Malbec is commonly known as a blending grape in Bordeaux, where it was used to add color and tannin to those wines. And since the 1990s, Argentine Malbec has taken the U.S. wine market by storm. Yet, the original home of Malbec is France’s southwest region, specifically Cahors (where it is also known as “Cot”), that the grape reaches its full potential creating distinctive, full-bodied wines that are able to mature. They are known as the “black wine of France.” Strongly made but delicious.

Mourvedre is a native to Spain. There it’s called Monastrell. Mourvedre is used as an important blending grape throughout Mediterranean France and Spain, as well as in the GS”M” wines of Australia. Strong, richly tannic, and with buttressing acidity, Mourvedre is distinct and delicious in its own right. And in Bandol, in France’s Provence region, it is the primary grape variety.

La Bastide Blanche Bandol Blanc 2008, List Price $26.99, Sale $21.99 – Bandol, Provence, France – 45% Clairette, 35% Ugni Blanc, 15% Bourboulenc, 5% Sauvignon Blanc – 13% abv – Organic - A fruity style, with focused flavors of peach, Golden Delicious apple and pear. Medium-bodied, with a zesty, spice-filled finish that features touches of cream. Drink now. 25 cases imported. – Wine Spectator

Domaine La Berangeraie Cahors Malbec Les Caminoles 2007, List Price $14.99, Sale $12.69 – Cahors, Sudouest, France – 100% Malbec – 13% abv – Organic - Juicy, with rustically spicy flavors. Medium-bodied, with plum and berry notes. The finish features pepper and tobacco leaf notes.

Domaine  La Berangeraie Cahors Les Quatre Chambrees 2008, List Price $22.99, Sale $18.99 – Cahors, Sudouest, France – 100% Malbec – 13.5% abv – Organic - A dense red, with plenty of tannins behind the ripe plum and currant flavors. The finish shows mineral and olive notes. Drink now. 50 cases imported. – Wine Spectator

La Bastide Blanche Bandol Cuvee Estagnol 2006, List Price $29.99, Sale $24.99 – Bandol, Provence, France – 94% Mourvedre, 6% Grenache – 14% abv – Organic - Plush and rich, with dense flavors of dark cherry, fig, licorice and dark chocolate. The powerful finish lingers with notes of mocha, smoke and roast beef. Needs time. Best from 2010 through 2014. 150 cases imported. – Rated 92 Points, Wine Spectator

La Bastide Blanche Bandol Cuvee Fontaneou 2007, List Price $29.99, Sale $24.99 – Bandol, Provence, France – 91% Mourvedre, 9% Grenache – 14.5% abv – Organic - Powerful, with a meaty essence to the dark fruit flavors. Very firm in the midpalate, delivering notes of cocoa and spice on the minerally finish. Drink now through 2015. – Wine Spectator

Sale pricing for selected wines lasts through the end of Saturday, March 19th, 2011. No other discounts may apply.

Stay tuned for details of this coming Saturday’s Sancerre and Firefly Farms Goat Cheese Tasting. Other than Champagne and caviar or white Burgundy and lobster, we can’t think of a more classic combination than Sancerre with cheese made from goat’s milk. We’ll let you know exactly what we’re pouring and spreading as soon as we get details.

As for this shortened work week (for some of you), we’ll pour a couple of surprising whites and 4 reds we think most of you have not tried as of yet. (Two of which are rated 90 points or higher from The Wine Advocate!) The lineup:

Josef Schmid Riesling Vom Urgestein Bergterrassen 2007, 24.99/btl – Kremstal, Austria – 100% Riesling – 13% abv – Offers a floral, spicy aroma, with intense Granny Smith apple, peach and pear flavors. Slate and pepper flavors fill the finish. Drink now through 2012. 833 cases made. – WS 89 points

Domaine Schoffit Chasselas Vieilles Vignes 2008, $23.99/btl – Alsace, France – 100% Chasselas – 13% abv – Originating in Colmar, the historic cave is still situated in the city – the domaine owns lovely parcels in Harth, situated right outside the city. In 1986 the domaine purchased the Clos St. Theobald in the famous Rangen de Thann, and more recently a parcel in (Grand Cru) Sommerberg. The domaine is then divided into three relatively distant terroirs – with gravel of the Harth, the granite of Grand Cru Sommerberg and the volcanic in Rangen de Thann … with the opulent v.t.’s and s.g.n.’s of anthology, the immense notoriety of Rangen tends to eclipse the other terroirs. The other wines though are more accessible with, in particular, a lovely range of Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois, always well balanced. More rare the Chasselas Caroline presents a density little found in this varietal. The Riesling Sommerberg shows great promise. – Le Classement, 2003 Revue du Vin de France

