Francis Ford Coppola, a world renowned director has won many awards including a few Oscars for a little movie you might remember called “The Godfather”. He is not only an exceptional director but also a very fine winemaker. My first experience with a Coppola wine was at a little French restaurant in Hollywood.  My husband order the Diamond Collection Zinfandel which was so delicious we decided to go search for another bottle after dinner.

Recently I had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of Coppola’s Diamond Collection Celestial Blue Label Malbec. I really didn’t know what to expect initially. I must admit upon first taste I wasn’t really impressed. A little surprised (because the Zin was so tasty), I decided to give it another try. I then started to appreciate the fruity aroma which also possess a hint of minerals. The taste of very dark fruit became more pronounced as the wine aerated. I served this wine with a nicely seasoned salmon dinner and the flavors complimented each other quite nicely.

The malbec grape is a native of Cahors which is in southwest France. However, it has been produced quite abundantly in Argentina and on a smaller scale in Chile. You will find this grape spicy, as well as fruity. The flavors of blackberries and mulberries are very prevalent. This grape is often blended to make delicious wines like the California meritage. In New Zealand malbec is now being blended successfully with merlot given it a nice full flavor.

There are moderate tannins in Coppola’s Malbec so you would think the “pucker effect” would be quite great. However, to my surprise this wine finished very, very smoothly. To learn more about Coppola’s wine please check out the site here.

As always, drink responsibility. Cheers!!!