View All Ratings: Achaval Ferrer

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Finca Mirador Mendoza 2009
($120) (from 70+-year-old malbec vines planted at 2,400 feet; 14 hectoliters per hectare): Good full ruby-red. Vinous aromas of dark berries, licorice, espresso and minerals lifted by violet and rose petal nuances; aeration brought captivating spicy perfume. Densely packed and youthfully imploded, and not quite as black in the mouth as the nose suggests. Penetrating, aromatic flavors of red berries and rose petal convey an almost pinot-like vibrancy. Offers a lovely light touch but has a firm spine for long aging.
94(+?)
Priced from: 88.99 Compare prices
Finca Altamira Mendoza 2009
($120) (from 80+-year-old malbec vines planted at 3,400 feet, and a yield of just 12 hectoliters per hectare): Saturated, bright medium ruby. Deep, pure aromas of blackberry, violet, minerals and bitter chocolate complicated by a loamy nuance. Suave and intense but youthfully imploded today; not at all a thick style even if it's utterly seamless from day one. Strong acidity spine gives this infant a powerful backbone for aging, but there's little in the way of early sweetness today. After three days in the recorked bottle, this was an essence of blackberry, showing almost painful fruit intensity and remaining remarkably fresh. A superb cellaring candidate.
94(+?)
Finca Bella Vista Mendoza 2009
($120) (90+-year-old vines grown at 3,100 feet; 14 h/h; all three of these high-end malbecs spent 15 months in all-new French oak): Deep, bright ruby. Brooding aromas of blackberry, tar, licorice, violet and bitter chocolate. Dense, suave and vibrant, with superb inner-mouth energy to the black fruit, licorice and violet flavors. Really beautifully integrated acidity shows an almost peppery pungency. Finishes very long and lively, with noble, fine-grained tannins and a palate-saturating impression of extract.
93
Quimera Mendoza 2009
(a blend of 31% malbec, 27% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot, 18% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot; 40% new French oak): Ruby-red. Aromas of black raspberry, crushed cherry, caraway seed, graphite and licorice. Juicy and tightly wound, with an almost tart quality to the blackberry and cranberry fruit. Very young and structured but bound-up today. Finishes with good floral lift and plenty of acidity. This will need time in the cellar to loosen up and gain in nuance.
90(+?)
Malbec Mendoza 2010
($24) Medium red-ruby. Blueberry, blackberry, menthol and bitter chocolate on the nose. Juicy, intense and fine-grained, with a restrained sweetness and enticing peppery lift to the flavors of dark berries, violet, licorice and game. This reminded me in weight and flavor of a Saint-Joseph. Finishes with a fine dusting of tannins and good savory persistence.
89
Priced from: 15.98 Compare prices A D A G I O
Malbec Reserve Mendoza 2008
($16) Good saturated ruby-red. Black fruits, coffee and chocolate on the nose, complicated by floral and earth tones. Bright and fresh if rather oaky, with good spicy lift and firm acidity to the flavors of ripe blackberry and bitter chocolate. Boasts good stuffing but finishes a bit ungiving, with firm tannins and lingering notes of herbs and menthol.
88
A G O S T I N O F A M I L I A
Agostino Familia Mendoza 2008
($20) (a blend of 40% malbec, 30% petit verdot and 15% each cabernet sauvignon and syrah): Good red-ruby. Blackberry, cassis, violet, bitter chocolate and espresso on the nose. Sweet on entry, then suave and lively, with firm acids framing the restrained dark berry and fresh herb flavors. Finishes with a fine dusting of tannins and a lightly medicinal quality. Turned a bit dry with time in the glass.
87
A L A M O S
Malbec Seleccion Mendoza 2009
($20) Good deep, full ruby. Violet, blackberry and a full load of chocolatey, nutty oak on the nose and palate. Very ripe, chocolatey malbec with a pronounced sweetness suggesting some residual sugar. Finishes chocolatey and broad, with soft tannins. Plenty of fruit here, but some tasters will find it too sweet.
89
Malbec Mendoza 2010
($13) Red-ruby. Sexy aromas of dark berries, coffee and mellow oak. Silky, sweet and generous, with firm acidity that becomes a bit more pronounced as the wine opens in the glass. Finishes with sweet tannins and a hint of greenness.
87
Priced from: 7.98 Compare prices A L G O D O
Malbec Mendoza 2008
($22) Bright medium red-ruby. Blackberry, licorice and enticing oak notes on the nose. Suave, sweet and nicely concentrated, with lush, seamless flavors of black fruits, spices and violet. Generous without being overly sweet. The broad finish features substantial dusty, even tannins and sneaky persistence to the flavors of bitter chocolate and dark berries. Classy juice.
90 Gran Reserva Red Wine Mendoza 2008

($36) (50% malbec, 20% each cabernet sauvignon and syrah, and 10% merlot): Bright ruby-red. Cassis, blackberry and licorice on the nose. Chewy, saline and concentrated, but with a heavily extracted quality to the flavors of cassis and spicy oak. The strong wood element gives a dry edge to the tannins. I'd like to have seen this material vinified and aged with a lighter hand.
87 Bonarda Mendoza 2008

($24) Full red-ruby. Currant, mocha and cedary, chocolatey oak on the nose. Nicely concentrated and pliant, with notes of currant, game, truffle and exotic oak. Good sweetness balanced by bright, slightly elevated acidity. Finishes a tad spiky but there's good material here.
87
A L P A M A N T A
Malbec Estate Mendoza 2009
($24) Red-ruby. Musky, reduced nose offers currant, coffee and sweet oak notes of mocha and milk chocolate. Silky and sexy but not overly sweet, with cassis and violet flavors complicated by earth and herb nuances. Finishes quite broad and long, with suave tannins that should not get in the way of enjoying this wine early.
90
A L T A V I S T A
Torrontes Premium Salta 2011
($16) Pale, bright straw-yellow. White flowers and a whiff of curry powder on the nose. Supple, tactile and lightly saline, with a distinctly elegant quality to the subtle tropical fruit and ginger flavors. Bright, harmonious acidity carries the sappy, spicy finish. Serious torrontes with excellent texture and depth.
90 Malbec Premium Mendoza 2010

($17) (aged 12 months in an 80/20 blend of French and American barrels): Bright red-ruby. Blackberry and licorice aromas accented by herbs and spices. Supple, savory and fine-grained, with a nicely restrained sweetness. The tannins are well integrated but the wine's fruit is still a bit locked-up today and in need of a year or two of bottle aging. Firm and persistent on the finish.
88(+?)?
A L T A M I R A
Altamira Navigato Family Selection Grand Reserve Uco Valley 2008
($65) (40% merlot and 30% each cabernet sauvignon and malbec; aged for 18 months in new French oak; concentrated via a 30% saignee): Good bright ruby-red. Blackcurrant, minerals and menthol on the nose. Dense and sweet but youthfully imploded, conveying an impression of strong extraction and superb energy. This began chewy and quite tannic but grew richer as it opened in the glass, showing a more pliant texture and more obvious depth. Very long and lively on the aftertaste. 92
Malbec Grand Reserve Valle De Uco 2008
($45) (24 months in French oak; from a single block of 61-year-old vines): Bright, deep medium ruby. High-pitched, precise aromas of blackberry, violet, menthol and licorice. Youthfully tight and unforthcoming but at the same time pliant, with subdued but very pure flavors of black fruits, minerals and bitter chocolate. Less sweet than the 2009 reserve malbec but shows terrific structure and drive. Finishes with serious tannic grip. Lay this one down. 91(+?)
($35) (Attilio Pagli is the consulting winemaker here; 15.2% alcohol with a moderate 3.5 pH): Clear ruby. Musky blueberry, blackberry, cassis and violet on the nose, with complicating mineral and white pepper nuances. Supple, sweet and pliant, with excellent energy and lift to the black fruit and spice flavors. Very sexy and expressive already. Finishes with strong but smooth tannins and excellent subtle persistence. This spent 18 months in French oak, one-third new.91
Malbec Ano Cero Mendoza 2011
($20) Bright medium red-ruby. Lovely floral aromas of blackberry and licorice. Juicy, nicely delineated and light on its feet, with spicy acidity lifting the black fruit flavors. Plenty of flavor and personality here. Finishes firmly tannic and persistent, with a late note of chocolate.
90 Malbec Reserva La Consulta 2010

($30) (aged for 15 months in new French oak; 15.5% alcohol): Bright full ruby. Precise aromas of black fruits, violet, spices and pepper. Dense, superripe and powerful, with obviously elevated alcohol but solid acidity to leaven the sweetness of the highly concentrated dark berry, chocolate and musky espresso flavors. This very round, outsized malbec finishes with substantial palate-coating tannins and chocolatey oak tones. Impressive wine for fans of the type.
90
A L T O S L A S H O R M I G A S
Malbec Vista Flores Single Vineyard Mendoza 2006
($88) (100% malbec): Saturated deep ruby to the rim. Knockout nose combines blackcurrant, violet and licorice pastille. Sweet and seamless, with terrific intensity and a brisk, high-pitched character to the cassis, violet and licorice flavors. Harmonious acidity gives lift and definition to the mid-palate. For all its immediate appeal, this dense, sweet, impressively concentrated malbec needs time in bottle to soften. Finishes very long and classically dry, with the energy and structure to support a graceful evolution in bottle.
92
Malbec Reserva Mendoza 2009
($28) Ruby-red. Good spicy lift to the aromas of blackberry, licorice and bitter chocolate. Pure and focused, with intense dark berry and spice flavors firmed by a solid spine of acidity. Finishes strong and long, with broad but fine tannins. Excellent potential here.
90(+?) Malbec Clasico Mendoza 2011

($13) Deep saturated red. Black plum, licorice and a note of chocolatey torrefaction on the nose. Sweet, suave and nicely deep, with a saline quality and good smoky complexity to its dark fruit and licorice flavors. Finishes broad, with sweet tannins. Not a particularly fruity style, but nuanced for a wine in this price range.
88 Malbec Terroir Valle De Uco Mendoza 2010

($18) Bright ruby-red. Crushed blackberry, menthol and licorice plus a whiff of reduction on the nose. Juicy, brisk and quite dry, in a distinctly savory, uncompromising style. On the lean side but wellmade. And the tannins are suave.
88 Bonarda Colonia Las Liebres Mendoza 2010

($10) Bright, full ruby-red. Aromas of blackberry, violet, chocolate and menthol. Firm blackberry, licorice and floral flavors are nicely framed by harmonious acidity and complicated by a saline element. This nicely sappy, persistent bonarda displays tannins that are suave and fine for the variety.
88
Priced from: 8.99 Compare prices A N D E L U
Malbec Altitude Mendoza 2009
($23) (15.5% alcohol): Good full, bright ruby. Lovely perfumed lift to the aromas and flavors of black cherry, blackberry, violet and bitter chocolate. Dense, sweet and ripe, with suave, extremely primary flavors given cut and lift by the violety element. A very smooth but sharply delineated midweight with a suave, persistent finish; nicely hides its high octane. Lay this down for at least a couple more years.
91 Cabernet Sauvignon 1300 Mendoza 2010

($12) Good red-ruby. Currant, pepper and coffee on the nose, complicated by licorice and menthol notes. Juicy, brisk and intense, with a savory quality leavening the wine's sweetness. Finishes with serious toothcoating tannins. A bit youthfully clenched, but offers good lift and structure for the price.
88 Malbec 1300 Mendoza 2010

($12) Bright, full red-ruby. Dark berries, licorice, violet and bitter chocolate on the nose. Juicy and graceful, with noteworthy intensity to the blackberry and spice flavors. This smooth, lively, fruit-driven wine finishes with a broad dusting of tannins and nice lift and length. A very good value.
88 Cabernet Sauvignon Altitude Mendoza 2008

($23) (15.5% alcohol): Good saturated medium ruby. Aromas of redcurrant, licorice and sexy oak. A lush, sweet redcurrant fruit bomb in the mouth, but with an aggressive quality from the high alcohol. This big, round wine finishes with substantial broad tannins and good length. Needs to be served with a fatty meat dish.
88?
A N G U L O I N N O C E N T I
Malbec Mendoza 2010
($20) (blended with 15% cabernet sauvignon): Good bright, full ruby. Reduced, slightly medicinal aromas of black cherry, blackberry, menthol and bitter chocolate. Suave and fine-grained, with very good palate presence and depth of flavor. A fruit bomb in the middle palate, but the substantial, well-supported tannins build with air, suggesting that this wine still needs some time to harmonize in bottle. Finishes with hints of black pepper and game.
88(+?) Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza 2010

($20) (sealed with a screwcap): Good saturated ruby. Cassis, menthol, mocha, bitter chocolate and coffee on the nose. Lush, sweet and easygoing, with a seamless, creamy texture to the dark fruit, violet and milk chocolate flavors. Finishes plump and full, with smooth tannins.
88
A N O R O
Malbec El Regalo Mendoza 2009
($28) (blended with 10% cabernet sauvignon): Bright red-ruby. Sexy aromas of currant, raspberry, tobacco leaf and graphite. Broad, smooth, dry and fine-grained, with a restrained sweetness to the currant and mineral flavors. In a reticent, structured style, showing good depth but finishing with a slightly tart quality. Give this another year or two in the cellar.
89 Chardonnay Mendoza 2010

($25) (70% aged in 20% new French oak, the rest in stainless steel tanks): Pale yellow-straw. Very spicy aromas of tropical fruits, peach and orange. Smooth and sweet on the palate, with a layered texture to the flavors of stone fruits, pineapple, minerals and spicy vanillin oak. Finishes a bit phenolic, with a strong oak element, but has the mid-palate material to support the wood treatment.
89 Malbec Mendoza 2009

($25) Bright ruby-red. Dark cherry, menthol and strong oak tones on the nose. Supple, soft and moderately concentrated, with enticing sweetness to the dark berry, licorice and chocolate flavors. Turns a bit herbal and tart on the back end, finishing with a rather easygoing structure.
88
A N T U C U R A
Gran Vin Uco Valley Mendoza 2007
($35) (50% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot and 20% malbec; aged for 16 months in new Taransaud oak): Saturated deep ruby-red. Plum, graphite and mocha on the nose. Sweet, seamless and velvety; quite lush and full without being heavy. The sweet fruit is leavened by graphite minerality. Finishes with sweet, pliant, building tannins and noteworthy persistence. 91
Calcura Vista Flores Mendoza 2007
($20) (50% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot and 20% malbec): Full red-ruby. Aromas of blackberry, cassis, menthol, licorice and violet. Juicy, spicy and intense, with tightly knit flavors of dark fruits, spices and truffle. Boasts lovely inner-mouth energy and lift, in spite of a relatively high pH of 3.9. Finishes with a suave dusting of tannins. Made from a very small crop that was held down by flowering problems. Very good value. 90
Cabernet Sauvignon Vista Flores Mendoza 2010
($15) Good deep red-ruby. Currant, violet, mocha and smoke on the nose. Fine-grained and slightly wild, with an enticing hint of truffley underbrush adding complexity to the middle palate. Less plump than the Malbec Vista Flores but a bit more sharply delineated. Finishes with firm oak-driven tannins and a slightly medicinal quality. 89
Malbec Vista Flores Mendoza 2010
($15) (50% aged in French oak and 50% in stainless steel): Bright red-ruby. Cassis, licorice, graphite, violet and chocolate on the nose. Round, sweet and seamless, with dense dark fruit flavors complicated by saline soil tones. Nicely balanced and concentrated wine, finishing with dusty tannins and good length. This was made with less new oak than previously, and that's all to the good.89
Priced from: 16.5 Compare prices A R G E N T
Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza 2010
($13) Good full medium red. Blackberry, cherry and violet on the lively nose. A coolish, nicely delineated midweight with a restrained sweetness to its black fruit and mint flavors. Finishes firmly tannic and persistent, with good energy.
88 Bonardo Mendoza 2010

($13) Musky raspberry, plum and chocolate aromas lifted by a floral quality. Sweet raspberry fruit nicely cut by fresh acidity. A bit one-dimensional but the tannins are ripe and smooth.
87
B E L A S C O D E B A Q U E D A N O
Malbec Ar Guentota Lujan De Cuyo 2009
($25) Saturated medium ruby. Aromas of black cherry, blackberry and bitter chocolate, with a bit of porty superripeness as well as a mineral touch. Fat, sweet and concentrated, with very primary flavors of black cherry, blackberry, licorice and menthol. Plenty of texture but not at all overly sweet on the slightly clenched back end. I'd hold off drinking this for at least 12 to 18 months.
89(+?) Malbec Swinto Lujan De Cuyo 2009

($40) (aged for 15 months in all-new Allier oak): Deep, saturated ruby. The aromas of dark berries and chocolatey oak show an almost porty ripeness. Large-scaled, pliant and rich, with a distinct sweetness to the black cherry and molten chocolate flavors. This huge, mouthcoating wine comes across as a bit one-dimensional.
89
Malbec Llama Old Vines Mendoza 2010
($15) Good red-ruby. Blackberry, licorice, spicy oak and a whiff of violet on the nose. Supple, savory and a bit reduced, with a smooth texture to the fruit-driven flavors of plum, blackberry, cassis and licorice. Not particularly sweet or complex but fairly fine-grained. Finishes with easy tannins and modest length.
87
B E N M A R C O
Expresivo Mendoza 2009
($35) (50% malbec, 20% cabernet sauvignon, 15% syrah, 10% tannat and 5% petit verdot; a selection from the best blocks of old vines; aged for 14 months in new oak, 70% French and 30% American): Good full ruby-red. Blackberry, Baker's chocolate, flowers and sexy oak on the nose. Suave, sweet and juicy, with a distinctly savory accent and harmonious acidity to the raspberry and floral flavors. Offers an attractive combination of sweetness and acidity and an umami-like texture. Finishes with dusty, building tannins and solid spine.