Weingut Trapl St. Laurent 2007, $21.99/btl – Carnuntum, Austria – 100% St. Laurent – 13% abv – Young Johannes Trapl – who took over his family’s property (supplemented by rental acreage) and constructed a winery in 2000 – is one of four growers serious about Blaufrankisch in the Spitzerberg (for more about which, see my reports on Muhr-Niepoort in this issue and in issue 177). On my first visit, I did not attempt to canvass Trapl’s entire line, which includes also St. Laurent, Zweigelt, and even a bit of the Bordelaise varieties. Clearly, he is on a steep learning curve. Early in its evolution, a basic 2007 Blaufrankisch from young vines in the Spitzerberg and nearer the winery tasted promising, even if tartness of fruit and notes from barrel were somewhat at odds, and a dedicated 2007 bottling from some impressive Blaufrankisch grown in Stixneusiedel was also envisioned. – David Schildknecht, The Wine Advocate

Domaine La Berangeraie Cahors Malbec Les Traversets 2007, $16.99/btl – Cahors, France – 100% Malbec – 13% abv – This has spicy and fruity aromas, with dense, ripe flavors of blackberry, dark plum and chocolate. The short, tannic finish features spiced cherry notes. Drink now through 2012. 50 cases imported. – WS 87 points

Domaine L’Oustal Blanc Naick 6 Rouge 2006, $20.99/btl – Languedoc, France – 100% 60% Cinsault, 20% Carignan, 20% Syrah and Grenache.- 14% abv – Aromas of nutmeg, sandalwood, pungent herbs, and ripe cherry distinguish the 2006 vintage Naick 6. Bitter hints of cherry pit, black tea, and herbs, along with an undertone of wet stone mark this wine’s palate personality as cooler, more aloof than its year-younger counterpart. But there is a similarly impressive sheer persistence of fresh fruit and herbs, and this should give a whole lot of pleasure for at least a couple more years. – WA 90 points

Chateau Mourgues du Gres Capitelles des Mourgues 2007, $24.99/btl – Rhone, France – 83% Syrah, 17% Carignan and Grenache – 14.5% abv – A sensational red wine is the 2007 Capitelles du Mourgues, a Cote Rotie look-alike from the treasure-trove of values, Costieres de Nimes. A combination of 83% Syrah and the rest Carignan and Grenache, all aged in 600 liter demi-muids, it boasts an opaque purple color as well as an extraordinary nose of blackberries, creme de cassis, licorice, and spring flowers. Sensational purity, full-bodied richness, good underlying freshness and vibrancy, and an amazingly long finish suggest a wine that costs 2-3 times as much. This exceptional effort should evolve for a decade. – WA 92 points

As for this week, we have another special event scheduled for Saturday (details to come), so this week’s lineup applies to Monday thru Friday, and as always, 4-7 pm:

Chateau Mourgues du Gres Costieres de Nimes Les Galtes Dores 2008, $14.99/btl – Rhone, France – 30% Grenache Blanc, 30% Roussanne, 30% Vermentino, 7% Marsanne,3% Clairette – 13% abv – The elegant white wine offering, the 2008 Les Galets Dores (nearly equal parts Grenache, Roussanne, Rolle, and tiny amounts of Marsanne and Clairette), offers notes of honeyed grapefruit and buttery citrus along with fresh acidity, medium body, plenty of flavor, and a dry, crisp finish. It should be drunk over the next year. – WA 88 points

Weingut Heymann-Lowenstein Riesling Schieferterrassen 2006, $19.99/btl – Mosel, Germany – 100% Riesling – There’s appealing flavors of peach, spice and slate, yet this seems a little slack, lacking the core of acidity to give all the components verve and snap. Drink now through 2012. 50 cases imported. – WS 88 points

Memo Sangiovese 2008, $10.99/btl – Tuscany, Italy – 100% Sangiovese – 13% abv – Strong ruby red color in the glass, with an intense and persistent nose. This fruity Tuscan wine has notes of cherries, prunes and vanilla. Medium bodied, slightly tannic, balanced and ready to drink. Cheap and cheerful!

Domaine La Bastide Syrah Les Genets Vieilles Vignes 2007, $12.99/btl – Languedoc, France – 100% Syrah – Medium-bodied, with dense red fruit flavors and tobacco leaf notes. There’s pepper and graphite on the finish. Drink now through 2012. 2,000 cases imported. – WS 86 points

Domaine de Ferrand Cotes du Rhone La Ferrande 2006, $21.99/btl – Rhone, France – 100% Syrah – 14% abv – As remarkable as 2007 is, there are 2006s that should not be forgotten. Domaine Ferrand (an excellent producer of Chateauneuf du Pape) has turned out a 100% Syrah cuvee, the 2006 Cotes du Rhone La Ferrand. Its opaque ruby/purple hue is followed by aromas of pepper, blackberries, licorice, incense, and earth. Dense and rich with surprising complexity and character for a southern Syrah, it should drink nicely for 2-3 years. – WA 90 points

Domaine la Berangeraie Les Caminoles Cahors Malbec 2007, $14.99/btl – Sudouest, France – 100% Malbec – 13% abv – In 1971 Andre Berenger came to Cahors from Provence with his wife Sylvie, who is originally from Champagne, and planted their vineyard near Grezels, on the red clay/iron stone soil known as Grezes. Their two children, Maurin and Juline not only joined them in the family business but so too have their respective spouses. Thus the three couples all work together and do everything in this twelve hectare domaine themselves – the pruning, the treatments of the all-organic vines and the harvesting all by hand (a disappearing practice in Cahors where harvesting is now done almost exclusively by machine). This is a lighter bodied Malbec from where the grape was originally grown. Malbec lovers should try this as a nice alternative to their standard powerhouses from Argentina.

