Kaiken, malbec 2010, unbeatable for 10 bucks

Kaiken, Malbec 2010, By Kaiken Wines , USD 10



Lujan de Cuyo Malbec with magnific backbone of sweet and acid black fruits with a beautiful toach of coffee and chocolate edge. Well balanced and round, much better than over the top for fruit and oak elements. Close to complete palate even you may say just a little bit short. A 90 points Malbec to enjoy plenty during first 6 years born.
Great value for 10 bucks. Much better than most at this price shelf.

Viejo Isaias, Malbec Reserva 2010, an attractive signature malbec from somewhere mendoza

Viejo Isaias, Malbec Reserva 2010, By Rodrigo M Romero, USD 14

A malbec from somewhere in Mendoza showing attractive oak with fruit and balance. A mix of red and black cherries with strong vanilla and chocolate. A little bit short aftertaste but even so likeable. Not a wine to scream but quite attractive and vivid. An 89 points malbec with good value for the price. Probably best before 6 years old.

Las Perdicies, Viogner 2010,a delicate Agrelo white

Las Perdices, Viogner 2010, Viña Las Perdices, USD 10


Beautiful white from Agrelo District in Lujan de Cuyo, Central Mendoza. Soft and delicate but not weak. White peach and pear aromas with pineapple in the palate. Round and well balanced. A 87 points white to enjoy the best the first two years born. Very good value.

Cafayate Malbec Rose 2010, a good Cafayate Rose to pair the summer

Cafayate Malbec Rose 2010, By Bodegas Etchart, USD 10

Nice and straight Rose of Malbec from Cafayate Valley in Salta Province, Northwest Argentina. Ripe and soft red plum juice and aroma with balance in the palate. Light memories of red cherries and mince jam. Great company lightly cooled to any light colored cool or warm summer dish. A tuna based sushi shoud go perfect.
A 82 points (*) Rose and a good value. To drink before 4 years old.

(*) There is no way any Rose could ever reach the complexity and maturation of a red wine. I would expect the maximal score close to 85-87 at the best, which could be traslated intuitively to 89-91 points for a red (lets say a 4-point span).

Cavas Andinas, Black, malbec roble 2007, a thin and slippery malbec

Cavas Andinas Black, Malbec Roble 2007. By Cavas Andinas (Grupo Montes), USD 9



A malbec from Maipu Departament of Central Mendoza displaying rudimentary malbec´s fruitiness at a very basic level with adecuate acidity and alcohol but quite short and soft. It goes round but soon falls empty. A basic and fair malbec of 84 points that I imagine a better argentina´s value at the 6-8 bucks price shelf. Definitedly a less than 4 years cellar malbec.

Lamadrid Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 single vineyard, a basic agrelo overpriced

Lamadrid Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Single Vineyard, By Bodega Lamadrid, USD 12



A Cabernet Sauvignon from Agrelo district in Lujan de Cuyo Departament, Central Mendoza. Simple and modestly attractive Cab with nice toasty notes surrounding. Good and firm tannins accompanied by the expected red fruits and blueberries. Short lasting and not complex. An 85 points CS that I feel it a little bit overpriced. I wound´t cellar this type of CS more than 4 years.

Saurus Patagonia Select, Malbec 2006. A regular value from Northpatagonia

Saurus Patagonia Select, Malbec 2006, By Bodega Familia Schroeder, USD 14


Nice and round but short malbec from San Patricio Valley,  Neuquen Province, Northpatagonia. Sweet fruity backbone of red cherries and quince jam with a very modest chocolaty note. Good alcohol and acidity. Not complex neither long lasting. An 86 points malbec with fair price to buy every now and then. Barely a regular Patagonian Malbec. It shows tannins to improve or maintain itself good enough for 4-6 years.

Paso de Piedra, Reserve Malbec 2007; A Viña Alicia value from Central Mendoza

Paso de Piedra Reserve , Malbec 2007, By Viña Alicia, USD 12



A malbec from somewhere in Lujan de Cuyo, Central Mendoza by a winery devoted mostly to expensive reds. Close to its best now. Red with soft brownish shades. Expressive nose and straight palate. Good mixed red and black cherries very sweet of marmalade or jam type. Not complex neither deep although nice and enjoable. Tiny chocolate mostly like milky. An 88 points malbec nice and round. Typical Central Mendoza´s Value. Better before 6 years old.

Vero Malbec 2007, Tempus Alba masterpiece to remember for ever

Vero, Malbec 2007, By Tempus Alba, USD 90



An outrageous malbec from Maipu Departament of central mendoza. One of the most complex malbecs I ever tasted. Complete and balanced. All the attractions of a full body, ripe malbec with exquisite oak envelope. You won´t forget the sweet black currant and berries with plum and chocolate. Vanilla and coffee bean dark roasted are astonishing. Allspice flavors mixed with cocoa and vanilla round up beautifully. Long lasting all through the palate. A 96 points malbec worthwhile the price and more. Close to the best.

Dos 2007, a Bodega Noemia without malbec to explore in Rio Negro, Northpatagonia

Dos, Noemia 2007, By Bodega Noemia, USD 110



A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from Rio Negro, Northpatagonia.
Interesting red with balanced notes of red flowers and cherries with sour raspberries and a delicate toach of chocolate and vanilla. Velvety and smooth all through the palate with small amounts of red bell peppers. A 92 points blend to enjoy better after 4 years born. Expensive if you would but even so an elegant red.

La Flor, blend 2009, a delicate Pulenta Wines from Agrelo

La Flor, Blend 2009, By Pulenta Wines, USD 10



Good blend from Agrelo district in Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza. Apparentely made of 45% malbec 45% CS and 15% merlot. Delicate red, translucent and bright. Fine sweet red fruits with sweet chocolate and marraschino cherries popping up immediately.Nice passage through the middle palate and long enough to sabor it aftertaste leaving some mint leaves memory. A small herbal toach too. A 87 points blend and a good value.
Too soft and sweet to my taste like a fruity young new world Pinot Noir or a Beuajolais even though it may be pleasant in many occations.

Collovati Malbec 2008, from Famatina Valley a world class malbec for every taste

Collovati Malbec 2008, By Javier Collovati, USD 15

A malbec from Sañogasta, Famatina Valley in La Rioja Province. A single 10 acres vineyard owned by the winemaker. Striking deep red with an undertone of blue. Misterious aromas of blueberries and toast of some kind of dark pudding. Beautiful and round palate, balanced and attractive. A mix of red and black cherries ripe and sour. Not quite long lasting though and that´s the only minus. A 88 points  malbec full body and balanced. Strong and firm tannins to endure a better fate in 4-6 years of age.

A great value small prodution malbec.

Argento , Cabenernet Sauvignon 2009, a basic value from Vistaflores

Argento, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, By Argento Wines (Catena Group), USD 8

A red from Vistaflores district in Tunuyan, Uco Valley, Mendoza

Nice basic red with some good stuff from Uco Valley at a low cost level. Good fruity beginning, mostly red ripe black cherries and currant giving a brief middle palate and an unexisting aftertaste. Not more than a hint of green leaves. It lacks solid tannins even though you may enjoy at a basic level. A 84 points red and a acceptable value even though I´m not sure I´d buy it easily twice before trying many others at 8 bucks level.

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.