Furque ,Tres Cepas 2009, a very attractive La Consulta blend Malbec based

Furque 3 Cepas 2007, By Bodega Aconquija, USD 12 (18 UK)

A malbec blend with some good amounts of syrah and tempranillo from La Consulta district ,San Carlos Departament in Uco Valley, Mendoza. Very attractive blend with dark fruits mostly boysenberries and black currant and cherries. Good alcohol and acidity. A litle herbaceous note I don´t like much. No oxidation and quite appropiate soft chocolaty note. Long and sweet all through the palate although not `wide´ like central mendoza (Lujan de Cuyo & Maipu), south mendoza (San Rafael, General Alvear) and northpatagonia (San Patricio, Rio Negro) offer more strinkingly. An 89 points blend to enjoy with people of any taste and language. To drink young before 6 years old so the tannins don´t lose ground. Very good value.

Maula Malbec Oak 2009, a standard value from Uco Valley

Maula, Malbec Oak 2009, By Bodega Margot, USD 14

A very good malbec from Tupungato in Uco Valley. Young and concentrated with ripe black cherries and currants with a gentle chocolaty and vanilla edge ,all over sweet and juicy tannins. Mostly sensed at the early palate with slow decay afterwards which is probably a minus point fairly common in Uco´s. Not a complex malbec but quite modern and tuned to impress. I don´t feel it portrays tannins to improve more than close to this.

An 88 points malbec which represents both terroir and malbec. A good value too.

Kaiken , Corte 2009, beautiful and complex young red

Kaiken , Corte 2009, By Kaiken S.A., USD 15

Attractive blend (`corte´) from Lujan de Cuyo Dpt, central mendoza. Eighty p/c malbec and some Bonarda and Petit Verdot completing.Young and strong, fruity based blend with sour and sweet black cherries, plum and a little edge of herbal like rubbed green leaves. Continuous line to the aftertaste, a wine to enjoy without much detail even though you have fun discovering a nice complexity. An 89 points blend malbec based and a very good value to enjoy the best young and probably before 4 years born.

Caballero de la Cepa, Cabernet Sauvignon `cosecha premiada´ 2007, a basic and overpriced CS

Caballero de la Cepa, Cosecha Premiada, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, By Finca Flichman, USD 18

Nice CS from Mendoza. Soft fruity beginning and herbaceous and peppery dominating the end of palate. Soft chocolate too. Not sofisticated neither complex even though some basic attractiveness is straight off the cup. An 87 points CS to enjoy young the first 4 years of life. A little bit overpriced for a typical Argentina´s value and, come to think of it this is the case for most Finca Flichman wines!

Famiglia Bianchi, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, a great red from San Rafael

Famiglia Bianchi, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, By Bodega Bianchi, USD 14

A CS from San Rafael Valley, South Mendoza.

Beautiful and round, with balanced fruits, chocolate, and roasted red bell peppers. Wide middle palate of boysenberries and black & red cherries with good (long enough) aftertaste. A mature red with red brownish color ,transparent and bright. Probably reaching its best. It may go better somewhere the 4 to 6 years after born. A 91 points CS and a great value.

Noble del Sur, Malbec Reserve 2006, very good malbec with a lesson

Noble del Sur, malbec reserve 2006, By Dos Arboles SA, USD 18

A malbec from Tunuyan Departament in Uco Valley, Mendoza. Wonderful nose of chocolate, soft coffee and sweety thing that soon after toaches the palate leaves imprints of ripe red fruits and plum. Quite balanced and attractive from the beginning. Nice acidity and alcohol backing the backbone. I´d say a 90 points malbec with the virtues of an Uco´s Malbec. A great value no doubt.

The first time tasted my palate was numb and the wine dodge me into a wrong conclusion. Surely my palate was sick and I didn´t double check the tasting a few days aftewards. This tasting is a correction. 

Tukma Malbec Reserva 2009, a basic beauty from Cafayate´s Valley

Tukma, Malbec Reserva 2009, By Bodega Tukma, USD 15

A malbec from the very high Cafayate Valley in Salta Province Northwest Argentina.

