What is this Wine?

It's Tuesday night and I'm at the Monterey County Weekly thinking of story ideas. As I ponder onward, I'm sipping a mystery wine that Mark Anderson bought from Walgreen's (must be inexpensive). The color is not transparent like that of a Pinot Noir or even a slight hue darker like that of a Grenache. Since I have a sinus infection, this exercise is tough. The alcohol doesn't seem too high and I'd guess it's probably about 13.5-14.0%. I like how I'm not tasting too much oak. However there is nice plummy dark fruit that's round and supple. It doesn't seem to have enough tannins to be a Syrah or Cab.

Right now, there's a pumping south swell and the road is closed and I'm too busy sick and working. Sometimes you have to do what you need to make a living and get by. Sometimes you need to take a break from the rat race and do what you love to do. Finding that balance is tough.

This wine has a dusty, chalky component that seems to taste like the wine was made by a screw press--not a bladder press and certainly not from the first-press. I'm getting some banana peel nuance and there's a thick fruit forward quality like that of Ihop pancake syrup but not offensively sticky or sweet. The fruit still seems subtle, so I'm guessing Old World or a cool climate from the New World.

So, I guessed Merlot from South America. What is it?

2010 Triada Malbec from La Rioja, Argentina 12.5%

Close but not cigar.

Joey, the MC Weekly intern thought it was a Merlot. Good guess Joey.