($20) Bright ruby-red. Licorice and exotic oak dominate the nose. Juicy and quite oaky, with chocolate, coffee bean and smoke flavors currently overshadowing the wine's fruit. Finishes dry and a tad medicinal, with firm tannins.
89 Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza 2010

($20) Red-ruby. Cassis, licorice and tarry oak on the nose. Juicy and fruity but on the lean side, with modest depth to its dark berry flavors. Finishes with enticing sweetness but a slight dry edge. The BenMarco wines are made by Susana Balbo, but these spend less time on their skins and are fermented at cooler temperature than Balbo's wines under her own label. The oak here is also more toasted.
88
B E N V E N U T O D E L A S E R N A
Trisagio Mendoza 2007
($23) (34% malbec, 33% petit verdot and 33% tannat): Bright ruby-red. Very ripe aromas of dark berries and smoky oak, plus a touch of minerality. Big, broad and youthfully medicinal, with no easy sweetness to the flavors of dark chocolate, licorice, menthol and violet. The wine's serious tannins are not yet in harmony with its firm acids.
87(+?)?
B O D E G A B R E S S I A
Cabernet Franc Monteagrelo Mendoza 2009
($27) Dark red. Sexy, complex nose offers red- and blackcurrant, fresh herbs, flowers, coffee bean, milk chocolate and licorice; distinctly claret-like. Lively acidity gives energy and lift to the redcurrant and spice flavors. At once intense and pliant, with nothing forced about it. Finishes very long and lively, with smooth tannins and lingering notes of currant, flowers and herbs. As good a cabernet franc bottling as I've yet tasted from Argentina. (Unfortunately, my sample of the Monteagrelo Malbec was corked.)
91 Profundo Mendoza 2007

($40) (50% malbec, 30% cabernet sauvignon and 10% each merlot and syrah): Bright red-ruby. Aromas of redcurrant, raspberry and flowers complemented by sexy French oak. Suave, pliant and scented; in a distinctly floral, elegant style. Flavors of red fruits, spices and flowers are given very good definition by nicely integrated acidity. Finishes dry, classic, firmly tannic and long. This wine originally merited an even higher score but I marked it down for a building element of coconutty oak.
90?
B O D E G A A T A M I S Q U E
Malbec Valle De Uco Mendoza 2008
($28) Good bright medium ruby. High-toned, somewhat porty aromas of black cherry, blackberry, licorice and coffee. Dense and sweet but with good vinosity and spine to its bright dark fruit flavors. A nicely delineated, energetic midweight with firm, building tannins and very good length and grip. From vines more than 80 years of age; aged for 14 months in 100% new French oak.
89(+?)
Chardonnay Valle De Uco Mendoza 2010
($35) (aged in 100% new French oak for a year): Full yellow with gold highlights. Aromas of nectarine, white plum and vanillin oak, along with a mineral nuance. Broad, silky and sweet, with the wine's substantial alcohol nicely buffered by fruit. There's a Burgundian stone fruit and leesy quality here, as well as a nicely fine-grained texture, but I'd love to be able to taste this material with a lighter dose of vanillin oak.
88
B O D E G A B E N E G A S
Malbec Mendoza 2009
($18) (15% alcohol): Full medium ruby. Ripe black fruits, coffee, chocolate and violet on the nose. Sweet but restrained on the palate, with ripe, harmonious acidity giving shape and firmness to the youthfully medicinal blackberry and violet flavors. Nicely fine-grained wine with broad, building tannins. Carries its alcohol gracefully.
89 Benegas Lynch Cabernet Franc Libertad Vineyards Mendoza 2006

($26) Moderately saturated medium red. Complex aromas of currant, plum, red cherry, musky tobacco, mocha, graphite and dried flowers. Suave and fine-grained in an Old World way, with strong soil tones to the flavors of red fruits, game, truffle and smoke. Finishes with serious but even tannins and hints of menthol and licorice. This savory, intriguing cabernet franc needs some time in bottle.
89 Malbec Juan Benegas Mendoza 2009

Good deep bright red. Plum, redcurrant, mocha and nutty oak on the nose and palate. Spicy, pliant and rather suave, with a fine-grained texture and good concentration. In an elegant style, finishing with smooth tannins and light mint and herbal notes that perk up the fruit.
89
Don Tiburcio Mendoza 2009
($17) Good deep red-ruby. Cassis, plum and blackberry complemented by oak notes of spice, smoke and chocolate. Suave, sweet, fruit-driven wine in a rather primary style, with firm acidity keeping it a bit clenched--and one-dimensional--today. An herbal quality gives the finish a tart edge. This needs a bit more time in bottle.
88(+?)
Priced from: 15 Compare prices
Cabernet Sauvignon Luna Benegas Mendoza 2009
($12) Bright ruby-red. Very ripe, slightly medicinal aromas of blackberry, plum and violet. Concentrated and complex, with a saline nuance to the flavors of black fruits, minerals, violet face powder and licorice. Good depth of texture here. Finishes with substantial tongue-clenching tannins and lingering medicinal and herbal notes. Serious cabernet for the price.
88 Sangiovese Libertad Vineyards Mendoza 2008

(from 70-year-old vines): Good full red. Aromas of redcurrant, tobacco and graphite, plus a whiff of Kahlua. Silky and fat, with modest lift to the plum and mocha flavors. Finishes with dusty, slightly drying tannins. Not bad but I don't find the floral high notes or verve of the best examples of this variety.
87
Cabernet Sauvignon Libertad Vineyards Mendoza 2009
Good deep red. Plum and chocolatey oak dominate the nose. Nicely concentrated and classically dry, with plum and mocha flavors lifted by herbs and mint. The slightly medicinal finish shows a menthol quality and a building element of greenness.
87 Cabernet Sauvignon Luna Benegas Mendoza 2008

Good dark red. Redcurrant, cherry and nutty oak on the nose, with a faint whiff of raisin. Juicy, easygoing and moderately concentrated, with decent energy to the supple currant flavor. Finishes with light but firm tannins. Ready to drink now; in fact, this showed a slightly advanced nut skin character with air
87
Carmela Benegas Rose Mendoza 2010
Garish orange-pink color. Bright aromas of strawberry, raspberry, cinnamon and flowers. Round and easygoing, with a touch of sweetness counterpointed by a saline nuance. Finishes quite dry and savory, with a hint of youthful bitterness. Just a touch warm: serve this chilled.
87
B O D E G A C A T E N A Z A P A T A
Malbec Catena Zapata Argentino Mendoza 2008
($135) (more or less 100% malbec, according to winemaker Alejandro Vigil): Bright ruby-red. Aromas of cassis, espresso, stone and bitter chocolate, with a violet topnote emerging with air. Wonderfully sweet and silky but also quite penetrating, with a remarkably urgent quality to the crushed berry flavor. Superb minerality and a whiff of fresh herbs contribute to this wine's bracing character. Extremely fine-grained from start to long, vibrant finish.
95 Malbec Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard Gualtallary Mendoza 2008

($150) (includes 6% viognier and 2% cabernet franc; the crop level here was well under a ton of fruit per acre): Bright medium ruby. Fascinating nose melds crushed blackberry, violet, flinty minerality and a whiff of game; a bit like Hermitage! Utterly silky in the mouth, but with crisp, harmonious acidity giving cut and lift to the cassis and green fig flavors. Finishes with smooth, substantial, building tannins and a palate-staining kirsch flavor. Winemaker Alejandro Vigil adds back 20% to 30% of the stems to his top bottlings. From a cool vineyard at 4,725 feet where afternoon temperatures rarely exceed 86 degrees, according to Vigil.
94 Malbec Catena Zapata Nicasia Vineyard Altamira Mendoza 2008

($115) (aged in all-new French barriques; includes 6% cabernet franc and 2% each pinot noir and viognier): Bright ruby-red. Pungent, high-pitched blackberry, black cherry and mineral aromas complicated by notes of peach, citrus peel and flowers. Penetrating and sweet, with compelling inner-mouth aromatic character and lively harmonious acidity. For all its richness, this malbec is remarkably light on its feet, thanks to the strong calcaire influence. Finishes with noble, tooth-dusting tannins and outstanding lingering perfume. Alejandro Vigil, who took over as chief winemaker at Catena in 2007, has been adding small percentages of other varieties to the Adrianna and Nicasia Vineyard malbec bottlings in search of greater complexity and individuality.
94 Cabernet Sauvignon Catena Alta Mendoza 2009

($52) (aged entirely in French oak, 80% new): Full deep red-ruby. Superripe aromas of blackberry and bitter chocolate, complicated by hints of wild herbs, game and mint. Sweet, pliant and suave, but with integrated acidity giving focus to the middle palate. Winemaker Alejandro Vigil added 10% cabernet franc to the blend to add floral lift. Finishes broad and fine-grained, with sweet tannins and excellent grip and length.
92 Malbec Catena Alta Mendoza 2009

($55) (from four different vineyards, each picked at four different times): Good ruby-red. Laid-back aromas of blackberry, musky coffee and licorice, with a violet note emerging with air. Superconcentrated and sweet, but with firm balancing acidity and a mineral pungency giving the wine excellent thrust. Very deep malbec with broad, smooth tannins and serious length.
92
Chardonnay Alta 2009
($33) (aged for 16 months in 50% new French oak): Pale bright yellow. Sexy aromas of tangerine, stone fruits, talc and flowers. Bright and penetrating, with a subtle intensity and a suggestion of sea air to the fresh apricot flavor. A strong calcaire quality gives this wine terrific inner-mouth lift and finishing grip. Winemaker Alejandro Vigil notes that this wine contains the fruit of several different parcels on different soils, harvested up to a month apart. There's always some botrytis in the mix, but this chardonnay is more classic than exotic.
92
Cabernet Sauvignon Nicolas Catena Zapata Mendoza 2008
($135) (60% cabernet sauvignon, 20% malbec and 2% cabernet franc): Bright full ruby-red. Black fruits, violet, minerals and exotic oak on the nose. Painfully clenched and imploded today, with precise black fruit and violet flavors complicated by saline, mineral and oak notes. Dominated by its serious tannic structure. Finishes with a coconutty oak character. With several top vineyards, dates of harvest and different varieties vinified separately, winemaker Vigil estimates that this blend was made from 500 lots of wine! Should make a great bottle but I wouldn't go near this for at least five more years.
92(+?) Malbec Mendoza 2009

($24) (aged in 70% French and 30% American oak, about 35% new): Bright ruby-red. Blackberry, redcurrant, licorice, violet and pepper on the nose, plus a whiff of game. Creamy, concentrated and sweet, with a seamless texture to the high-toned blackberry and saline flavors. Offers a thickness of texture and a well-judged sugar/acid balance. Finishes quite long, with very suave tannins.
91
Malbec Catena Alta Mendoza 2008
Full ruby-red. Aromas of cassis, licorice, violet and musky oak. Distinctly lush and creamy on the palate but with ripe acidity giving shape to the currant, mocha and chocolate flavors. This seamless malbec verges on confectionery. Finishes very long, with fine-grained tannins.
91
($20) Dark bright red. Plum, currant, tobacco and cola on the ripe, varietally expressive nose. A lush, sweet, fine-grained midweight with good freshness to its raspberry, plum and spice flavors. Finishes with good ripe tannins and some edgy acidity that calls for a year of patience. Excellent value.
91
Chardonnay Mendoza 2010
($20) (aged in one-third new oak): Pale bright yellow. Citrus peel, stone fruits, sweet herbs and spicy oak notes of ginger and cinnamon on the nose. Ripe, smooth and peachy, with a strong component of vanillin oak. A bit soft in the middle but quite dry and uncompromising, with a saline nuance on the back.
89
Priced from: 13.98 Compare prices B O D E G A
Pinot Noir Cincuenta Y Cinco Patagonia 2010
($120) (just 11.5% alcohol!): Bright medium red. High-pitched, delicate aromas of red fruits, flowers, blood orange, pepper, fresh herbs and spicy underbrush. The strawberry, cherry and cinnamon flavors show very good spicy cut but come across as quite tight today. Sleek, dry, delicate and lean. Finishes with substantial dusty tannins and lingering, savory notes of dark fruits, spices and leather. Offers lovely precision but little in the way of flesh or easy sweetness.
90 Merlot Mainque Patagonia 2009

($40) Medium red. Perfumed aromas of red cherry, strawberry, rose petal and spices. Racy acidity gives a light touch to the intense red berry and floral flavors; a rather pinot style of merlot--not surprising as this is from a pinot noir specialist in Patagonia. Finishes with suave, fine-grained tannins, noteworthy lift and lovely sneaky perfume. Lacks the complexity for an even higher score, but this is delicious.
89 Pinot Noir Barda Patagonia 2010

($24) (12.8% alcohol): Bright medium red. Subtle, high-pitched aromas of strawberry, redcurrant, cherry and spices, complemented by a sweet earthy component. Tangy, light and juicy but also sweet and pliant, with lovely energy and intensity to the red fruit flavors. Finishes with lightly dusty tannins and lingering sweetness. A very successful vintage for this bottling.
88
Malbec Edicion Limitada Mendoza 2009
($48) Good full ruby-red. Rather carnal aromas of black raspberry, blackberry, cassis and truffle, lifted by violet. Lush and sweet on entry, then fat and broad in the middle, with strong dark berry fruit complicated by mocha and game. Not quite differentiated enough for an outstanding rating but this wine still has baby fat to lose. Finishes with horizontal, palate-dusting tannins and sexy spice notes. (A second bottle showed a slight greenness on the back end and merited 88 points.)
89 Malbec Gran Reserva Mendoza 2008

($50) (12 months in new French and American oak): Good bright ruby. Blackberry syrup, mocha, menthol and chocolate on the nose. Supple, dense and juicy, with an attractive sweetness and a light touch to the black cherry and menthol flavors. Sound acidity and ripe, easygoing tannins give this wine good subtle persistence. There's more than enough fruit here to support the oak element. Good fat finish, with a light greenness adding nuance.
88 Malbec Edicion Limitada Mendoza 2008

($26) (40% pinot noir, 38% sangiovese and 22% merlot): Medium red. Musky strawberry, cherry, violet, espresso and a hint of mint on the nose. Ripe, lightly saline and lively, with a restrained sweetness and good lift to the flavors of blackberry, plum and spicy tobacco. The tannins are dusty, but there's good lingering fruit. A nicely vibrant blend.
88 Red Blend Mendoza 2009

($28) (60% malbec, 30% cabernet sauvignon and 10% merlot): Currant, mocha, chocolate, tobacco and hints of meat and menthol on the slightly low-toned nose. Smooth, sweet and fairly thick but with just enough energy to maintain its balance. Cherry and currant fruit is given a medicinal quality by a suggestion of chocolatey cough syrup. Finishes with supple tannins but a slight dryness.