Not delicious but portraying basic attraciveness from both Cafayate terroir and Malbec wine. Dark unpolished red not attractive to the eye. Nice fruity nose showing compoted plum and quince marmalade. Expressive chocolate and vanilla from the start off. Good palate and solid tannins but not complex neither delicious. Overall an 86 points malbec,nice and well engaged with balance and basic beauty. Good value. I dont´t feel it a lasting beauty for more than 4 years without loss nor even adicional improving.

Los Leones Malbec & Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, good blend from Tunuyan at 9 bucks level

Los Leones, malbec & Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, By Salentein Wines, USD 8-9

Nice blend from Tunuyan, Uco Valley, Mendoza.

Balanced ripe fruity red with soft tannins and good acidity and acohol. Mostly red cherries with some black plums and berries. Not complex neither long lasting but likable. Easy and very friendly to drink.A 86 points malbec based blend to enjoy the best before 4 years old. Good value. Simple and enjoyable red.

Don David Tannat 2008, a great Cafayate Valley ´s son

Don David Tannat 2008, By Bodega El Esteco, USD 12

Impressive tannat from Cafayate Valley, Salta Province, NorthWestArgentina.

Dark red and blue brilliant from the beginning. You must enjoy it from the initial swirling.Expressive nose of very ripe blueberries and dark black plums that open up beautifully in the palate.The nice acidity and alcohol round it up. The dark above 70% cocoa chocolate and soft vanilla give good complement. A 90 points red probably best young and strong like before 4 years old. Very good value like Don David´s series used to show off.

Compare 2006 Vintage tasted en May 30th 2010. I dont´t know the reasons why the quality difference.

Escorihuela Gascon Malbec 2008, good but not great central mendoza´s

Escorihuela Gascon Malbec 2008, By Bodega Escorihuela Gascon, USD 12-14

Nice malbec from central mendoza. Gentle and firm tannins offering sweet plum and dark cherries in a chocolaty envelope. Smooth and soft even it doesn´t go weak nor thin. Balanced. A 86 points malbec to get even by the price. You will keep it in a good shelf of your memory although it´s not a great value. It doesn´t show tannins to evolve better more than 4 years though.

Paradigma 2008 from Domaine St Diego, good blend and super if oaked

Paradigma 2008, Domaine St Diego, USD 17

An unoaked Malbec based blend with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon from Lunlunta district in Maipu Dpt of Central Mendoza.A signature wine by Angel Mendoza winemaker (former Trapiche chief winemaker). Thin and delicate with spicy fruits mostly boysenberries and red cherries. A little bit of minerality to add complexity.
Not very attractive although balanced and somehow complex. Not doubt it could be a superwine if oaked. For this I´d say it reaches 89 points instead of 91. Good value too. It may age nicely in 4-6 years within its delicate ,soft and thin structure.

Malma, Universo 2007, like no one catching up with Patagonia´s terroir

Malma Universo NQN 2007 Blend Tinto, By Bodega NQN, USD 18

(also sold previously as Colección)
Great Malbec based blend from San Patricio Valley, Neuquen Province in (north) Patagonia.Wonderful nose of violets and quince jam. Wide palate of black cherries and plum. Ripe, sweet and strong.The deep red blue in the cup anticipates nicely all the upcoming pleasure. Also chocolaty and toasty notes.
A real superpremium value. A red to enjoy 6-8 years plenty of life. A 92 points malbec based red now and a super expressive Patagonian with near future potential for improving to 93-95 points.

Malma Sauvignon Blanc 2010, a great and delicate San Patricio´s white with Patagonia hallmark

Malma Sauvignon Blanc 2010, Finca la Papay, By Bodega NQN, USD 10

Very nice SB from San Patricio Valley, Neuquen, Northpatagonia. Pale greenish yellow brilliant and translucent. Great typicity for Patagonia: crispy grapefruit and rude plant with a nice sweetness. Not bombastic in tropical fruits but thin and delicate. A 89 points SB delicate ,fresh ,and very personal. A great value.

Altavista Atemporal Blend 2008, from Uco valley a magic malbec based blend

Altavista Atemporal 2008, By Alta Vista Wines, USD 18

Impressive blend from Uco Valley. Malbec based with Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Petit Verdot. Very dark black cherries ripe and sweet dominant with herbal and spice counterpart that creates a quite nice complexity. Adorable wine balanced and wide in the palate. Strong and ripe tannins. Concetrated and rounded by chocolate and tabacco. A 92 points malbec blend from High Mendoza to enjoy strong and fruity the first 6 years of life. I´d love to watch it grow old on nice oxidation afterwards.

