This sizzling malbec from Argentina pairs perfectly with grilled meat | Phil Your Glass

A gaucho is an Argentinian cowboy with a bit of refined toughness.

I’d like to think I've got a bit of gaucho in me since I grill outside all year round, rain or shine. Unless, of course, my grill is buried in one of those Ohio winter snow drifts.

I just love the flavor of anything off the grill, especially one of those thick-cut cowboy chops from Al’s Quality Meats in Barberton. The perfect pairing with any malbec from Argentina is your favorite meat hot off the grill, and this $19.99 bottle of Gauchezco Reserve malbec is no exception.

I tried to get a little too cute with the cheese pairing this week, as I picked up a hunk of Goat Rodeo Hootenanny gouda cheese from the Market District. It certainly would’ve made this review a bit more whimsical; however, simply said, cheddar is better.

The Giant Eagle brand New York extra sharp white cheddar was the perfect nibble to have while I waited for the grill to warm up. A handful of Mitica fried Portuguese Douro almonds from Heinen’s also hit the spot.

Traderman Distributors LLC is currently selling the 2019 vintage to customers. However, some stores still may have bottles of the 2018 on their shelves.

Not to worry − I tasted both, and they are equally delicious.

With the 2018, I had a thick-cut chop from Heinen’s along with a baked potato and some grilled eggplant. The pairing was terrific.

I had to give the 2019 a try and decided to pick up a brisket burger from Joe’s Barbecue in Brimfield. I know what you're thinking: All this macho guy talk about grilling outside year-round, and then I pick up some cue from Joe’s. But Joe has some of the best barbecue around, and that burger with his house-made sauce was insanely good with the wine. The fresh ground black pepper brings out the best of this malbec and its wonderful black raspberry flavors.

I couldn’t resist also picking up a half-slab of ribs and a side of potato salad from Joe’s to have with my second bottle of the malbec. You’ll love the nice leathery finish on day two. I had to lasso a little extra restraint in order to have wine left for a second pairing.

You can find this wine at Regency Wine Sellers in Fairlawn, Beau's Market in Copley, Krieger's Market in Cuyahoga Falls, Mustard Seed Market in Montrose, Wise Guys Lounge & Grill in North Hill, Acme in Montrose and Hudson, River Merchant in Kent, Corkscrew Johnny's in Richfield, Lakes Beverage in the Portage Lakes, Crave and Dante Boccuzzi in Akron, H2 Wine Merchants in Medina, Mélange Restaurant in Canton and Top Shelf of Ohio in Jackson Township.

Come join chef Beau Schmidt and me and at Beau’s Market in Copley to taste this wonderful malbec and five other wines on April 25 from 6-8 p.m. We’ll be pairing the wines with select cheeses. And not to worry, your $45 reservation will also include several small plates to enjoy. Call 234-466-7720 to reserve your spot. See you there.

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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Fire up the grill and enjoy this Gauchezco reserve malbec from Argentina