($32) Saturated red-ruby. Raspberry, mocha, smoky oak and brown spices on the nose. Densely packed but with a restrained sweetness to its dark raspberry and exotic oak flavors. A solid edge of acidity energizes the mid-palate. Not complex but not overly oaky either. The lightly saline, oaky back end features ripe tannins. This is carrying a moderate 13% alcohol.
87 Sangiovese Mendoza 2008

($25) Medium red. Aromas of plum, mocha, chocolatey oak and dried flowers. Juicy and moderately intense, with plum and strawberry flavors perked up by some unabsorbed CO2. Not complex but nicely juicy. Finishes with dusty tannins that turn a bit dry with aeration.
87
B O D E G A D E L F I N D E L M U N D O
Pinot Noir Reserva Patagonia 2010
($20) Medium red with a pale edge. Raspberry, oak spice and truffley underbrush on the nose. Juicy, spicy red fruit and earth flavors are given shape and lift by firm acidity. Supple in the middle but a bit ungiving on the finish owing to edgy acidity and a slight dryness to the tannins.
87
B O D E G A D E L M A E S T R E
Maestre De Campo Mendoza 2008
($40) (malbec): Good ruby-red. Cassis, black raspberry, violet and new oak spices on the nose; the least herbal of the three new releases from Bodega del Maestre. Rich, lush and sweet, with dark berry and chocolatey oak flavors framed by harmonious acidity. Good depth and fine-grained texture here. The building finish features fine tannins, notes of wild herbs and menthol, and a slight oaky dryness.
89 Malbec Escudero Mendoza 2009

($22) Red-ruby. Oaky aromas of cassis, licorice and herbs. Sweet, ripe and supple, with a fine-grained texture to the blackberry, boysenberry and mint flavors. Licorice and herb notes give a firm edge to the dark berry fruit. Finishes with fine, slightly dusty tannins and a lightly medicinal menthol quality.
88
B O D E G A D E L T U P U N
($14) Bright red-ruby. Dark fruits, chocolate and smoky oak on the nose. Juicy, fresh and nicely delineated, with firm acidity carrying the blackberry and violet flavors. Relies more on its acidity than on its firm tannins for shape and structure. Finishes with good lift. A solid value.
88
B O D E G A E R A L B R A V O
Cabernet Sauvignon Erales Mendoza 2008
($20) Bright medium ruby. Rather oaky aromas of cassis, coffee, chocolate and menthol. Suave and sweet, with harmonious acidity framing the cassis, violet and bitter chocolate flavors. I might have picked this blind as a malbec. Finishes with substantial dusty tannins and a lightly green quality. Good sweet fruit here.
88 Eral Bravo Ybs Mendoza 2008
($40) (56% malbec, 34% cabernet sauvignon and 10% syrah): Full, deep medium ruby. Aromas of cassis, menthol, mocha and espresso. Sweet, pliant and generous, with lush flavors of dark berries and sexy oak spices. Finishes with mouthcoating ripe tannins and a rather strong oak element. Just a bit dry on the back: does this have the stuffing to absorb some of its oak with a couple more years in the cellar?
88(+?)? Malbec Erales Mendoza 2008

($20) Bright medium ruby. Black fruits, spices, licorice and mocha on the rather serious nose. Juicy, spicy and intense, with lively acidity giving a slightly clenched quality to the medicinal black fruit flavors. The tannins are suave, though. I'd cellar this for a year or two to allow it to soften and expand.
88(+?)?
B O D E G A F E R N A N D O D U P O N T
Pasacana Maimara Jujuy 2008
($88) (70% malbec with 15% each cabernet sauvignon and syrah): Saturated dark ruby to the rim. Aromas of crushed blackberry, violet, pepper, game, truffle and toasty oak, plus a whiff of maple syrup; a bit reminiscent of Cote-Rotie. Then suave and fine-grained on the palate, with flavors similar to the aromas. Shows a surprisingly light touch for such a seamless wine. Finishes with smooth, building tannins, a slightly medicinal cast and a late suggestion of raisin.
89 Punta Corral Maimara Jujuy 2010

($52) (80% malbec and 10% each syrah and cabernet sauvignon; grown at 8,200 feet): Medicinal black cherry, raspberry, violet, mocha and chocolate on the nose. Lush, sweet and smooth, but with a continuing medicinal character to the dark berry, currant and chocolate flavors. Seamless, lightly saline wine with softish tannins and decent length. Has a firm acid spine but I wanted a bit more veve.
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B O D E G A K R O N T I R A S
Malbec Reserva Dona Silvina Mendoza 2008
($65) Good deep ruby. Powerful aromas of blackberry, licorice and minerals. Sweet, dense and chewy if a bit extractive, with thick dark berry flavors coming across as rather musclebound today. Finishes with huge dusty tannins and some lingering dryness. Will this harmonize with more bottle aging, or is it simply a bit overdone?
89(+?)? Malbec Dona Silvina Mendoza 2009

($24) Bright, dark red. Restrained but pure aromas of black cherry, blackberry and violet. Sappy, spicy and tightly wound, with firm acidity framing the dark berry and bitter chocolate flavors. Finishes with dusty, building tannins and a slightly medicinal character. Built to age, and in need of at least a couple years of patience.
89
B O D E G A L A M A D R I D
Malbec Single Vineyard Reserve Mendoza 2010
($20) Full red-ruby. Vibrant aromas of crushed blackberry, violet, spices, licorice and bitter chocolate. Suave and smooth on entry, then dense and fine-grained in the middle, showing lovely perfume and vinosity to its blackberry and violet flavors. Offers lovely concentration without heaviness. The rising finish, which features a fine dusting of tannins, conveys a strong impression of energy. Very malbec, and capable of further improvement in bottle. The Lamadrid wines, made by Hector Durigutti, have done consistently well in these pages in recent years.
90(+?) Torrontes La Rioja 2010

($12) Pale bright yellow. Pure, fresh aromas and flavors of citrus peel, flowers, wild herbs, anise and honey. Dense and rich, with a hint of sweetness and a tactile saline quality. A substantial torrontes with good palate presence. Finishes classically dry and persistent.
89
Malbec Mendoza 2010
($16) Bright red-ruby. Nicely perfumed nose and palate offer blackberry, violet, licorice and spices. Supple, juicy and light on its feet; vinous and easy to drink. Finishes with smooth tannins and moderate length.
88
Icono Lujan De Cuyo 2007
($150) (a 55/45 blend of malbec and cabernet sauvignon from 90-year-old vines; the two components are aged for six months in new barriques, then assembled and aged another year in new barrels): Deep, bright red-ruby. Sexy aromas of blackberry and sandalwood. Rich, round, sappy and deep, with currant, blackberry and spicy oak flavors along with a rather exotic nutty quality. Finishes broad and dry, with a suave dusting of tannins. Structured in an old school way. My only quibble here is with the wine's oak element.
91? Gala 1 Mendoza 2008

($40) (85% malbec with 10% petit verdot and 5% tannat): Good bright, full red. Currant, earth, menthol and chocolatey, vanillin oak on the nose, lifted by a whiff of rose petal. Suave on entry, then mellow and round in the middle, with good freshness to the slightly medicinal red cherry and currant flavors. Ripe acids and fine-grained tannins give this wine a solid structural underpinning for bottle aging, even if it's approachable already.
90
Gala 2 Lujan De Cuyo 2009
($40) (cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc): Bright ruby-red. Sexy aromas of black raspberry, mocha and coffee, along with a peppery quality and enticing floral lift from the cab franc; very Old World in style. Suave and sweet, with strong personality to the claret-like flavors of musky currant, mocha and pepper. Finishes firm and vibrant, with refined tannins.
90 De Sangre Mendoza 2009

($30) (a blend of 70% cabernet sauvignon and 15% each merlot and syrah): Full medium red. Complex nose melds currant, cherry, fresh herbs, leather and spicy oak, with mineral and floral nuances providing lift. Surprisingly sweet and silky on entry, then lush in the middle, with sound acidity framing the red fruit flavors. Conveys a savory impression of extract. Not quite as primary as the 2008 vintage from Lujan de Cuyo but offers enticing inner-mouth perfume and the balance to give early pleasure. Finishes with supple, dusty tannins and lingering sweetness. In a mellow Old World style.

($20) Dark red. Musky currant, menthol, game and mocha on the nose. Pliant, lush and sexy, with a restrained sweetness to the slightly medicinal dark berry and menthol flavors. This round, satisfying, nicely refined cabernet finishes with sweet tannins and noteworthy persistence. (A second bottle, which I rated 87, showed very good mouth coverage but more diffuse red fruit and mocha aromas and flavors.)
89 Finca Los Nobles Malbec Verdot Lujan De Cuyo 2007
($62) (an 88/12 blend): Good red-ruby. Aromas of blackberry, licorice and menthol. Silky, fat and rich, with lush flavors of blackberry, coffee, chocolate and mocha. A very creamy blend that comes across as almost simple today owing to its pronounced sweetness. Finishes with suave tannins and good length but could use a bit more grip.
89 Malbec Single Vineyard Lujan De Cuyo 2009

($25) (from 70-year-old vines): Good full, bright red. Brooding aromas of dark berries, mocha and oak. More substantial but less appealing today than the regular malbec bottling, with the flavors of blackberry, mocha and violet struggling under a heavy layer of oak. Plenty of material here but the tannins are dusty and slightly dry, giving the finish a rigid quality. Will this come into better focus with time in bottle?
88(+?)?
Sauvignon Blanc Reserva Maipu 2010
($21) Pale, bright yellow. Pungent aromas of grapefruit, lime zest and menthol. Juicy, intense and quite dry, with a bracing citrus pith quality giving the wine a distinctly uncompromising quality. Serious sauvignon with a lightly medicinal character on the back end. Just 12.4% alcohol here.
88 Malbec Reserva Lujan De Cuyo 2009

($21) Bright medium red. Aromas and flavors of redcurrant, cherry, spiced plum, menthol and smoky oak reminded me a bit of pinot noir. Juicy and pure in the mouth, with good cut and intensity and subtle floral perfume. Tangy, moderately intense malbec with harmonious acidity and easygoing tannins. On the light side and very easy to drink.
88
B O D E G A M E L I P A L
($30) Good bright ruby-red. Sexy, high-toned aromas of blackberry, plum, violet and licorice. Suave, juicy and fine-grained on the palate, with flavors of sweet dark berries, licorice and bitter chocolate. A bit youthfully clenched but not hard. Finishes with a firm spine of acids and tannins and very good sneaky persistence.

($17) Ruby-red. Reduced nose dominated by crushed blackberry. Supple, fruity and fine-grained if a bit youthfully bound-up, offering good breadth to the sweet blackberry, licorice and chocolate flavors. Finishes with smooth, dusty, nicely integrated tannins and lingering dark berry and licorice flavors.
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B O D E G A M O N T E V I E J O
Gran Monteviejo Mendoza 2006
(80% malbec and 20% syrah): Bright saturated ruby. Cassis, black raspberry and sweet mocha oak on the nose. Lush and supple on entry, then concentrated and bound-up in the mid-palate, with a medicinal cast to the black cherry, licorice and chocolatey oak flavors. Less easy sweetness here than the 2007 Lindaflor Malbec is showing today. Finishes with substantial, broad tannins that coat the teeth. Will this improve with more time in bottle or will it begin to dry out? Relies more on its tannins than on its acidity for structure.
90(+?)? Malbec Altitude 1050 Valle De Uco 2010

($13) Dark red. Nuanced, inviting aromas of currant, blackberry, violet, chocolate and leather. In a sweet, fruit-driven style, with bright acidity framing the juicy fruit. Lively and light on its feet in a Beaujolais way (it's only 13.5% alcohol). This easy-drinking midweight finishes with vibrant notes of licorice and mint. Delicious, and an excellent bargain.
89 Malbec Festivo Mendoza 2010

($15) Bright dark red. Inviting aromas of redcurrant, strawberry, plum and mocha, plus a suggestion of dried fruits. At once sweet and juicy, with good energy and a fine grain to the dark berry flavors. This delightfully fresh wine finishes with sweet but firm tannins and lingering perfume.
89 Torrontes Festivo Valle De Uco Mendoza 2011

($15) Pale bright yellow. Fresh peach, white flowers and mint on the clean, vibrant nose; reminded me of viognier. Supple, fruity and dry, with the peach and floral flavors carrying through in the mouth. Finishes with a slight warmth but good lingering perfume.
88 Chardonnay Lindaflor Valle De Uco 2010

($39) Full straw-yellow. Exotic, oak-driven aromas of butterscotch, vanilla and clove dominate the nose. Fat, round, silky and sweet, but with fruit flavors currently overshadowed by vanillin oak. A bit onedimensional. Finishes with a slight alcoholic warmth.
87
B O D E G A N O E M I A
Malbec Rio Negro Valley 2009
($130) (aged for 18 months in new French oak; made from 79-year-old vines): Bright, medium ruby-red. Very ripe, slightly high-toned aromas of dark berries, dark chocolate and sexy oak. Like liquid silk on entry but with superb definition and verve thanks to harmonious acidity. Dark fruit flavors are accented by exotic spices, coffee and cocoa. Wonderfully suave and fine-grained wine with terrific sappy concentration and depth. The tannins are virtually invisible on the very long, fresh, slowly building finish.
93(+?) Malbec Rio Negro Valley 2008

($130) Bright, full ruby-red. Very ripe aromas of black raspberry, violet, chocolate and spicy oak. Fatter and broader than the 2009 despite being a bit lower in alcohol (13.5%, vs. 14%); superconcentrated but showing less obvious acidity and definition today. Finishes with substantial tongue-dusting tannins and a lightly medicinal character. I find more thorough ripeness and more complexity in the young 2009.
92 Malbec J. Alberto Rio Negro Valley 2010

($54) (blended with 5% merlot; 70% done in cement tank, the other 3% in second-use French oak): Bright medium ruby-red. Precise aromas of blackberry, cocoa powder, licorice and violet, plus a whiff of leather. Sappy, saline and deep, with complex soil tones complicating the blackberry, boysenberry and violet flavors. Really urgent, sappy crushed-fruit character here. This very young, minerally wine finishes with broad, dusty tannins, excellent energy and length, and lovely aromatic perfume. Lovely malbec with a light touch.
91 A Lisa Patagonia 2010

(no new oak): Full ruby-red. Wild, musky aromas of black raspberry, cherry, exotic herbs, cocoa and game. Smooth and seamless in the mouth, with good lift and definition, but the leather and game elements are distinctly rustic. The tannins are fine but the finish is too leathery. A second bottle was similarly marred by notes of game, leather and adhesive tape, suggesting problems with the cooperage. Not recommended for the faint of heart.
87?
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Chacayes Mendoza 2008
(15.5% alcohol; from what the winery describes as a rare mixture of gravel, sand and volcanic soil): Bright, saturated medium ruby. Flinty minerality and sexy oak tones add interest to the blackberry, violet and licorice flavors. Densely packed but light on its feet, with excellent inner-mouth energy to the cassis, blackberry and mineral flavors. Still quite primary, but the wine's oak component is in good balance with its powerful material. The subtly long, rising finish features a solid tannin/acid spine and complex saline, mineral and chocolate notes. I'd give this seriously structured wine four or five years in the cellar.
91(+?) Malbec Reserva Mendoza 2010

Good dark red. Subtly complex aromas of redcurrant, cherry, violet, woodsmoke and menthol. Fine-grained, suave and floral; good energy gives a graceful quality to this round, pliant malbec. Finishes with fine, tongue-dusting tannins that coat the mouth without leaving any impression of weight. Nothing overdone or out of place here. Classically dry and suave.
90 Pinot Gris Lurton Valle De Uco Mendoza 2011

($12) Pale straw. Sexy aromas and flavors of orange peel, ginger, cinnamon and anise. Spicy, savory, chewy and dry, with a slightly phenolic, almost tannic quality to the mid-palate. Good subtle intensity here: this really bites into food. The persistent, lean finish offers excellent cut.
89 Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Lurton Mendoza 2008

($25) Ruby-red. Cassis, blackberry, coffee, menthol and licorice on the nose. Supple and spicy, with a restrained sweetness to the raspberry, cassis and mineral flavors; lightly herbal in a Bordeaux way. Classically dry, firmly tannic wine with very good inner-mouth definition and lift. Cellar this to allow the building tannins to soften.
89 Corte Friulano Gran Lurton Mendoza 2010