Algodon, Malbec 2008, impressive Malbec from San Rafael ,South Mendoza

Algodon, Malbec 2008, By Algodon Wine Estate, USD 17

Very attractive malbec from Sierra Pintada, San Rafael district, south mendoza.
Round and attractive red ripe fruits with wide palate and adoring tannins. Delicate chocolate and vanilla with a fresh aftertaste. A malbec to enjoy in every detail. Not very complex though. A 91 points malbec and a great value for the price. To enjoy plenty of youth during the first 4-6 years, and mostly terciary after then but I doubt if better.

Picada 15, Malbec 2010, a lovable northpatagonian for 7 bucks

Picada 15, Malbec 2010, By Bodega NQN, USD 7

Nice and attractive malbec from San Patricio´s Valley,Neuquen Province, Northpatagonia. Straight and balanced with fresh dark fruits, wide palate and a hint of chocolate. Nor complex neither concentrated although basically seductive. A 85 points northpatagonian malbec plus a great value. Easy and friendly to enjoy and love.

Malma Malbec gran reserva 2007, a great northpatagonian

Malma Malbec Gran Reserva 2007, By Bodega NQN, USD 14 (750 cc bottle, a 375 cc depicted)

Great malbec from San Patricio´s Valley ,Neuquen, Northpatagonia.
Dark concentrated black berries and plum ripe and sour. Dark chocolaty note and a beautiful aftertaste. A malbec to enjoy in detail. Probably better somewhere between 4-6 years even though terciary notes aferwards might be quite attractive. A 90 points malbec and a great value.

Escorihuel Gascon Sangiovese 2008, fine and delicate but not competitive

Esorihuela Gascon Sangiovese 2008, By Bodega Escorihuela Gascon, USD 15

(probably 1887 Reserve overseas). Nice Sangiovese from Agrelo distric of LDC Dpt in central Mendoza. Soft and delicate with seet envelope and smooth tannins. Not very close to Tuscan brothers spreading tannic acidity and stronger fruits. Good and likable but better if blended. Wonder if more concentration brings more beauty.
An 84 points red overpriced and not a shadow of a balanced Italian Sangiovese. I´ve tried previous vintages far better.

Gerome Marteau Malbec Premium 2009, a pure and typical Northpatagonian Malbec

Gerome Marteau, Malbec premium 2009, By Marcelo Marteau, USD 12

Pure and creole Malbec from Rio Negro ,Northpatagonia. An artisan production.
Nice red sour and smoked fruits with wide middle palate as a typical patagonian malbec should go. The foremost red dark and cloudy opaque color anounces what follows. Its an intriguing and personal malbec. Not the atractiveness and perfection of some mendoza´s but the outmost personal balance.A 88 points malbec and a good value for a premium malbec.

Barrandica Malbec Selection 2009, good but if not bretty great

Barrandica, Malbec Seleccion, Vistaflores, By Bodega Antucura, USD 12
(sold int´l as Antucura Malbec 2009)

Very nice malbec from Vistaflores, Tunuyan (Uco Valley), Mendoza. Dark and concentrated with sour and ripe dark fruits mostly black cherries and boysenberries. Nice dark chocolate too. A little bit over the edge in acidity and alcohol probably due to a hint of brett (like 'damp mold') which seems to lessen that beauty fruit. An 89 points malbec that would go 91 if no bretty component picked up. A good value, great if 91 points.

Addendum: I re-tried a couple of 2009 bottles and they were just amazing, 91 or 92 points. The fruits and balance were dominant. No bretty, no strange thing on it. My favorite from Vistaflores at this price range.
this proves what we all know: try more than once a label to reach consistent judgment.

