Mendoza, Madrigal & Malbec

178. 2006 Bodega Familia Cassone Madrigal Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec (Mendoza - Argentina)

Another producer that I knew nothing about when I saw it in the shop awhile back. Like the rest of the world, now that Argentine winemakers are becoming as concerned with quality as with quantity, I'm trying more Argentine wines - Malbec or otherwise. Or, like this one, a blend featuring Malbec.

I didn't find an awful lot about the producers, even after buying the bottle, but I did discover that this is a 50/50 blend of the Cab and the Malbec and that the winery and vineyards are located in the Mendoza region of Argentina, just outside of Lujan de Cuyo, the region's first sub-appellation.

The Cassone family emigrated to Argentina in the 1800's, from Piedmont, and restarted wine production in 1998 with grapes from their three properties in the area - some of which featured 90-year old Malbec vines.

Mendoza is the most important wine producing region in the country. The area accounts for 60% of Argentine wine and an even higher percentage of the country's wine exports.

I'm particularly fond of the fact that the prices are staying relatively low even as the quality is improving.