(70% sauvignon vert--a.k.a. friuliano--20% pinot gris, 8% chardonnay and 2% torrontes): Full medium yellow. Peach pit, lemon curd, spring flowers, vanilla and nutmeg on the nose, complicated by medicinal herbs and sexy barrel notes. Rich, broad and tactile, with a pliant umami texture and nicely integrated acidity accentuating the wine's impression of depth. Finishes with a slightly phenolic fruit pit quality.
89 Malbec Piedro Negro Mendoza 2008

Full red-ruby. Crushed blackberry, cassis, fresh herbs and some exotic oak notes on the nose. The flavors of dark berries and oak are densely packed and youthfully imploded, with firm acidity giving the palate a clenched quality. Edgy, oak-driven tannins provide for a sound structural underpinning but will need time to be absorbed. Like the 2007 version, this shows a slight greenness on the finish.
88(+?)
B O D E G A R I C O M I N C I A R E
Malbec Altisimo Mendoza 2008
($32) Bright ruby-red. Blackberry, dark chocolate and mocha on the oaky nose. Ripe and fine-grained, with currant and chocolate flavors along with a note of menthol. Decent fruit here but quite dry and old-fashioned. Finishes with mounting, dusty tannins and a repeating note of menthol. I wanted more sweet fruit.
87 Cabernet Franc Altisimo Mendoza 2008

($32) Bright full red. Redcurrant, plum, tobacco and musky oak on the nose, with hints of smoke and violet. Supple, smooth and quite dry, with a slightly gamey quality to the currant and mocha flavors. Shows more fruit than the winery's basic bottlings, but still a bit rustic and old-fashioned. Finishes with a note of menthol and dusty, ultimately rather dry tannins.
87
B O D E G A R U C A M A L E N
Malbec Kinien Mendoza 2009
($45) Saturated ruby to the rim. Aromas of black cherry, bitter chocolate and espresso. Dense, sweet and concentrated, with sexy mocha oak tones complementing dark berry fruit. This large-scaled, primary, palate-coating malbec possesses surprisingly good supporting acidity. Finishes round, broad and quite tannic, with a lingering flavor of melting chocolate. Comes off as very ripe, but the 13.8% alcohol is downright reasonable.
90
B O D E G A S U R D E L O S A N D E S
Malbec Gran Reserva Mendoza 2009
Bright ruby-red. Black cherry and raspberry on the nose, plus a chocolatey oak component that builds with air. Smooth, rich and nicely vinous, with more intensity of blueberry and raspberry fruit to buffer its oak element than the Malbec Reserva bottling. Thick but with a light touch, thanks to harmonious acidity. Still plenty of chocolatey oak on the back end, but the tannins spread out to dust the mouth.

($11) Straw-gold color. Orange, apricot and mango on the nose, complemented by spicy, vanillin oak. Rich, spicy and moderately intense, with citrus and tropical fruit flavors and a subtle leesy complexity. Finishes with a touch of bitterness.

($11) Full red. Sour cherry, tarry oak spices, earth and menthol on the nose. A slightly herbal, juicy midweight in a rather old-fashioned style, with dominant flavors of cherry, currant, leather, spices and licorice. Finishes with hints of chocolate and leather, and dusty tannins that turn a bit dry.
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B O D E G A T A C U I L
Vinas De Davalos Salta 2010
($100) (80% malbec and 20% cabernet sauvignon from ten-year-old vines grown at 7,874 feet): Full, bright ruby-red. Aromas of blackberry compote, dark chocolate and licorice. Dense, thick and sweet but lively, with outstanding concentration and depth to the dark fruit and mineral flavors. Really explosive on the palate but utterly smooth too. Finishes impressively long, with lush tannins buried in fruit. An extraordinary wine for such young vines. Definitely a winery to watch.
92 Rd Malbec/Cabernet Salta 2010

($45) (an 80/20 blend; from seven-year-old vines grown at an altitude of 8,630 feet): Bright red-ruby. High-toned aromas of crushed berries, lilac, violet and spices, lifted by a peppery element. Densely packed, juicy and sharply delineated, with noteworthy inner-mouth perfume to the slightly wild dark berry and game flavors. At once savory and open-knit, with pepper and spice notes accentuating the wine's purity of fruit. Finishes with a broad dusting of sweet tannins and excellent length. This fascinating estate, which has its own appellation (Valle Tacuil), uses no oak at all to make its wines.
90 33 De Davalos Salta 2010

($70) (an 80/20 blend of malbec and cabernet sauvignon, from ten-year-old vines grown at 7,874 feet): Bright full ruby-red. Urgent crushed blackberry, licorice, spices and bitter chocolate on the brooding nose. Savory and a bit medicinal; less showy and generous than the RD but this is much more primary and backward. I find more of an herbal cabernet character here and a medicinal reserve but this wine
nonetheless finishes with sneaky persistence. All three of these wines weigh in at around 15% alcohol and have pHs in the 3.9 range. But since there's no sweetening influence of new oak, you'd never know it.
90(+?)
B O D E G A V A L E N T I N B I A N C H I
Malbec Mendoza 2010
($18) Deep red-ruby. Aromas of crushed blackberry, black cherry and violet. Sweet and supple on entry, then nicely firm and lively in the middle, with well-integrated acidity and a floral element lifting the black fruit flavors. Finishes firmly tannic and long but a bit youthfully imploded: I'd give this a year or two in bottle to expand.

($13) Primary aromas of cassis and spices. Simple but brisk and fresh, with good intensity to the cassis and dark chocolate flavors. A bit medicinal and wound-up today, finishing with a serious dusting of tannins
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B O D E G A V I S T A L B A
Malbec Tomero Gran Reserva Mendoza 2009
($50) (15.5% alcohol): Saturated, bright deep ruby. High-pitched aromas of blackberry and minerals complemented by coffee and chocolate oak notes. Seamless and impressively intense, with a medicinal reserve to its dark berry, spice and sexy oak flavors. Ripe, harmonious acidity and firm but sweet tannins give this malbec early accessibility but also the structure to age. Really saturates the entire mouth on the long finish, which conveys a strong impression of mineral and menthol tension. Carries its high alcohol with grace.
91 Corte A Mendoza 2009
($50) (60% malbec and 20% each bonarda and cabernet sauvignon): Deep, saturated ruby. Wild blackberry, blueberry, cassis and menthol on the nose. Sweet and concentrated, with the intense blackberry and violet flavors showing an almost porty ripeness; harmonious acidity and a note of minerality give shape to the wine. Finishes with substantial building tannins and a strong chocolatey flavor.
90 Corte B Mendoza 2009

($25) (60% malbec and 20% each bonarda and cabernet sauvignon; 15+% alcohol): Good bright saturated ruby. Superripe aromas of blackberry, cassis, graphite, menthol and spicy, chocolatey oak. Rich, broad and sweet, with lovely dark berry intensity and floral lift. Harmonious acidity contributes to the impression of energy and extends the wine's fruit. Finishes spicy and fine-grained, with firm tannins reaching the front teeth. This has the spine to evolve slowly and positively in bottle.
90(+?) Syrah Tomero Reserva Valle De Uco 2009

($25) (15.4% alcohol): Medium ruby. Exotic aromas of dark berries, nutty oak and spices. Then fruitier and fresher in the mouth than the nose suggests, with nicely integrated acidity energizing the cassis and blackberry flavors. A bit obviously oaky but boasts very good vinosity and sneaky persistence. The fine-grained tannins build with air.
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B O D E G A W E I N E R T
Gran Vino Mendoza 2004
($28) (40% each malbec and cabernet sauvignon, with 20% merlot; from the winery's "selection of our best wines"; aged for three years in old French oak): Bright, dark saturated red. Plum, chocolate, pepper and herbs on the nose, with complicating notes of mocha, menthol, graphite and spicecake and a hint of old barrel. Vinous and lively, showing a restrained Old World sweetness to the flavors of plum and fruitcake. Finishes with slightly rustic dusty tannins and late notes of black olive tapenade and porcini. Like an old-fashioned claret: for the traditionalist.
88
B O D E G A Y V I N E D O S O . F O U R N I E R
Malbec Alfa Crux Uco Valley 2008
($100) (aged 20 months in 80% French and 20% American oak, all new): Aromas of blueberry, black raspberry and sexy oak convey an almost porty ripeness. Then sweet and juicy in the mouth, with surprising definition and lift to the powerful dark berry and bitter chocolate flavors. This very tactile, long wine finishes with building chocolatey tannins and captivating high tones.
91 B Crux Valle De Uco 2008

($25) (a blend of 60% tempranillo, 15% cabernet sauvignon, 15% syrah and 10% malbec): Good full ruby-red. Black cherry, plum and spicy oak on the nose. Spicy, firm and tightly wound, with very good vinosity to the flavors of redcurrant, minerals, coffee and tobacco. A gripping, rather sophisticated midweight with lovely sweetness, suave tannins and very good length.

($80) (aged for 17 months in new French and American oak): Deep saturated ruby. Black cherry and licorice aromas show an almost pruney ripeness. Concentrated but very oaky and high-toned, with the pruney quality carrying through in the mouth. The wine's aggressive wood element overshadows its varietal and site character. For fans of superripe, very oaky wines. I want more complexity for eighty bucks.
89? Urban Uco Blend 2011

($12) (50% each malbec and tempranillo): Dark red. Expressive, superripe nose offers cherry liqueur, plum, fig jam and flowers. Juicy and vinous, with surprising freshness and lift to the plum and redcurrant flavors. This savory, slightly clenched wine would go well with fatty meats. Finishes with sweet, even tannins and good length and lift. Very good value.
88 Torrontes Urban Eco Mendoza 2011

($14) Pale straw-yellow. Viognier-like aromas of peach, flowers, wild herbs, mint and anise. Supple, peachy and nicely concentrated, in a rather gentle style. Just a bit blurry and warm on the back end.
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B O D E G A Y V I N E D O S R E N A C E R
Allegrini & Renacer Enamore Mendoza 2009
($26) (a joint project between Renacer and the Amarone producer Allegrini; 60% malbec, 30% cabernet sauvignon and 5% each cabernet franc and bonarda, with the grapes partially dried on the vines via the appassimento process): Bright red-ruby. Liqueur-like dark raspberry, cassis, licorice and black pepper on the nose, plus an exotic whiff of fresh apricot. Distinctly sweet (8 g/l r.s.) but with excellent acidity giving the wine a surprising delicacy. Exotic and round, with terrific fruit intensity and a very long, seamless finish featuring sweet tannins. An excellent vintage for this extract-rich wine.
91 Punto Final Malbec Reserva Mendoza 2008

($20) Saturated ruby-red. Crushed blackberry, licorice and musky espresso on the nose. Sweeter and deeper than the regular malbec, with a youthful blackberry flavor enlivened by pepper and spices. Quite bright for such a thick, rich, chewy wine. Finishes with building sweet tannins and lingering fresh berries. A major mouthful of wine for the price.
91
Punto Final Malbec Mendoza 2010
($12) Good dark red-ruby. Smoky blackberry and minerals on the nose. Sweet, lush and fruit-driven; offers terrific volume for the price. Not quite complex enough for 90 points but finishes smooth and broad, with lush tannins and notes of licorice, violet and game. An outstanding value.
89
Gran Misterio Red Wine Mendoza 2008
($90) (a 70/30 combination of malbec and cabernet franc): Deep ruby. Blackberry, licorice and violet on the nose, complicated by an exotic jammy quality. Then dense, backward and youthfully imploded on the palate, but with superb depth and chewy extract to the dark berry, bitter chocolate and game flavors. Finishes with noble tannins and a palate-staining boysenberry flavor. This blend is all from Uco Valley vineyards. Outstanding potential and in need of at least a few years of patience.
93(+?) Misterio Mendoza 2008

($34) (30% each bonarda and cabernet franc and 20% each petit verdot and malbec): Good bright ruby-red. Crushed blackberry, musky dark chocolate and flinty minerality on the nose. Dry and minerally, with urgent blackberry fruit lifted by a strong violet quality. Finishes broad, subtle and long, with dusty, toothcoating tannins, a saline nuance and lingering notes of blackberry and licorice. A very successful blend.
92 Sparkling Rose Malbec Mendoza 2010

($24) (includes 15% pinot noir): Pale orange-pink. Strawberry, minerals and a leesy nuance on the slightly reduced nose. Dry, subtle and fine-grained, with discreet flavors of strawberry and brown spices. Lovely understated sparkling wine with a firm, persistent finish and good cut.
89
M Blend Mendoza 2009
($24) (70% bonarda and 30% malbec): Good bright red-ruby. Sexy aromas of dark berries, smoke and game. Juicy, spicy and quite dry, with a slightly reductive character to the animal, saline and flinty mineral flavors. Finishes with ripe tannins and very good length. This distinctive, chewy wine reminded me of a California charbono.
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B O D E G A S E S C O R I H U E L A
Don Miguel Gascon Reserva Mendoza 2009
($25) Good saturated medium ruby. High-pitched aromas of blackberry, licorice and spicecake. Broad, sweet and expressive if still a bit youthfully clenched. Black fruit and licorice flavors offer enticing perfume. Finishes with firm tannins and lingering spice and mineral notes.
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B O D E G A S P O E S I A
Poesia Mendoza 2009
(a 60/40 blend of malbec and cabernet, from vines planted in 1935): Good full red-ruby. Aromas of black raspberry, earth and mint are sexed up by new French oak notes of coffee, mocha and cedar. The palate offers a sophisticated combination of rich, lush texture and restrained sweetness, with the raspberry, currant and licorice flavors lifted by enticing mineral/floral perfume. This gripping, vibrant, classy wine finishes with smooth tannins that dust the entire mouth.
93 Pasodoble Mendoza 2009

(a blend of 45% malbec, 35% syrah and 20% cabernet sauvignon): Dark red. Lightly liqueur-like aromas of currant, black raspberry, smoked meat and flinty minerality. Sweet, round and suave, with smooth flavors of currant, mocha, chocolate, coffee and herbs. Finishes with sweet, even tannins and nice persistence. This harmonious blend is already quite accessible, delivering seductive sweetness without any heaviness.
89 Torrontes Mendoza 2010

Light-medium yellow. High-pitched aromas of tropical fruits, orange, ripe peach, rose petal and spices. Broad, dry and subtle, with a sexy umami texture and subtle flavor intensity. A distinctly uncompromising style of torrontes with very good finishing grip.
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B O D E G A S S A L E N T E I N
Malbec Reserve Valle De Uco 2010
($19) Good saturated ruby. Dark berries, tobacco and earth on the nose, along with some chocolatey oak. Rich, lush and sweet, with a generous texture to the flavors of dark berries and chocolatey oak. Quite ripe and plump but has good spine for its stuffing. Nicely persistent and smooth on the aftertaste.
88
Malbec Killka Valle De Uco 2009
($15) Good red-ruby. Restrained but pure aromas of black cherry and licorice lifted by spices. Juicy but imploded; a bit tart but nicely energetic. In a rather reserved, medicinal style, in need of a bit more flesh and give. No easy sweetness here, but finishes with a smooth dusting of tannins and decent length.
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Malbec Mendoza 2010
($15) Medium red. Plum, licorice, chocolate and spices on the nose. Supple and gentle but nicely vinous, with a saline nuance to the plum and licorice flavors. Offers moderate concentration and complexity but this is very easy to drink. The firm finish offers a light dusting of tannins.
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B U D I N I
($12) Pale bright yellow. Musky aroma of citrus fruits and fresh apricot. Pure, round and fresh, with brisk, harmonious acidity giving shape and lift to the citrus and stone fruit flavors. This would make a terrific by-the-glass pour for a restaurant. An excellent value in unoaked chardonnay.