Felino Malbec 2010, a simple , lightweighted and nice Malbec

Felino, Malbec 2010, By Bodega Viña Cobos, USD 15

Good malbec blending different terroirs of Mendoza.
Nice even very soft choco and vanilla aromas anounces a balanced and typical Mendoza´s Malbec although light in tannins. Ripe fruits mostly black plum and red cherries very easy to pass through the palate. Not concentrated neither complex. An 87 points malbec  better before 4 years old. Probably overpriced locally (and a distortion too), I guess a 10-12 bucks is a good price range. Globally it reminds me those `prime time´ malbecs well priced and barely acceptable quality value.

Urban Uco, Malbec 2010, From Uco Valley a Classical Malbec to enjoy

Urban Uco, Malbec 2010, By Bodega O Fournier, USD 10

Quite adorable malbec from Uco Valley. Young value with all the descriptors of a good high altitude malbec. Nice acidity and alcohol with round and strong tannins all within the friendly nature of a Mendoza´s malbec. Nice mix of blackcherries and plum marmalade with only a slash of chocolate. A young malbec to enjoy the best before 4 years of vintage. Great and Classical Value no doubt. A 89 points malbec.

Martino Reserva Malbec 2007, an impressive high agrelo malbec

Martino Reserva Malbec 2007, By Viñas Don MArtino, USD 15

A single vineyard from High Agrelo district of Lujan de Cuyo, Central Mendoza.
Beautiful dark ruby malbec with all the flowers and fruits of high Agrelo. Oaky aromas of vanilla and chocolate entangled with violets and red roses. Attractive palate of black plums, prunes, and black cherries sweet and round. A well concentrated malbec. A 91 points malbec to enjoy 4-6 years from vintage and easily loved by most palates.
Great value at the 15 bucks level.

Lunta Malbec 2009, a very good malbec to invite friends along

Lunta, Malbec 2009, By Mendel Wines, USD 22

A Malbec from Lunlunta distric of Maipu Departament of Central Mendoza.
Very good malbec with balance and attractiveness. Fruity beginning and middle palate with mature tannins ending very velvety with undertones of dark chocolate and toast. Very round and delicate. Deep structure beyond a premium level. A 91 points malbec and a very good value. Wider and more complex than other Lunlunta malbecs. To invite friends along.

Decero Malbec 2009, a very good Agrelo´s Malbec

Decero Malbec 2009, By Finca Decero, USD 17

A malbec from Agrelo District of Lujan de Cuyo, Central Mendoza.
Very good Malbec with all the fruits of cherries ripe and sweet with great acidity keeping all together. It looks more like a high agrelo or even a blend with some high mendoza´s malbec in it. Good concentration and balance all through the palate with nice wide middle palate. Not very long aftertaste although far enough. A 90 points malbec and a good value to enjoy during the first 6 years of cellar.

Clos de los Siete, Malbec 2008, a standard malbec from high mendoza´s

Clos de los Siete, malbec 2008, By Bodega Clos de los 7, USD 20

A malbec from Vistaflores district in Tunuyan commune of Uco Valley.
Good mix of fruits mostly black and overripe red cherries too. Toach of chocolate and a good balance of alcohol and acidity. Good concentration for a premium malbec. A standard high mendoza´s malbec. A 89 points red ready to mature well for 4-6 years. The wine is overpriced in Argentina. I guess up to 15 bucks will go very well.

Trumpeter Reserve, Pinot Noir 2008, a nice a classic pinot from Tupun

Trumpeter ,Reserve Pinot Noir 2008, By Rutini Wines, USD 15

A PN from Tupungato city (`Tupun´ nickname here) in Uco Valley. The red displays nice typical fruits of pinots with undertones of soft oxidation. Delicate and nicely bitter. Fine chocolaty and toasty edge. It´s balanced and round even not a great pinot lacking complexity and deepness. It may well go 86 points and a good value for a classic pinot. Probably better with more terciary notes in 2-4 years from now.

Trapiche Extra Brut, a classical sparkling with a Malbec toach

Trapiche Extra Brut, n/v, By Bodegas Trapiche, USD 12

Basic sparkling Champagne style although the blend was done with chardonnay, semillon and malbec. It shows a nicely balanced mix of white fruits like green apple and ripe kiwi and a good backbone of mature bitterness quite attractive. Overall a nice sweetness. If malbec replaces both Pinots in giving off body and structure I´d say quite wellcome and capable of a very good job (that may even be better than Pinots in classical Champagne). A 89 points sparkling and a good value for 12 bucks.

