Lunch with Friends and Pascual Toso

Shortly after the new year started Pris and I had a couple friends from Indianapolis down for late lunch.  I had to bribe them with food to get them to Brownsville, but they brought an excellent wine and a great cranberry dip.  Chris and Tara Wren brought a bottle of 2009 Pascual Toso Malbec from Argentina.
 
The Pascual Toso was surprisingly mellow, more akin to a Pinot or a Zinfandel than the full bodied Argentinean reds.  Loads of rich plum with just a tough of oak greet you on the nose.  This was a fruity Malbec, with good amounts of blueberry and blackberry up front on the palate.  Towards the back of the palate there are hints of vanilla and oak that add a nice backbone to the wine.  The Pascual Toso ended softly with a nice lingering finish.

We paired the wine with a couple of honey-glazed cilantro and chevre coated roasted chickens, a summer vegetable gratin, and a wild mushroom polenta.  Even though the wine was a rich red, it went exceptionally well with the rich meal.  The fruity Malbec was a great compliment to the savory and cheesy polenta.  Similarly, the wine was a good counterpoint to the tangy and savory chicken.  Even though this was a rich red, it did not overpower the chicken.

I need to thank Tara and Chris again for bringing this wine. Pris and I now have another one that we'd like to stock up on when we can.  Since it was a gift I don't have any information on price or where to purchase it.  You can find out more about the Pascual Toso wines at: http://www.pascualtoso.com/welcome