($12) Dark red. Very primary aromas of blackberry, dark plum, licorice pastille and bitter chocolate. A sweet, spicy midweight, with juicy, clean flavors of dark berries and spices. Not complex but boasts good volume and freshness. Shows a very light touch with the oak.
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C A B A L L E R O D E L A C E P A
($17) Bright, dark red. Berries, mocha and licorice on the slightly liqueur-like nose. Supple, sweet and nicely concentrated, but could use more lift and definition to its dark raspberry and chocolate flavors. Finishes with easygoing, dusty tannins and a note of menthol.
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C A M E R O N H U G H E S
Malbec Lot 262 Reserva Mendoza 2010
Good red-ruby color. Pungent aromas of blackberry, licorice, wild herbs and black pepper, complicated by violet and game nuances: quite syrah-like. Rich, round and dry, with good energy to the flavors of dark berries, flowers, meat and dark chocolate. Finishes uncompromisingly dry, with a fine dusting of tannins. Solid density and firm structure call for a year or two of patience.
88 Malbec Lot 275 Reserva Mendoza 2010

Bright ruby-red. Aromas of blackberry, violet and chocolatey oak. Broad, ripe and sweet, but with a bit less inner-mouth definition and perfume than the Lot 262 bottling. Chewy, saline and chocolatey wine with a slightly syrupy quality and plenty of body and richness. Finishes firmly tannic, with good balancing flavors of black raspberry and chocolate.
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C A R I N A E
Encuentro Barrel Select Mendoza 2008
($50) (a blend of malbec, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc and petit verdot; 13.9% alcohol): Saturated ruby. Cassis, blackberry, licorice and violet on the nose, complemented by oak spices. At once savory and sweet but with lovely reserve and saline complexity to the youthful dark berry and bitter chocolate flavors. Firmly structured wine, with broad, building tannins that coat the tongue and reach the incisors.
90 Bo Bo Gran Corte Mendoza 2008

($60) (a 70/30 blend of malbec and cabernet franc): Bright full ruby. Blackberry, cassis, violet and a whiff of game on the nose. Juicy and sharply delineated, with penetrating flavors of black fruits and violet face powder. Nicely balanced wine with firm tannic spine and a lingering flavor of bitter chocolate. A very successful, nuanced blend.
90 Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza 2009

($32) (a 70/30 blend, aged for 12 months in new 300-liter American oak barrels): Bright medium red-ruby. Reduced nose hints at dark berries and chocolate. Lush and sweet on entry, the note of reduction currently blunting the plum, cassis and licorice flavors. Then finishes a bit clenched, with the dark berry flavors showing a medicinal quality. This ripely tannic but slightly tart blend will need a few years of patience.
89(+?)? Prestige Mendoza 2008

($49) (70% malbec, 25% cabernet sauvignon and 5% syrah; 15% alcohol): Full saturated ruby. Aromas of blackberry pastille, violet and menthol. Tactile, chewy and sweet, with an inky, extractive character to the port-like dark berry, bitter chocolate and mocha flavors. Finishes with a boatload of slightly drying tannins.
89 Syrah Reserva Mendoza 2010

($19) (15.5% alcohol): Bright deep ruby. Black cherry and dark chocolate on the slightly porty nose. Fat, sweet and deep, with very ripe, rich flavors of blackberry, chocolate and violet face powder. A bit musclebound and simple today but there's a major mouthful of fruit here. Finishes with broad, slightly drying tannins.
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C A S A M O N T E S
Malbec Alzamora Oak San Juan 2009
($20) Bright, deep red-ruby. Good floral, spicy lift to the currant and cherry aromas. A juicy, spicy, moderately intense midweight; not fleshy but shows good floral, minty lift and perfume straight through to the spicy back end. The tannins turn a bit dry with air. This is a moderate 13.7% alcohol.
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C A S A R E N A
($25) (from very young vines): Deep medium ruby. Blackberry, violet and coffee on the nose. Fat, rich, sweet and deep; more harmonious than the basic bottling of this wine but still carrying a full load of mocha and coconut oak. Very smooth wine with enough lift and energy to carry the finish. The tannins are nicely coated by fruit. 91
Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva Mendoza 2009
($25) Good bright medium ruby. Blackberry, cassis, menthol and licorice lifted by violet on the nose. Sweet, suave and harmonious; less open and pliant than the reserve malbec but balanced to reward a couple years of patience. Finishes with serious ripe tannins and very good chocolatey persistence. A lot of wine for the price. 91
($17) (from 80-year-old vines): Good full ruby-red. Blackberry, menthol, licorice and bitter chocolate, plus a whiff of roasted bell pepper. Plush and sweet but lively, offering a better integration of fruit and acidity than the malbec. Very sexy, concentrated wine and a steal for the price. The spicy finish features suave tannins, a hint of menthol and lovely length. 90
Malbec Mendoza 2010
($17) (done entirely in stainless steel): Saturated ruby-red. Sexy aromas of musky currant, blackberry and chocolate. Pure and sweet but nicely leavened by ripe acidity. There's a confectionery note here, but this is lower in pH and alcohol than the 2009 version. Needs a year or so for its sugar and acidity to harmonize. Very attractive wine from young vines. And it's fascinating to taste malbec fruit without oak. 89
Sauvignon Blanc Mendoza 2011
($13) (done in stainless steel): Pale green-tinged yellow. Piquant, pure aromas of grapefruit, licorice and fresh herbs. Supple, fresh and ripe, with plump mid-palate flavors of lemon drop and grapefruit. Seamless, fresh sauvignon blanc with nice length.88
Malbec Estate Selection Mendoza 2010
($27) (from the property's best parcel): Bright ruby-red. Pure aromas of redcurrant, black cherry, licorice and minerals lifted by sexy oak. Suave, sweet and fine-grained if a bit youthfully unforthcoming today. Harmonious acidity, an element of minerality and a cool suggestion of herbs energize the middle palate. Finishes broad and long, with sweet tannins and noteworthy finesse. Give this a year or two in the cellar to develop more complexity.
90 Malbec Ayni Mendoza 2009
($36) Full medium ruby. Pure, perfumed nose offers blackberry, violet and melted chocolate. Juicy, spicy and energetic, with harmonious acidity giving shape to the blackberry and bitter chocolate flavors. A bit toughened by oak tannins today, but the wine's sweet, lingering finishing fruit suggests that all it needs is a bit more time in bottle.
89 Sauvignon Blanc Maipe Mendoza 2011

($13) Bright, pale yellow. Lively aromas of apple, lemon peel and clove, with some exotic tropical nuances. Dry, intense, spicy and firmly built if not particularly complex; some CO2 and a citrus edge keep the wine brisk. The tactile, dry finish features good cut and persistence.
88 Malbec Nuna Reserve Mendoza 2010

($17) Bright ruby-red. Slightly funky aromas and flavors of black plum, violet, spices, pepper and game. Dense and pliant but a bit reduced and primary, showing a restrained sweetness. The subtly persistent finish features peppery, dusty, building tannins and a slight emerging greenness.
88 Bonarda Nuna Reserve Mendoza 2010

($17) Bright red-ruby. Plum, roasted strawberry, herbs and hints of chocolate and menthol on the nose. Smooth, pliant and nicely deep, with good concentration but limited nuance to the primary dark plum and licorice flavors. Finishes with dusty tannins that coat the front teeth.
87 Torrontes Maipe Salta 2011

($13) (14.5% alcohol): Pale, bright green-tinged yellow. Lemon zest, white flowers, ginger and nutmeg on the nose. Supple and broad in the middle, but the wine's alcohol blurs its citrus and licorice flavors. Offers good texture and breadth but finishes with some heat.
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C I E L O Y T I E R R A
Malbec Don Juan Nahuel Reserve Mendoza 2006
($40) Ruby-red. Aromas of plum, brown spices and cedary oak. Fat, sweet and spicy, with strong chocolatey oak and a bit of alcoholic warmth currently dominating the wine's fruit. In a powerful but extractive style, finishing a bit dusty and dry. (A second sample was similarly overwhelmed by its oak element.)
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C L O S D E C H A C R A S
Malbec Gran Estirpe Mendoza 2008
($48) (aged 18 months in new French oak): Bright, saturated ruby. Blackberry and licorice aromas lifted by spicy oak. Juicy, bright and modern, with strong, clean flavors of black cherry, dark berries, spices and dark chocolate. Nicely integrated acidity and fine-grained tannins give this the balance and structure to develop nicely in bottle. Long and oaky on the aftertaste.
90(+?) Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza 2008

($32) (aged in 70% French and 30% American barrels, all once-used): Full, saturated medium ruby. Aromas of cassis, mocha and coffee, with a suggestion of stewed fruits. At once full-blown and juicy, with currant and plum fruit complicated by oak notes of mocha and chocolate. Combines a slightly raisiny quality with a hint of spiky acidity. Finishes dry and chocolatey, with building tannins.
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C L O S D E L O S S I E T E
Clos De Los Siete Mendoza 2009
($19) (a blend of 57% malbec, 15% merlot, 15% cabernet sauvignon, 10% syrah and 3% petit verdot): Bright medium ruby. Sexy, nuanced aromas of blackberry, game, chocolate, herbs and smoky oak, with suggestions of liqueur-like ripeness. Suave on entry, then dense and smooth in the middle, showing good violet lift to the intense black fruit flavors. The rising finish shows excellent retention of fruit and tannins that are firm but not hard. As usual, this bottling offers a lot of flavor for the price.
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C O L O M E
Torrontes Salta 2011
($16) Bright, pale yellow. Very pure, perfumed aromas of ginger, licorice, rose petal and brown spices. Concentrated, supple and ripe, with impressive sappy intensity to the flavors of spices and fresh herbs. Builds nicely on the back half, finishing with lovely saline persistence and chewy grip.
90
Malbec Estate Salta 2009
($25) (blended with 8% tannat, 3% cabernet sauvignon and 2% each petit verdot and syrah; from vines planted between 7,200 and 10,200 feet above sea level): Good medium ruby. Sexy floral aromas of blackberry, violet and licorice are complemented by a leesy nuance. Savory, juicy and intense, with the black fruit and violet flavors carrying through in the mouth. At once sexy and serious, finishing with suave tannins and excellent savory persistence. This bottling has been consistently excellent in recent vintages, not to mention good value.
90
Malbec Reserve Salta 2008
($75) (reportedly from vines between 90 and 150 years of age, planed an altitude of more than 7,500 feet; aged 24 months in new French oak; 15.9% alcohol): Saturated ruby color. Chocolatey, porty nose. Fat, lush and sweet, with a slightly raisiny character to the superripe dark fruit and mocha flavors. Impressively rich and deep but in an extreme style. An earlier bottle was similarly huge and portlike. The estate's regular 2009 malbec is more fun to drink than this rather aggressive reserve bottling, at one-third the price. Your move.
89? Amalaya Red Wine Calchaquies 2010

($15) (a blend of 75% malbec, 15% cabernet sauvignon and 5% each tannat and syrah): Cherry liqueur, menthol, violet and spicy oak on the nose and palate. Suave, supple and energetic, with a sugar/acid balance giving the mid-palate insidious intensity and good definition. Nicely rising, fine-grained finish shows good length and a light touch. Sophisticated for the price.
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Priced from: 17.99 Compare prices C O Q U E N
($20) Pale yellow. Slightly hazy unfiltered appearance. Citrus peel, apricot and a hint of tropical fruits on the nose, complicated by a subtle leesy nuance. Ripe, round and dry, with a seriously chewy, saline mouth feel. Complex flavors of fruits, herbs, minerals and flowers. Finishes dry and long, with a strong impression of dusty minerality. (A second bottle was no less interesting but had even more suspended sediment.)
90 Tannat Salta 2011

($20) Medium ruby-red. Sexy perfume of crushed blackberry, blueberry, dark chocolate, violet and minerals; reminded me of syrah. Chewy, saline and savory, with strong blackberry fruit complemented by a touch of oak (90% of this wine was aged in tank). Distinctive wine with very good grip. Will tannat be the next new thing from Salta?
89
Malbec Salta 2011
($20) Red-ruby. Blackberry, violet and menthol and a hint of graphite on the pure nose. Juicy, fruity and smooth, with a saline quality to the pristine dark berry flavors. Finishes with firm tannins and good grip. This wine's high pH of 4.0 brings a somewhat saline character but there's enough energy to give it shape.
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C R U Z D E P I E D R A
Blend Mendoza 2007
($39) (malbec, cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot aged for 18 months in all-new French oak): Bright ruby-red. Cassis, violet and mineral aromas complemented by nutty, chocolatey oak. Supple, fat and sweet, with enough depth to its dark berry, violet and menthol flavors to support its wood element. The finishes features good vinosity, sneaky length, and serious dusty tannins that reach the front teeth. I'd give this a year or two to absorb some of its oak.
89(+?) Cabernet Sauvignon Umbral De Los Tiempos Reserve Mendoza 2009

($16) Full red. Currant, spicy oak, herbs, tobacco and pepper on the nose and palate. Easygoing, pliant and varietally accurate, offering modest complexity and a restrained sweetness. Dusty tannins reach the incisors.
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C U V E L I E R L O S A N D E S
Malbec Colecion Mendoza 2010
Bright red-ruby. Enticing aromas of black raspberry, blackberry, violet, licorice and dark chocolate. Dense, sweet and concentrated, with a saline complexity and harmonious acidity energizing the dark berry flavors. Fine-grained malbec with good extract. Finishes a bit youthfully medicinal but with more grip than the 2009 version.
90 Cabernet Sauvignon Coleccion Mendoza 2010

Good full, bright red. Musky aromas of currant, plum, chocolate and meat. Smooth, intense and varietally accurate, with good energy to the flavors of currant, plum, tobacco and earth. Finishes with sweet, lightly dusty tannins, a note of cherry and solid structure.
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Priced from: 19.99 Compare prices D A N T E R
Malbec Gran Dante Lujan De Cuyo 2008
($30) Deep, bright ruby-red. Coffee and chocolate oak notes dominate the nose. Sweet, round and lush, with black fruit, plum syrup and chocolatey oak flavors complicated by a saline element. This rich, fat, chewy wine finishes with substantial, oak-driven tannins, impressive chewiness and a faint dry edge to its dark fruit flavors.
90 Bonarda Menodza 2010

($13) Deep, bright ruby-red. Currant, licorice pastille, exotic flowers and sexy smoky oak on the nose. Intensely flavored and lively but a bit tart and generic: I would never have identified the variety. Solidly made red wine with even tannins. Carrying a moderate 13.5% alcohol.
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D E L D E S I E R T O
Malbec La Pampa Patagonia 2009
($30) (15.2% alcohol): Saturated ruby. Aromas of blackberry, plum, licorice and spicy oak. Juicy and energetic, with excellent lift and a strong oakiness to the dark berry flavors. In a rather extractive style and a bit dry today, but this has the firm tannic spine and harmonious acidity to reward some bottle aging.
90(+?) Cabernet Sauvignon 25/5 La Pampa Patagonia 2009

($15) Bright red-ruby. Currant, chocolate and licorice on the slightly reduced nose. Sweet berry and chocolate flavors show moderate nuance, no doubt partly due to the wine's reductiveness. Good stuffing here but a bit chunky, finishing with building tannins, a chocolatey flavor and a hint of alcoholic warmth.
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D E U M A Y E N W I N E S
Malbec Trez Reserva Mendoza 2008
($24) Good full ruby-red. Ripe currant, blueberry, spicecake and sexy oak on the nose and palate. Suave, vinous and nicely delineated; a rather claret-like midweight with real energy. The berry flavors are complicated by tobacco leaf and fresh herbs. Finishes sexy and long, with firm tannins and excellent intensity. More pristine than the Petit Trez bottling.
91 Malbec Petit Trez Mendoza 2010

($16) Good bright, full red. Musky aromas of sour cherry, game and earth, perked up by a note of fruity Tellicherry pepper. Smooth and fresh in the mouth, with good intensity to the cherry, herb and pepper flavors. Firm acidity and smooth tannins give this lively wine good structural support. Finishes with smoke and earth notes. Some tasters may find this too wild.
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D I A M A N D E S
Malbec Diamandes De Uco Valley 2010
($20) (blended with bits of cabernet sauvignon, syrah and petit verdot): Full medium red. Pure but restrained aromas of blackberry, menthol and violet. Concentrated but quite backward, with a note of violet pastille lifting the middle palate. Very primary today and not showing much in the way of easy sweetness. Finishes with substantial tongue-dusting tannins, a whiff of fresh herbs and good length.
88 Malbec/Syrah Perlita Valle De Uco 2010

($12) Full medium ruby. Very ripe aromas of blackberry, kirsch, dark chocolate and violet. Rich, dense and intense but rather porty, with some intrusive acidity and an herbal element giving the finish a green quality. Offers good intensity but shows a disjointed overripe/underripe character.
87?
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Chardonnay Valle De Uco Mendoza 2010
($20) Full bright yellow. Restrained nose hints at gingery spices. Ripe, plump and sweet, showing a lightly saline quality to the stone fruit flavors. A bit blurry with alcohol in the middle but finishes with good breadth.
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D O M A D O S W I N E S
Lobuno Grand Reserve Mendoza 2008
($35) (a blend of 60% malbec, 25% merlot and 15% cabernet): Dark red. Expressive nose offers plum, currant, tobacco, mocha and spicy oak, with violet and chocolate notes emerging with air. Suave on entry, then rich but restrained in the middle, with good delineation to the currant and chocolate flavors. Harmonious acidity and substantial dusty tannins give this youthfully medicinal, slightly clenched wine a firm structural underpinning.
89 Malbec/Cabernet Tobiano Reserve Mendoza 2009

(a 65/35 blend): Good dark red. Plum, truffle, mocha, game and chocolate on the very ripe nose. Supple, sweet and fine-grained, with the truffley quality carrying through on the palate. Broad and full without coming across as heavy. Finishes with a lightly medicinal quality and some fine but drying tannins.
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D O M A I N E J E A N B O U S Q U E T
Malbec Grande Reserve Tupungato 2009
($25) Bright, deep medium ruby. High-toned aromas of blackberry and cassis. Sweet, pliant and densely packed, with very good concentration and harmonious acidity to the blackberry and spice flavors. This round, generous wine finishes with lovely ripe tannins and excellent spicy persistence.