Josef Schmid Grüner Veltliner Kremser Weingarten 2007, Kremstal, Austria – 100% Grüner Veltliner – “The Schmid bottling of diverse origins known as 2007 Grüner Veltliner Kremser Weingarten displays saline and alkaline mineral suggestions from the nose on, allied to lime, honeydew melon, and musky, narcissus-like floral perfume. A radish-like bite impinges on the lush melon and lime palate, and a deep note of beet root helps remind one of the grape variety in question. Less pungent than the Pfarrweingarten, this superb value boasts impressive concentration and persistence, and should be worth following for at least 3-4 years.” – WA 90 points

Domaine du Vissoux Brouilly  Pierreux 2007, Beaujolias, France – 100% Gamay – “The 2007 Brouilly Pierreux smells mouth-wateringly of tart blueberry and blackberry with a smoky, crushed-stone overtone. Intensely concentrated berries and smoked meat inform a dense, slightly grainy-textured palate, and the penetrating finish is palpably suffused with fruit skin and crushed stone. Give this another six months in the bottle and then enjoy over the subsequent 18-24 months.” – WA 90 points

Domaine La Berangeraie Cahors Cuvee Maurin, Sudouest, France – 100% Malbec – “The 2005 Cahors Cuvee Maurin (vinified in tank) represents the middle of their line-up. The effects of labor-intensive viticulture and gentle winemaking appear to be making themselves felt here, as neither fancy techniques nor barrels have proven necessary to making a complete, complex, and convincing statement. Ripe cassis and elderberry fill the nose and mouth, and juicy and expansive palate impression is supported by fine-grained tannins, and the finish delivers the real goods: deep bitterness-tinged black fruits, humus, black pepper, and iodine. The juxtaposition of generous, refreshing juiciness and a dark-hued, almost somber set of flavors is fascinating. Enjoy this now with grilled meats and let it step into other culinary roles with another 2-3 years in the bottle.” – WA 89 points

L’Oustal Blanc K8, Minervois, France – 100% Carignan – “A new release however is their K8. To the fruit of centenarian Carignan vines on which this cuvee is always based has been added a little old vines Cinsault, which does nothing to lift its official status above that of Vin de Table, but offers a prime display of varietal synergy while surpassing the quality of its predecessors in this numbered “K” series. A nose of kirsch distillate and fresh blackberries leads to a juicy, silken-textured palate where marzipan, vanilla, cherry pit, rosemary and mint join in. Here is a wonderful example of how to achieve formidable ripeness of flavor without superficial sweetness and a liqueur-like richness of texture while preserving fluidity, verve, and sheer refreshment. The exhilarating finish harbors distinctly, if ineffably, mineral traces as well. Enjoy this terrific value (priced as it is solely on account of the stupidity of appellation laws!) over the next 2-3 years.” – WA 90 points

Monte La Sarda Garnacha 2007, Bajo Aragon, Spain – 100% Garnacha (Grenache) – “The Garnacha is probably one of the eldest varietals grown in Spain. You may find it in many regions but the results of growing it in Bajo Aragon Are truly astonishing. We have used only old vines that are more than 45 years of age to make this wine. Some have survived over a century in these harsh lands of extreme sun and cool nights. The vines are mainly from the Peluda strain, local for the area around the Sardas (rocky hills) of Bajo Aragon, about 125 miles west of Barcelona on the eastern outskirts of Zaragoza. Yield is between just 1 and 1 1/2 tons to the acre, and this wine was bottled without filtration to preserve all of its unique aromas and flavors.”

Markowitsch Pinot Noir 2006, Carnuntum, Austria – 100% Pinot Noir – “For the Gault Millau Austrian edition each of the top growers in Austria was rated.  In a class by himself with a rating of 18 out of 20 is Gerhard Markowitsch.  Sixteen other growers were placed in the second category of 17 out of 20.   For red wines, Markowitsch is in a class by himself amongst Austrian producers.  His vineyards, in  Carnuntum are ideally situated on a slope approximately equi-distant from the Danube River on one side and the Neusiedlersee on the other.  He is equally famous for his rare cuvees of Pinot Noir, Rosenberg blend, and his ultimate Cuvee, labeled simply M  as he is for his value cuvees, Rubin Carnuntum and Carnuntum Cuvee.  The latter two are built around the varietal Zweigelt which is the workhorse and the best red wine varietal of Austria depending on soil, climate and yields. One of the greatest but not yet well known producers in Austria, and we hope to change that.”