Malbecs ring in the fall – Grape Crush

Malbecs have grown in popularity for their affordability, food-friendliness and good balance. Medium-to-full-bodied and deep red or purple in color, they’re often heavy on fruit and solid in tannins. These three Argentine Malbecs will take you through fall tailgating, outdoor dinners and the first glimpses of cool temperatures. They can hold their own with beef and lamb, and they also perform well with chicken, pork and shrimp—?especially grilled.

Decero Remolinos Vineyard Mendoza 2007 – $15

The nose on Decero’s 2007 Malbec is radiant and full of ripe fruit. With plums and berries on the mid-palate and a smooth velvety finish, it’s got great structure. This is a versatile and food-friendly wine, pairing well with fine cuts of beef, but I think it’s exceptional with a roast beef and goat cheese sandwich on crusty whole-grain bread.

Yellow+Blue Mendoza 2007 – $10

In this case, ”Yellow+Blue” makes green, meaning earth-friendly packaging, organic grapes and a lighter carbon footprint. The wine’s Tetra Pak might resemble a juice box or a skinny riff on boxed wine, but fear not. Such packaging is growing in popularity among finer wines because it’s less expensive to produce and ship. Medium-bodied with a decent amount of tannins and not too much fruit, Yellow+Blue is a super fall picnic wine. And here’s a bonus: the Tetra Pak not only keeps the price down, it yields a full liter (rather than 750 ml) and stays fresher longer than its bottled counterparts.

Crios de Susana Balbo Mendoza 2008 – $13

This is a gorgeous deep color with a smoky nose. There’s lots of ripe fruit, spice, pepper and soft tannins. Susana Balbo is a longtime Argentine female winemaker, and this line—Crios, meaning “offspring”—is one of her latest. Her 2008 Malbec is unfiltered, leaving tiny amounts of sediment, which consequently presents more complexity and flavor. It pairs well with steak, but also soars with heavy party fare like kebabs or empanadas.