($12) Good dark red. Musky dark plum, blackberry, cassis and licorice on the nose and palate. Round, pliant and sweet, with harmonious acidity giving shape and lift to the fruit. Finishes with sweet, ripe tannins and very good length. Offers a nice combination of ripe but not overripe fruit and fresh acidity. And a terrific value.
89 Chardonnay Grande Reserve Mendoza 2010

($22) Full yellow with gold highlights. Peach, caramel and strong oak spices on the nose. Offers good concentration of peach and brown butter but the oak-driven vanilla and spice notes dominate the wine's fruit. Kept fresh by some unabsorbed CO2. I'd enjoy this oaky wine on the early side.
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D O M I N G O M O L I N A
Hermanos Malbec/Tannat Salta 2010
($15) Full medium ruby. Subtle, lightly medicinal aromas of currant, plum, licorice and bitter chocolate. Supple, moderately dense and fresh, with saline and mineral notes adding interest to the cola and dark chocolate flavors. Not a particularly fruit-driven style but has the stuffing to support its tannins.
88 Rupertre Salta 2006

($45) (60% malbec, 30% merlot and 10% tannat; from grapes grown at 7,200 feet): Bright medium ruby. Very ripe aromas of dark berries and chocolate mint; a bit roasted. Fat and sweet in the mouth, with a dried fruit character somewhat leavened by a spicy element and sound acidity. Finishes with broad, building, dusty tannins. A tad rustic for my taste.
88 Hermanos Torrontes Salta 2011

($15) Pale bright yellow. Steely aromas of citrus peel, wild herbs, minerals and licorice turned muskier with air. Round and juicy in the mouth, with citrus and spice flavors dominating. Not quite as complex as the nose suggests, but nicely fresh and persistent.
88 Hermanos Cabernet/Malbec Salta 2011

($15) Good medium red-ruby. Blackberry, licorice, violet and chocolate mint on the nose. Moderately intense but slightly dry-edged flavors of flowers, spices, mint and Baker's chocolate, with a hint of minerality. Finishes with dusty building tannins. Not bad.
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D O N A P A U L A
Pale straw-yellow. Apple, pear, pineapple and spices on the nose. On the sweet side but with firm balancing acidity and a saline quality preventing the wine from cloying. Turns a bit rigid on the finish owing to the acids but the fruit remains fresh.
87 Malbec Los Cardos Lujan De Cuyo Mendoza 2009

($10) Bright, dark red color like pinot noir. Aromatic nose combines raspberry, redcurrant, mocha, spices and pepper. Fairly rich in style but edgy acidity perks up the sweet, juicy flavors of redcurrant and tobacco. Falls down a bit on the finish, where the wine's tannins and acids have not yet come into full harmony.
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Priced from: 10.99 Compare prices D U R I G U
Bright red-ruby. Pure, discreet aromas of black fruits and flowers; classy and vibrant. Silky on entry, then primary, fine-grained and deep in the middle, with a distinctly primary character and lovely definition of dark berry flavor. The seamless finish offers suave tannins, excellent energy and subtle building length. Beautifully balanced malbec with real class--not at all a blockbuster. And a great value.
92
Familia Mendoza 2007
(85% malbec with 5% cabernet sauvignon, 4% bonarda and 3% each syrah and cabernet franc): Full ruby-red. Slightly high-toned, expressive nose melds currant, cherry, minerals, licorice and loam, plus oak notes of coffee, chocolate and coconut. Concentrated and smooth in the mouth, with sweet berry flavors enlivened by harmonious acidity and lifted by sexy oak spices. The slightly high-toned quality carries through on the palate. Serious but ripe tannins give the wine good structure, and chocolatey oak adds sweetness to the finish.

Bright dark red. Perfumed aromas of blackberry, currant, violet, licorice and menthol lifted by hints of herbs and pepper. Supple, ripe and nicely concentrated, with mid-palate sweetness restrained by vigorous, harmonious acidity. Finishes thicker than the 2010 cabernet, with fine-grained tannins and lovely lingering fruits and herbs.

Bright dark red. Sweeter on the nose than the 2010, offering scents and flavors of currant, plum, mocha and earth. At once saline and sweet, and a bit more concentrated than the 2010. The fat middle palate is nicely framed by harmonious acidity. Finishes broad, spicy and long, with a fine dusting of tannins that spread out to coat the palate. Lovely balance here.
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Bright, dark red. Aromatically complex nose offers blackberry, cassis, woodsmoke, mocha and a whiff of flowers. Supple, pliant and vinous, with good energy and varietal character to the flavors of cassis, mint and fresh herbs. Elegantly styled cabernet in a Left Bank way. Finishes with fine tannins and lingering notes of herbs and mint.
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E L E N E M I G O
Gran Enemigo Mendoza 2008
($90) (80% cabernet franc from 80-year-old vines with 10% each malbec and petit verdot): Good ruby-red. Perfumed, exotic aromas of black cherry, violet, spices, chocolate and sexy oak, with a superripe hint of beefsteak tomato. At once lush and sappy on the palate, with terrific cut to the fine-grained flavors of blackberry, minerals and violet. Finishes scented and long, with glossy tannins. Very sexy wine for drinking now or holding.
92 Bonarda Mendoza 2009

Saturated bright ruby. Musky black cherry, earth and dark chocolate on the sexy nose. At once chewy and creamy, with hints of leather and game adding complexity to the saline black fruit flavors. Lovely concentrated bonarda, finishing with smooth building tannins and excellent persistence. Very attractive bonarda.

(includes bits of cabernet franc and petit verdot): Bright medium ruby. Primary aromas of blackberry, licorice, and violet, with a suggestion of exotic fruits. Penetrating blackberry and licorice flavors convey a high-altitude acid impression. Very vibrant, young wine with tannins firmed by the petit verdot component. A fruit bomb, but today the wine's licorice and acid components are doing battle. El Enemigo is a joint venture of Adrianna Catena (the youngest daughter of Nicolas Catena) and Catena's winemaker Alejandro Vigil.

($28) Good full ruby-red. Cooler on the nose than the 2009, offering aromas of blackberry, menthol, violet and pepper, plus a hint of torrefaction. Then sweet, supple and quite easygoing in the mouth, with soft acidity and a distinct impression of residual sugar. Blackberry and dark tropical chocolate flavors dominate. Finishes with sweet tannins and decent length. A bit less sophisticated than the 2009.
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Porvenir "High Altitude Wine" Cafayate Valley 2005
($45) (malbec, cabernet, tannat and syrah; aged 18 months in French and American oak): Deep red-ruby. Superripe, high-toned aromas of cassis, graphite, chocolate and coffee. Fat, sweet and plush, with sexy spices and a porty quality to the wine's fruit. Finishes very long and sweet, with suave, fine-grained tannins. Impressive stuffing here, but this will be appreciated more by fans of superripe wine.
90 Torrontes Cafayate Valley 2011

($18) (from vines grown at an altitude of 5,740 feet): Pale silvery yellow. Highly aromatic nose of fresh peach, lemon drop and flowers; smells both tangy and sweet. Offers flavors similar to the aromas, with a lightly saline quality leavening the wine's slight sweetness. Plump and silky in the middle, but soil-driven and savory, showing no heaviness. Finishes youthfully tight and salty, with enticing notes of botanical herbs, anise and lemon zest. An excellent value.
89 Laborum Tannat Cafayate Salta 2006

($36) Dark red. Very ripe aromas of dark raspberry, leather, mocha and chocolatey oak; a bit more rustic on the nose than the less expensive Amauta bottling. Rich and aromatic in the mouth, with a liqueur-like quality leavened by edgy acidity. Offers good energy for such a lush, generous wine, but still a bit high-toned. Finishes with a medicinal menthol note and rather suave tannins. I'd drink this on the early side.
89 Amauta Red Wine Cafayate Valley 2009

($22) (a blend of malbec, cabernet and syrah): Bright ruby. Musky aromas of cassis, licorice, wild herbs and spicy oak. Juicy and savory on the palate, with sweet dark berry and chocolatey, spicy oak flavors dominating. Finishes with ripe tannins and attractive length. This easygoing wine can be enjoyed now.
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E R N E S T O C A T E N A V I N E Y A R D S
Cabernet Sauvignon Siesta Mendoza 2009
($25) Good dark, bright red. Brooding aromas of black cherry, raspberry, leather and licorice under chocolatey oak. Varietally accurate dark berry, black cherry, licorice and herb flavors are plush and suave but a bit youthfully medicinal. Finishes with substantial but fine-grained tongue-dusting tannins and sneaky breadth and length. (A second bottle showed more of a cough medicine character on the nose and finish and merited an 88 rating.)
89 Chardonnay Tahuan Mendoza 2010

($16) Medium straw. Lemon oil, fruit salad, orange and a whiff of menthol on the nose. Broad, round and fairly rich, with stone fruit and brown spice flavors offering early appeal. The smooth finish shows subtle persistence.
88 Malbec Tahuan Mendoza 2010

($16) Bright dark red. Blackberry and dark chocolate on the nose. Supple, ripe and sweet, with very good pliancy and depth to the flavors of dark berries, black cherry, licorice and herbs. Serious wine with harmonious balancing acidity, if a bit reduced today. Finishes with an herbal element. This will benefit from a year or two of bottle aging.
88 Bonarda Tahuan Mendoza 2010

($16) Deep red. Aromas of plum, redcurrant, tobacco, game, mocha and chocolate. Essentially easygoing flavors of cherry, plum and herbs show an attractive sweetness and good spicy lift. Finishes with a light dusting of tannins and a faint edge of acidity. Could use more shape and thrust but this is easy to drink.
87 Malbec Siesta Mendoza 2009

($25) Bright, dark red. Restrained but pure aromas of black cherry, blackberry, black olive, violet and game; showed a slightly roasted fruitcake ripeness with aeration. Juicy, tight and bound-up, less pliant and fruity than the Siesta cabernet, with some acidity yet to be absorbed. Porty suggestions of dried fruits carry through the firmly tannic, persistent finish. Seems a bit flat today in spite of its acidity. Will time in bottle soften this wine's corners?
87(+?)?
E T C H A R T
Torrontes Reserve Cafayate Valley 2011
($12) Very pale yellow. Brisk aromas of lime and rose petal accented by ginger and anise. Juicy, spicy and delicate, with bright acidity and a floral topnote giving the palate a light touch. Fresh, classic, pure torrontes with a dry, vibrant finish featuring sneaky length.
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F A B R E M O N T M A Y O U
Malbec Gran Reserva Mendoza 2008
($22) Bright, saturated ruby-red. Pure aromas and flavors of blackberry, violet, bitter chocolate and licorice enlivened by a whiff of cardamom. Broad, rich and ripe but with harmonious acidity energizing the dense middle palate. Quite dry and classic. Even tannins spread out to coat the palate on the long, rising finish. Very nicely balanced malbec.
90
($14) Full saturated ruby. The aromas of blackberry, bitter chocolate and mocha show an almost port-like ripeness but good lift. Dense and sappy in the mouth, with rich, concentrated blackberry, cassis and menthol flavors showing a liqueur-like quality. Just this side of too much, but this wine boasts excellent intensity, suave tannins and terrific length for the price.
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Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Selection Patagonia 2010
($14) Medium red-ruby color. Current, red plum, licorice and graphite lifted by flowers on the rather cool nose. Supple, dry and seamless, with good energy to the currant and spice flavors. More red fruits than black in the mouth and on the aftertaste. Tannins are quite fine. A very good value.
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F A M I G L I A B I A N C H I
($18) Good saturated medium ruby. Cassis, licorice, menthol, pepper, dark chocolate and minerals on the nose. Dense, spicy and intense, with very good lift to the black fruit, coffee and bitter chocolate flavors. An impression of sweetness is leavened by harmonious acidity. This fine-grained cabernet finishes with ripe, sweet tannins and very good length.

($18) Full medium ruby. Musky cassis, blackberry and dark chocolate on the nose, complicated by menthol and violet hints. Nicely delineated and spicy, with a restrained sweetness and good lift to the dark berry flavors. Well-made wine with harmonious tannins and good length.
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F A M I L I A M E S C H I N I
Malbec/Syrah Premium Mendoza 2009
($15) Pure, perfumed aroma of raspberry and violet. Sweet, supple and soil-inflected, with a lightly saline quality to the black- and blueberry flavors. Easygoing, fresh wine with just enough acid grip.
88 Malbec Reserva Mendoza 2009

($20) Dark red. Slightly roasted aromas of cassis, graphite, chocolate, menthol and licorice. Supple and nicely concentrated, with chocolate and spice flavors dominating. The dusty tannins show a slight dry edge on the back.
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F A M I L I A S C H R O E D E R
Pinot Noir/Malbec Patagonia 2005
($60) (a 54/46 blend): Red-ruby color. Perfumed aromas of black raspberry, licorice and spicy oak. A juicy, supple blend, with good purity, restrained sweetness and noteworthy definition to its spicy, floral flavors complicated by exotic smoky, vanillin oak. Finishes with smooth tannins and enticing lingering perfume. An interesting blend, even if the malbec dominates the pinot.
89 Malbec Saurus Select Patagonia 2009

($17) Ruby-red. Aromas of currant, cherry and spices. Pliant red berry flavors show good vinosity along with a slightly candied quality. Still a bit youthfully stunted today but nicely sweet, with sound acidity and tooth-dusting tannins providing good spine for some bottle aging.
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F A M I L I A Z U C C A R D I
Zeta Mendoza 2008
($45) (a 77/23 blend of malbec and cabernet sauvignon): Bright full ruby. Blackberry, cassis and licorice pastille on the nose, lifted by flowers and spices. Densely packed and concentrated, with a youthfully medicinal quality to the flavors of cassis, bitter chocolate and mint. Quite oaky throughout. Finishes with broad, slightly dry tannins.
89 Cabernet Sauvignon Q Mendoza 2009

($20) Good bright medium ruby. Dark berries, licorice and chocolate on the nose, plus oak notes of cedar and spice. Sweet and ripe but firm too, with brisk acidity framing the black fruit flavors. Distinctly exotic oak notes of chocolate and coffee add appeal. Finishes with solid, slightly drying tannins and good length and lift.
88 Malbec A Mendoza 2010

($15) Medium red-ruby. Expressive aromas of plum, dark chocolate, tobacco, brown spices and licorice, with a violet nuance emerging with air. Quite dry and uncompromising in the mouth, even a bit stunted today, with bound-up flavors of plum, chocolate, spices and herbs. In a slightly saline, adult style, finishing with firm tannins and a lingering note of dark chocolate.
88(+?)? Malbec Q Mendoza 2010

