I had read that feijoada, a famous Brazilian sausage and black bean stew, went very well with Argentinian Malbec. Alas, I didn't read that until the last moment, and when I went to serve it the only Malbec I recalled having at home was the 2005 Black Mountain Malbec, Watson's Grove - a California wine. (Later I remembered that I had a Malbec I had brought with me from Argentina a few years ago). It's a cheap wine (about $6), but it seemed like the best option for dinner.

It wasn't bad. It had a medium body - as Malbec's tend to do - and a fruity finish. It improved magnificently with dinner, bring forward hints of oak and black cherry. All in all, a good but not great, table wine. But whoever said feijoada and Malbec went well together, was right.