Antigal One Malbec and the Domestic Arts - Wine and Book review

Antigal Uno Malbec from Uco Valley Argentina

January and February are months that challenge my domestic artistry.  On the one hand, I miss all the festive events of the holiday season, but on the other, I simply can't do one more thing.  The rain does not help.

Luckily, I found two pick me ups that bring the sparkle back.

First, Antigal  "Uno" Malbec, Mendoza Argentina ($15.99).  This wine has great typicity of Malbec - dark fruit, generous texture, lush flavors, enticing aromas.  This example also has an elegance that toppled my expectations for a brawny wine.  Maybe it's the eight to ten months in French oak?  Or maybe it is the deft hand of a female winemaker: Miriam Gomez leads the program at the Uco Valley label.  The fruit is grown at higher elevation. It is vinified gently and with care.  This creates a wine with lovely natural acidity, which I crave.  The flavors are easy to pair with food.  They encompass red fruit, tobacco and cocoa powder.  At $15.99, the price is easy to balance with the credit card bills coming in from my holiday finery.  All in all, Antigal Uno is comfort in a glass.

And of course, my natural hostessing instincts kick back in and make me want to share.  A handy tip for instant, easy entertaining I discovered was to pair this tasty affordable Malbec with  Steak Bites from my new life guide.  I love this book,  The Charleston Academy of Domestic Pursuits, which fulfills its promise of being an etiquette handbook with recipes.  Along with great advice on life, love and entertaining, the easy to follow recipes, tap  into your inner domestic goddess, while taming the overachieving event dominatrix we all have (not you?  okay, just me) inside.

Spring will be here before we know it.  Many thanks to Antigal for the wine and Suzanne and Lee for the advice on how to get there with tasty style and comforting flair.

Many thanks, as well, to Patricia Schneider, of Elemental Meme PR, who provided a sample of wine.  The first one was free but I just keep buying more at Cost Plus World Market