($20) Bright ruby-red. Good lift to the fruit-driven aromas of plum and blackberry. Supple and lively in the mouth, showing a restrained sweetness and harmonious acidity to the blackberry, violet and licorice flavors. Still a bit of an herbal edge on the finish, but this very young wine needs some time in bottle.
88(+?)
F E L I X L A V A Q U E
Torrontes Felix Cafayate Valley Salta 2010
($28) Pale straw-yellow. High-pitched nose offers citrus peel, peach pit and ginger. Juicy, perfumed and dry, with impressive saline intensity to the sappy citrus and mineral flavors. Serious chewy torrontes with a very persistent, gripping finish. Twenty percent of this wine was aged in oak.
90 Felix Blend Cafayate Valley Salta 2007

($28) (73% malbec and 27% tannat): Saturated ruby-red. Superripe, porty aromas of dark berries, black cherry, plum, mocha, coffee and chocolatey oak. Distinctly high-toned in the mouth as well, with fat, sweet berry and black olive flavors carrying a good dose of spicy oak. Began rather seamless but, with its edge of acidity and building sweet tannins, the finish turned a tad dry as the wine opened in the glass. Ultimately a bit aggressive at 15.1% alcohol.
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F I L U S
($13) Very pale yellow. Brisk aromas of ginger, quinine, flowers and peach. Light in body and on the lean side but with bright acidity giving definition and thrust to the delicate saline and spice flavors. Almost tart on the back end, but this subtle, lightly saline, very dry torrontes perks up the taste buds.
88 Malbec Medrano Estate Mendoza 2010

($10) Medicinal black fruits along with some oaky torrefaction on the nose. Smooth but a bit herbal, with good texture and breadth to the blackberry, plum and licorice flavors. Conveys a slightly underripe/overripe character but the tannins are supple.
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F I N C A 8
Malbec Reserva Valle De Uco Mendoza 2008
Good red-ruby. Currant, plum and chocolatey oak on the nose, plus an exotic suggestion of stone fruit. Smooth and round but not overly sweet, showing good breadth to the flavors of black cherry and plum. Not at all heavy (the alcohol is a moderate 13.1%), but this saline, fine-grained wine is carrying a heavy load of oak.
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F I N C A D E C E R O
Amano Remolinos Vineyard Agrelo Mendoza 2009
($60) (a blend of 60% malbec, 31% cabernet sauvignon, 6% petit verdot and 3% tannat): Bright, deep ruby. Cassis, minerals, mocha and milk chocolate on the nose, plus a whiff of exotic coconut. Suave and silky in the mouth, with lush, sweet flavors of cassis, menthol, fresh herbs and fruity dark chocolate. An impressively pliant blend, finishing broad and long, with nicely refined tannins coating the palate. Very well made, but I'd give it a year or two in the cellar before pulling the cork.
91 Petit Verdot Remolinos Vineyard Agrelo Mendoza 2009

($37) Medium ruby-red. Cassis, black pepper, bitter chocolate and a hint of violet on the nose, complemented by enticing oak tones. Suave, dense and fine-grained, with good peppery energy and violet lift to the black fruit flavors. A bit denser and darker than the 2009 cabernet sauvignon reviewed in Issue 154. Perhaps a bit youthfully monolithic in its texture but the wine's ripe, dusty tannins and good finishing snap and lift suggest it will reward aging. Nuanced, complete petit verdot.
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Malbec Remolinos Vineyard Agrelo Mendoza 2009
($20) Bright red-ruby. Pure, perfumed aromas of blackberry, currant, pepper, violet and licorice are complicated by notes of coffee liqueur and tobacco. Saline soil tones add a dimension to the silky dark fruit flavors. Today the wine's acids and tannins have not yet come into full harmony, but there's already shows plenty of personality. I'd wait 6 to 12 months before pulling the cork.
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Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva Valle De Uco 2009
($20) Bright medium ruby. Reticent aromas of dark berries, plum and spices lifted by a floral topnote. Juicy and nicely delineated, with enticing inner-mouth violet perfume to the dark fruit and licorice flavors. Finishes suave and long, with horizontal, building tannins and sexy chocolatey oak.
89 Malbec Gran Reserva Valle De Uco 2010

($20) Ruby-red. Plum, dark berries and mocha on the nose, complemented by subtle brown spices. Lush, smooth and mellow, with generous dark fruit flavors complicated by sweet chocolate and spicy, smoky oak. At once full and fresh, finishing with suave tannins and lingering notes of spices and chocolate.
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F I N C A L A C E L I A
Cabernet Franc Heritage Uco Valley 2008
($30) Good red-ruby. Plum, berry, mocha and menthol on the nose, plus a strong element of toasty, vanillin oak. Fine-grained and fruity in the mouth, with the concentration and generosity of blackberry and violet pastille flavor to support its oak element. Spreads out nicely to coat the palate. Finishes with supple, broad, sweet tannins and late hints of menthol and herbs.
88 Malbec Reserva Uco Valley 2009

($15) Good red-ruby. Blackberry and licorice aromas, with menthol and mint nuances. Juicy and fresh but a bit tart-edged and ungiving. Lively, moderately intense dark berry and herb flavors are essentially smooth in texture, but the finish shows a tannic edge.
87 Malbec/Cabernet Franc Elite Uco Valley 2009

($90) (a 65/35 blend): Bright red-ruby. Cassis, menthol, licorice and a whiff of violet on the somewhat medicinal nose. Juicy, fresh and nicely defined, but with a slightly green aspect to the middle palate. Finishes firmly tannic and persistent, with a rather pinched, medicinal character. Needs more flesh.
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F I N C A L A S N U B E S
($18) Very pale color. Subtly complex aromas of lime peel and white flowers. Smooth and fresh, with a saline mineral tang energizing the creamy texture. Finishes chewy and persistent, with a hint of licorice.
89 Rose Of Malbec Salta 2011

($20) (blended with 10% cabernet franc): Pale red. Strawberry, spices and a leesy nuance on the lightly peppery nose. Sweet red berry fruit is nicely framed by harmonious acidity and complicated by a light saline quality. Still, this is essentially an easygoing fruit bomb, made via saignee.
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F I N C A S O P H E N I A
Malbec Synthesis Tupungato 2009
($50) (aged for one year in new French oak): Bright, deep ruby. Pure, tight aromas of blackberry, violet and licorice. Juicy and nicely delineated, with lovely floral lift to the dark berry and sexy oak flavors. The long, fresh finish features tannins that are serious but also suave and sweet.
90
($15) Bright ruby-red. Sexy oak spices and violet lift the aromas of cassis, blackberry and licorice. An attractive, suave midweight, with harmonious acidity giving vibrancy to the mid-palate. Nicely restrained sweetness, a whiff of smoke and lovely violet perfume on the firmly tannic, persistent back end. An excellent value.
89 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Mendoza 2010

($15) Good deep red-ruby. Black cherry, coffee and menthol on the slightly medicinal nose. Cassis and chocolatey oak flavors are a bit stunted today by reduction. In a clenched style, finishing with toothcoating chewy tannins and little in the way of obvious sweetness.
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F L E C H A S D E L O S A N D E S
Gran Malbec Mendoza 2009
($45) Saturated ruby to the rim. Bright, complex aromas of blackberry, minerals, crushed rock, fruitcake and violet. Densely packed and impressively concentrated, with a solid spine of acids and tannins framing the black fruit, violet and bitter chocolate flavors and restraining the wine's sweetness. Finishes with suave tannins and lovely violet lift. Nicely balanced and long on personality.
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Gran Corte Uco Valley 2009
($45) (malbec with merlot, cabernet sauvignon and syrah; aged in all-new French oak): Saturated deep ruby. Superripe, almost port-like aromas of cassis, black cherry and dark chocolate. Hugely rich, lush and sweet, with black fruit and chocolate flavors offering impressive depth. Finishes long but the substantial tongue-dusting tannins show a dry edge as the wine opens in the glass.
89(+?)
G O U G E N H E I M
Red Melosa Mendoza 2007
(50% malbec, 32% cabernet sauvignon, 10% cabernet franc and 8% merlot): Good bright ruby-red. Aromas of plum, cassis and mocha complicated by a subtle spicecake quality. Juicy, bright and rather claret-like, with good clarity and thrust to its cassis, blackberry and spice flavors. Finishes with firm but even tannins and lingering mouthcoating fruit. A firm spine of acidity gives this blend lovely suavity and lift.
90 Malbec Reserva Valle Escondido Mendoza 2009

Moderately saturated dark red. Spicy dark berries and a hint of chocolate on the nose. Juicy, bright and vinous, with a penetrating quality to the dark fruit flavors. Not fat or fleshy but elegant, intense and sharply delineated. The laid-back finish features sweet, fine-grained tannins and sneaky length.
89(+?) Torrontes Momentos La Rioja 2011

($10) Very pale, bright color. Sexy aromas of peach, citrus peel and ginger. Dry and bright, with lovely floral lift and citrus cut to the lemon peel and ginger flavors. Fresh, tactile wine with a firm, slightly phenolic, lingering finish. A terrific value.
88 Cabernet Sauvignon Valle Escondido Mendoza 2010

Good medium red. Plum, mocha and mellow oak tones on the nose, along with hints of herbs and menthol. Supple, sweet and easygoing, with plum and berry flavors complicated by spices, graphite and herbs. A tad green but nicely vinous and varietally accurate. Finishes with firm, slightly drying tannins and subtle sweetness.
88 Blue Melosa Valle Mendoza 2007

Medium ruby. Dark chocolate, licorice and spicecake on the rather porty nose. Dense, sweet and a bit high-toned, with a medicinal cast to the dark berry flavors. Seems less refined and complex than the Red Melosa.
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G R A F F I G N A
Torrontes Reserve Centenario Cafayate 2011
($13) Very pale yellow. Delicate aromas of lemon, flowers and mint. Juicy, intense and perfumed in the mouth, with a distinctly tactile quality and very good lift to the citrus and floral flavors. The persistent finish shows a refreshing hint of bitterness.
89 Malbec Grand Reserve Pedernal Valley San Juan 2008

($20) Bright ruby. Plum, violet, chocolate and spicy oak on the nose. Round, supple and sweet; an easygoing, captivating wine with plum, blackberry and chocolatey oak flavors given shape by harmonious acidity. Finishes with serious but smooth tannins, spreading out nicely to coat the tongue.
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Malbec Reserve Centenario San Juan 2010
($13) Good medium ruby. Classic malbec aromas of blackberry and licorice lifted by a violet topnote. Juicy and dry, with a firm acid/tannin spine giving shape and lift to the currant, plum and spicy oak flavors. The persistent finish shows a lightly saline quality and repeating spicy oak.
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Malbec Mendoza 2010
($22) (from a vineyard dating back to 1908): Bright, deep red. Ripe but somewhat medicinal aromas of black cherry, licorice, chocolatey oak and fresh herbs. Lush, round and smooth if rather subdued, with a restrained sweetness to the dark cherry fruit. Offers good richness but could use more definition and lift. Finishes a tad dry, with dusty tannins and a repeating herbal quality.
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H A C I E N D A D E L P L A T A
Malbec Mayoral Grand Reserve Lujan De Cuyo 2008
($33) Bright, dark red. Sexy oak complements aromas of plum, mocha, licorice and tobacco leaf; I would have identified this as a cabernet sauvignon from the nose. Elegant and vinous in the mouth, with noteworthy energy and definition to the plum, currant, mocha, chocolate and herb flavors. Finishes with dusty, fine-grained tannins and subtle persistence.
90 Arriero Blend Reserve Mendoza 2009

($21) Full dark red. Slightly medicinal aromas of black cherry, licorice and menthol. The pliant palate offers more texture, depth and sweetness than the Zagal wines, as well as very good vinosity to the flavors of redcurrant, spices and herbs. Finishes with good energy and length.
89 Cabernet Sauvignon Zagal Mendoza 2010

($15) Dark red. Plum, mocha, herbs, spices and a whiff of menthol on the nose. Dense and plummy but also vinous and fine-grained, with varietally expressive flavors of plum, mocha, tobacco and fresh herbs. The tannins are a bit dusty but this wine is riper than the 2010 Zagal malbec, which is green by comparison. Finishes with good grip.
88 Syrah Zagal Mendoza 2010

($15) Bright, dark red. Plum, blackberry, menthol and a whiff of meat on the nose. Round and supple, with a restrained sweetness to the flavors of black raspberry, fresh herbs, licorice and game. A bit dusty on the end but the tannins are light.
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H U A R P E W I N E S
Selection Lujan De Cuyo 2009
($20) (an 80/20 blend of malbec and cabernet sauvignon): Full ruby-red. Exotic chocolatey oak dominates dark berries on the nose. Fat and broad, with a restrained sweetness but a slightly porty, hightoned quality to the mid-palate. The chocolatey oak carries through in the mouth and on the slightly dry aftertaste.
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L A C H A M I Z A
Malbec Martin Alsina Mendoza 2007
($50) Good full saturated ruby. Nose dominated by oaky torrefaction notes of bitter chocolate and espresso. Fat and sweet--in fact, verging on cloying--with dark berry and bitter chocolate flavors dominating. In spite of possessing adequate acidity, this seems much sweeter than its 1.8 g/l r.s. would suggest. Finishes with strong, rather gritty tannins that dry the palate. Seems rather heavily extracted.
87 Malbec Legend Of Polo Winemaker'S Selection Mendoza 2010

($20) Bright ruby-red. Raspberry, cherry, mocha, menthol and spicy oak on the nose. Dark berry fruit complemented by milk chocolate and fresh herbs on the supple palate. Offers decent presence but finishes a bit dry, with even tannins and a slight greenness.
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L A P O S T A
Malbec Pizzella Family Vineyard Mendoza 2010
($19) Red-ruby. Reticent but pure aromas of cassis and chocolate; at once very ripe and lightly medicinal. Sweet, fat and broad on the palate, with a lightly saline character to the raspberry, blackberry and chocolate flavors. Dense, chewy wine with a ripely tannic and rather oaky finish.
89 Bonarda Estela Armando Vineyard Mendoza 2010

($19) Red-ruby. Musky aromas of blackberry pastille, licorice and chocolate, plus intriguing herbal scents. Sweet and chewy, with decent acid support but only moderate definition to the lightly saline currant, blackberry, chocolate and menthol flavors. Not a rustic style of bonarda but a bit chocolatey and ripe for my taste.
88 Malbec Angel Paulucci Vineyard Mendoza 2010

($19) Good red-ruby. Reticent nose hints at bitter chocolate and licorice. Black fruit flavors show an almost confectionery sweetness and modest complexity on the round, creamy palate, with just enough acidity to maintain shape. Finishes with ripe, building tannins and good length.
88 Cocina Blanco De Blancos Mendoza 2011

($15) (70% chardonnay and 15% each sauvignon blanc and gewurztraminer): Bright pale yellow. Spicy aromas of citrus peel, fresh herbs and licorice. Soft and creamy, with a clean lemony flavor accented by subtle spices. No shortage of flavor intensity. Finishes dusty and firm-edged.
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L A G A R D E
Viognier Mendoza 2011
($20) Pale bright yellow. Enticing aromas of orange peel and spices. Juicy, saline and penetrating; a serious, tactile, very dry viognier dominated by dusty minerality and spices. Sophisticated, chewy finish conveys a strong impression of salty minerality. A very grown-up style of viognier.
89 Cabernet Franc Mendoza 2009

($30) Good red-ruby color. Cedary oak dominates plum jam on the nose. Fat and sweet, with sexy, fine-grained plum fruit nicely framed by ripe acidity but carrying a full load of cedary oak. Finishes with a broad dusting of tannins.
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L A S N O Q U E S
Finca Don Juan Malbec Valle De Uco 2009
($35) Saturated medium ruby. Aromas and flavors of blackberry, licorice and cocoa powder. Sweet, lush, broad and fine-grained, with harmonious acidity providing energy. Really spreads out to coat the palate. This perfumed malbec finishes long and refined, with sweet, smooth tannins and lingering black fruits and spices.
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L A S P E R D I C E S
Torrontes Mendoza 2011
($15) Very pale color. Aromas of peach, rose petal and jasmine. Nicely dense, spicy and dry, with a chewy texture and savory quality that should make it a very good match with many Asian dishes. Just a hint of sweetness on the aftertaste.

