one of the coldest since 2001, coupled with heavy frosts in September. The 2014 vintage offers high acidity and freshness.

This bottle of wine has a clean and simple label, which I much prefer. Once the cork is yanked from its den, the wine pours into the glass a deep ruby red, which is fairly opaque. The nose is pretty straight forward for a South American Malbec. Aromas of blackberries, black cherries, and jammy notes prevail, with tantalizing hints of violets in the background. The palate pretty much sums up the nose entirely. I find this wine to be juicy and fresh, with no distinguishable earthiness. The finish is long and enjoyable.

Specifications:

• Septima Obra Malbec, 2014 vintage
• Winemaker: Paula Borgo- Mercedes Willink
• Appellation: Mendoza, Argentina
• Grape varieties: Malbec
• Barrels: 10 months in second-use French and American oak barrels
• Clarity/brightness: Clear/bright, with no detectable flaws and no evidence of gas or sediment
• Tannins: Medium
• Acidity: Medium plus
• Alcohol: Medium
• Finish: Long
• Alcohol by volume: 13.0% alcohol by volume
• Retail price: $24.99 per bottle, at the time of review

This is a straightforward Argentina Malbec in my book. Nothing too crazy or complex, but very enjoyable and smooth. I do think this wine will improve with age, but I would not expect it to become overly complex. This wine was no doubt made to be a high quality drinker, not a thinker. The wife and myself as usual, utilized a non-traditional pairing. Burgers on the grill, with tater tots from the fryer. The pairing was quite nice to be honest. I think this bottle of wine would be better suited alongside a filet mignon though. The supple tannins and ample structure lend themselves toward leaner red meats, or venison.

Sip, savor, and enjoy my fellow aficionados.