Altimus 2005, a great value full of velvet and soft complexity

Altimus 2005, By Bodega El Esteco, USD 40

Great blend from Cafayate Valley, Salta Province Northwest Argentina.
A complete wine made of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat, Syrah and Bonarda. It fills the palate in every second of tasting even preserving the delicate and fine structure. Fine fruity notes of well matured berries and plum and also an edge of black pepper corn and soft minerality. Beautiful tabacco and vanilla surrounding. Velvety yet well structured by alcohol and acidity. A 94 points red probably the best between 6-8 years cellar, but some might like it more terciary after 8-12 years. A great Cafayate´s Value for 40 bucks.

Tapiz Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, a dark , ripe and well strutured CS

Tapiz, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2008, By Fincas Patagonicas SA, USD 17

Single vineyard in Tupungato city ,Uco Valley.
From there a dark and concentrated CS with nice oaky envelope of vanilla and dark chocolate and tabacco. Good ripe and black little cherries inviting and filling quite nicely the mouth. It goes well to aftertaste too to keep you longing for the next sip. A CS to enjoy easily the first 6 years. A 90 points red well paid the price. The malbec of this
series and vintage reached beyond up.

Finca Perdriel Colección, Sauvignon Blanc 2010, a cold and mineral SB

Finca Perdriel Colección, Sauvignon Blanc 2010, By Bodega Norton, USD 14

A vineyard located in Perdriel district of Lujan de Cuyo, Central Mendoza.
Compound of real peach and green apple with soft buttery from oak in a nice acidity and alcohol backup. Some nice mineral note at the end of palate. Not very expressive of tropical ripeness. Not very attractive either. A 85 points SB not very colorful but nice anyway. Good value even though you may find a bunch more attractive for less money.

Portal Andino Malbec Reserva 2007, a great value from General Alvear at premium level

Portal Andino, Malbec Reserva , By Frutal Genetica SA, USD 10

Strong fruit driven albec from South Mendoza at General Alvear Departament.
Wide middle palate fills up the mouth with black cherries and boysenberries ripe and sweet. Good alcohol and enough acidity. Balanced dark chocolate and good tannins with velevety bitterness. Not very complex but quite enough for a premium value. A 89 points Malbec established as a good value. Enjoyable easily and probably nicer the first 6 years of life. So we should remember General Alvear terroir to enjoy dark & sweet fruity malbec at the premium level.

Clos de Chacras, malbec 2008, just a good value in a good malbec first

Clos de Chacras, malbec 2008, By Clos de Chacras (Chacras de Coria, close by Mendoza City), USD 14

A single vineyard in Lunlunta district of Maipu Dpt Central Mendoza.
Beauty malbec with dense dark cherries and plum. Spiciness at the middle palate quite nice. Good dark chocolate and solid tannins backing up the fruity chacarter. Good acidity and alcohol too. A malbec with fine and complex structure to evolve well 4-6 years for better. An 89 point malbec and a good value for the price no doubt. (Even though the Cab Sau recently tasted was an edge nicer to my palate).

Don Manuel Villafañe, malbec reserva 2008, an elegant and potent Tupun malbec

Don Manuel Villafañe , Malbec Reserve 2008, By Villafañe & Guzman, USD 28

A Tupungato (`tupun´) vineyard showing typicity in character and attractivess. Round ripe fruit mostly black cherries and boysenberries and black cassis (it shows an edge of red cherries not frecuent in tupun malbecs). Good oaky notes like dark chocolate and a sniffy vanilla. A wide palate at the middle and nice aftertaste memory. Better after an hour opened showing a growing complexity. A 91  points malbec to enjoy the best 4-6 years from harvest. A good value too. Elegant and potent at once.

Barrandica Pinot Noir 2009, a personal & attractive red from Vistaflores

Barrandica, Vistaflores Pinot Noir Selection 2009,By Bodega Antucura, USD 13

Very nice red from vistaflores district in Tunuyan Dpt, Uco Valley. Sweet and sour little black berries with firm tannins. Not quite long though. Some kind of thin volume. Enough chocolaty note. A personal character imprinted by Uco Valley. In any case a 90 points wine even though you may push it away from a typical Burgundy Pinot. A great value.