($20) Ruby-red. Restrained aromas of dark berries, licorice and mocha. At once sweet and savory, with a lightly saline quality to the flavors of game and milk chocolate. Offers good texture and palate presence; the tannins coat the mouth without turning dry.
88 Bonarda Reserva Mendoza 2009

($20) Good bright, full ruby. Slightly reduced nose offers currant, licorice and smoky oak. Dense, supple and sweet but a bit blocked today by reduction. Medicinal dark fruit flavors are joined by herbs on the back end. There's a creaminess in the middle, but the somewhat dry finish suggests a rather energetic extraction.
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L U C A
Syrah Laborde Double Select Uco Valley Mendoza 2010
($25) (aged in French oak, 50% new; previously, half of this wine was aged in new American barrels): Bright red-ruby. Smoky, slightly reduced nose offers dark berries, chocolate and a whiff of game. Lush, creamy and sweet, with dark fruit, chocolate and mineral flavors spreading out to saturate the palate. Very attractive, seamless syrah with a broad, fine-grained finish. The rootstock originally came from the Rhone Valley more than 50 years ago. After it was propagated in a single vineyard, a selection of the best vines was made for this 10-acre vineyard in the Uco Valley. A very successful vintage for this bottling.
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($32) Bright light yellow. Aromas of peach, apricot, nutmeg and flowers, complemented by oaky nuances (30% new). Fat, rich and sweet but with solid balancing acidity. A full-throttle fruit bomb with impressive depth and 3D texture, from a Gualtallary vineyard planted at 4,700 feet. The pH here is a very reasonable 3.2 in spite of the vines' long hang and a hint of botrytis.
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Malbec Uco Valley Mendoza 2010
($32) Good ruby-red. Crushed dark berries and chocolatey oak on the nose, lifted by a mineral element. Sweet, velvety and inviting, with harmonious acidity and underlying minerality enlivening the dark berry, coffee bean and chocolate flavors. Very rich and sweet without being too much. Still, I'd drink this very showy wine on the young side.
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L U I S S E G U N D O C O R R E A S
Malbec Valle Las Acequias Oak Mendoza 2008
($19) Full dark red. Plum on the nose, along with strong oak elements of mocha and vanilla. A sweet, plummy midweight with a firm spine of acidity running through it. Has the texture and body of a Medoc wine. Finishes firmly tannic, with good lift, sweet oak and plum and currant notes. (The more expensive Valle Las Acequias Rosedal Malbec was too dominated by its oak component.)
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M A P E M A
Sauvignon Blanc Mendoza 2011
($14) Bright, pale yellow. Aromas of lemon zest, pink grapefruit, talc, licorice and dried herbs. Supple and fairly plump but with bracing acidity giving the wine a sweet/sour quality. Finishes with a flavor of grapefruit pith and edgy lemon drop acidity. This pungent sauvignon came into better harmony as it opened in the glass.
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Malbec Perdriel Mendoza 2010
($27) (from 50-year-old vines): Bright ruby-red. Aromatic nose melds black cherry, violet, licorice and spices. Suave and nicely balanced, with lovely sweet berry fruit complemented by a light saline quality. Very smooth, savory wine, with sweet, fine-grained tannins spreading out to lightly dust the palate on the lingering, chocolatey finish. This and the cabernet are quite refined.
91 Cabernet Sauvignon Perdriel Mendoza 2010

($27) (includes 4% malbec): Good bright, deep red. Perfumed aromas of currant, raspberry and tobacco lifted by fresh herbs and flowers. Juicy, slightly saline and suave, with a light touch and good lift to the flavors of redcurrant, strawberry and mocha. Nicely balanced cabernet with smooth tannins and good chocolatey persistence.
90 Malbec Cuartel 2 Marchiori Vineyard Perdriel 2008

($40) (from 60-year-old vines): Saturated dark ruby to the rim. Blackberry, black cherry, licorice and brown spices on the nose. Juicy, spicy and lively, with well-integrated acidity energizing the midpalate. Compared to the varietal bottlings from 2010, this wine comes across as a bit herbal and clenched, with an oak component that has not yet harmonized with the wine's dark berry fruit. Finishes with substantial dusty wood tannins. This should be better for three or four more years in the bottle. Still, I'd like to have seen this wine with a lighter oak element.
90(+?)?
M A R I F L O R
Malbec Mendoza 2010
(15.5% alcohol): Saturated ruby. Initially restrained, very deep aromas of blackberry, cassis and bitter chocolate. Dense, lush, superripe and deep, with terrific floral lift and energy to the black fruit and chocolate flavors. Huge, building tannins saturate the incisors but are somehow supported by a massive wave of finishing fruit. The too-much-ain't-enough crowd will rate this even higher than I did.
91
M A S I T U P U N G A T O ( A R G E N T I N A )
Malbec/Corvina Passo Doble Uco Valley 2009
($14) (a 70/30 blend): Bright full red. Musky dark berries, cherry, wild herbs and licorice on the nose, plus a whiff of game. Moderately sweet and fine-grained, with good vinosity and a repeating animal quality on the palate. Finishes with sneaky dusty tannins and good length, as well as a suggestion of elevated acidity. A successful blend.
87
M E N D E L
Unus Mendoza 2009
($40) (70% malbec and 30% cabernet sauvignon): Medium ruby-red. Cherry, mocha and cocoa powder on the nose, lifted by spices. Supple, pliant and sweet, with harmonious acidity giving shape and lift to the black raspberry, currant and spice flavors. Generous and satisfying wine, with rather easygoing dusty tannins that will not get in the way of enjoying this wine in its youth. But has the balance to repay aging.

($30) (all French oak, 40% new): Good bright red-ruby. Aromas of blackberry, black raspberry, licorice and minerals. Chewy, concentrated and classically dry, with a saline quality and subtle oak tones to the flavors of crushed blackberry, menthol and bitter chocolate. A traditionally styled wine with lovely definition and depth and a firm tannic spine for aging. With its back-end minerally lift, this saturates the entire mouth without leaving any impression of weight. Should expand with a few years of additional bottle aging.
91 Semillon Mendoza 2011

($25) (from 60-year-old vines planted at 3,600 feet in a cool microclimate in Altamira): Bright, pale, green-tinged yellow. Citrus peel, fresh fig, minerals and licorice on the nose. Brisk, tactile and gripping, with a dry, savory character and lovely inner-mouth energy to its lemon, mineral and subtle oak flavors. This very suave semillon finishes lightly tannic, fresh and long. A captivating white wine.
91 Malbec Finca Remota Mendoza 2009

($115) (aged in 150% new oak: in new barrels for a year, after which 50% of the wine went into tank and the other 50% into another set of new barriques): Bright medium ruby. Blackberry, cassis, licorice, bitter chocolate and coconutty oak on the nose. Moderately sweet and suave, with a fine-grained, palate-saturating texture and excellent concentration to the dark berry flavors. Classically dry wine, finishing with substantial oak tannins that dominate today. I'd like to have seen this with a bit less new oak.
91(+?)?
M I C H E L T O R I N O
Malbec Don David Finca La Maravilla 6 Cafayate Valley 2009
($20) Bright ruby-red. Dark raspberry, cherry, chocolate and sexy spices on the nose, with good floral lift. Smooth and nicely concentrated, offering a felicitous balance of acidity and sweetness. Very fresh flavors of black cherry, spices and nutty oak. This energetic midweight depends as much on its acidity as on its tannins for structure. The cherry quality carries through on the lingering finish.
89 Torrontes Don David Reserve Cafayate Valley 2011

($17) Pale straw. Peachy fruit lifted by gingery brown spice. At once sweet and juicy, with lovely savory intensity and impressive palate presence to the chewy citrus and spice flavors. Finishes quite dry, persistent and firm-edged.
89
Malbec Don David Cafayate Valley 2010
($16) Good bright medium ruby. Blackberry, menthol and violet on the nose. Juicy, saline and nicely concentrated, with a chewy quality to the flavors of dark berries and chocolate. Nicely tactile wine with a firmly tannic, persistent finish. Good value.
89 Altimus Cafayate Valley 2008

($48) (52% malbec, 34% cabernet sauvignon, 8% bonarda and 6% tannat): Bright, saturated medium ruby. Aromas of cassis, dark chocolate and pepper joined by sexy oak spices and vanilla. Sweet and intense, with slightly jammy blueberry and cassis flavors lifted by herb and violet nuances. Finishes with firm tannins and acids that will need some time to harmonize. Blackberry and dark chocolate linger on the aftertaste. (A second bottle was similarly disjointed and also showed some intrusive oakiness.)
89(+?)? Cabernet Sauvignon Don David Reserve Cafayate Valley Salta 2010
($16) Saturated medium ruby. Aromas of cassis, blackberry, coffee and dark chocolate. Sweet, lush and easygoing, with dark berry and coffee flavors given shape by broad, ripe tannins. Finishes with lingering sweetness.
88 Syrah Don David Reserve Cafayate Valley 2010

($17) (from vines planted at 5,500 feet): Bright ruby-red. Fresh but restrained aromas of plum and chocolate. Sappy and savory, with good saline depth to the plum and spice flavors. Ripe acids and firm tannins give shape to this rather laid-back midweight. Offers modest syrah typicity but finishes with good vinosity and length.
88
M O N T E C I N C O
Malbec Mendoza 2009
($42) (15.2% alcohol): Good full ruby. Blackberry, chocolate and a saline quality on the nose. Chewy and tactile but a bit youthfully musclebound, with rich, rather extractive dark fruit and licorice flavors. Finishes with serious tannic clout and very good length. Chocolatey throughout.
89(+?)?
M O N T E Q U I E T O
Malbec Quieto 3 Mendoza 2010
($15) Red-ruby. Perfumed nose offers blackberry, licorice, dark chocolate and lavender. At once supple and brisk, with lively acidity and a note of violet face powder giving the middle palate a light touch. There's something here that reminded me of Cote-Rotie, but the floral rather than animal side of syrah. Finishes with subtle complexity and good energy.
88
N I E T O S E N E T I N E R
Bonarda Limited Edition Mendoza 2009
($34) (12 months in new French oak): Bright medium ruby. Blackberry, licorice and mint on the nose and palate, lifted by a violet topnote. Dense, fresh and sweet, with lovely depth to the mid-palate. A smooth style of bonarda, lightly gamey but not too wild. Saline and spicy oak nuances add complexity. Finishes with lush, fine-grained tannins and very good lift. Attractive, fresh bonarda; I preferred this wine to this producer's malbec bottlings.
90 Torrontes Reserva Mendoza 2011

($13) Bright green-tinged yellow. Complex aromas of citrus peel, licorice, botanical herbs and jasmine. Saline and chewy, with strong lemony acidity giving an almost tart character to the subtle stone fruit and soil flavors. Dry and sophisticated torrontes, about much more than merely fruit.
89 Terroir Blend Mendoza 2009

($34) (100% malbec, from different vineyards and altitudes): Good deep ruby. Very ripe aromas of dark berries and chocolatey oak, with a hint of nut skin. Broad and ripe but with a dried fruit character. Boasts decent energy but the wine's acidity is a bit disjointed today. Finishes with strong tannins and a slightly raisiny character. Distinctly old-fashioned wine.
88 Malbec Cadus Single Vineyard Mendoza 2007

($47) (aged 24 months in 100% new French oak): Good bright ruby-red. Aromas of currant, licorice and oak, along with herbal and menthol nuances. Juicy but a bit clenched, with a slight green quality to the dark berry and licorice flavors. Finishes with substantial dusty tannins. I wanted more sweetness of fruit. Finishes with dusty tannins that turned a bit drier with aeration.
88
($15) Bright ruby-red. Blackberry, black cherry, licorice, wild herbs and building oak on the nose. Chewy and a bit medicinal, showing a restrained sweetness to the licorice and chocolatey oak flavors. In a rather old-fashioned style, offering good texture but some pepper and herbal greenness.
87
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Cabernet Sauvignon Alta Reserve Mendoza 2009
($40) Good bright medium ruby. Nose dominated by oak notes of bitter chocolate, espresso and spices. Fat, rich, supple and sweet, with black fruit and violet flavors joined by sweet, spicy oak. Not the last word in complexity but offers plenty of immediate appeal. Finishes with a liqueur-like sweetness, strong oak spice and substantial ripe tannins.
89 Malbec Alta Reserve Mendoza 2009
($35) (from vines more than 60 years of age): Blackberry, violet and spices on the nose, with some exotic coffee and mocha oak tones. Broad, oaky and sweet, with a slightly high-toned character to the currant and coffee flavors. Substantial fine tannins reach the incisors. Plenty of material here, but it's straining under a heavy load of oak.
87
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Bramare Malbec Valle De Uco 2009
($40) Bright red-ruby. Pure but subdued nose offers dark berries, black plum, mocha, minerals and sexy oak spices. Rich, sweet, generous and deep, with a pliant quality to the cassis and spice flavors. Sexy complementary oak here. The fine-grained tannins spread out to saturate the palate on the long, concentrated aftertaste. A bit showier today than the Lujan de Cuyo version.
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P I A T E L L I V I N E Y A R D S
Torrontes Premium Cafayate 2010
($17) Pale straw. Fresh apricot, licorice, flowers and a leesy nuance on the nose. Juicy and supple in the mouth, with a mineral firmness giving a classically dry quality to the flavors of apricot pit and licorice. This very savory torrontes, which spent two months in new barrels, finishes with lovely lingering floral perfume.
89 Malbec Grand Reserve Lujan De Cuyo 2009

($15) Ruby-red. Black cherry, licorice, bitter chocolate and a stony nuance on the nose. Juicy, spicy and tightly wound, with a lightly herbal quality and an impression of peppery acidity giving the wine a youthfully medicinal character. Seems slightly bitter with extraction, but there's also good lingering sweetness here.
88(+?)? Cabernet Sauvignon Premium Mendoza 2010
($19) Good deep red-ruby. Currant, chocolate mint, licorice and a rocky nuance on the nose. At once sweet and savory, with a slightly raisiny, roasted quality joined by exotic oak tones of coffee and chocolate and leavened by minerality and a saline impression of concentration. This rather alcoholic wine reminded me of a dry port.
87 Malbec Premium Lujan De Cuyo 2010

($19) Medium red-ruby. Aromatic nose offers blackberry, violet, spicy oak and a suggestion of stony minerality. Supple and fine-grained, with bright acidity framing the currant and blackberry fruit and accentuating the peppery herb and spice notes. Finishes a bit green but the tannins are even and sweet. This still needs a year or two to unwind.
87(+?)
P U L E N T A E S T A T E
Malbec Gran Mendoza 2009
($40) Good ruby-red. Blackcurrant, licorice, violet and minerals on the nose and palate, complemented by spicy oak. Concentrated and juicy on the palate, combining a velvety texture with terrific flavor definition. The rising, rather powerful finish features a firm tannic spine and impressive lift.
91 Gran Corte Vii Mendoza 2008

($44) (a blend of 43% malbec, 31% cabernet sauvignon, 15% merlot, 6% petit verdot and 5% cabernet franc): Bright deep ruby. The aromas of cassis, licorice and bitter chocolate reminded me of a Napa cabernet. Suave on entry, then supple, generous and sexy in the middle, with a saline complexity and a faintly exotic character to the ripe cassis, licorice and spice flavors. Finishes sweet, spicy and quite long, with pliant tannins. An excellent showing, although I should note that a second bottle, which I rated 90 points, showed a stronger component of coconutty oak throughout.

($28) Dark red. Currant, smoke and tobacco on the nose, with sexy oak notes of coffee and mocha. Suave, supple and fine-grained in the mouth, with nicely integrated acidity and sweet, smooth tannins giving a distinctly pliant texture to this graceful midweight. Finishes with noteworthy persistence. (A subsequent bottle was even more open-knit in the middle palate but showed a trace of unabsorbed acidity on the back; this sample merited 87 points.)
89 Pinot Gris Xiv Mendoza 2010

($16) Bright straw-yellow. Orange, butter and spices on the nose, lifted by hints of mint and chlorophyll. Broad, spicy and vinous, with good texture and attractive floral lift to the middle palate. Conveys a saline impression of extract. Finishes with a positive dryness and good acid grip. Should be very flexible at the dinner table.

($29) Good full medium ruby. Medicinal blackberry, blackcurrant and bitter chocolate on the nose, with suggestions of superripe fruit and coconutty oak. Supple in the mid-palate, with jammy dark berry and dark chocolate flavors dominating, then a bit youthfully ungiving on the finish, where the dusty oak-driven tannins and firm acids have not yet come into harmony. (A second bottled displayed a slightly tired nutty note on the back end and rated 87 points.)
88(+?)? Malbec La Flor Rose Mendoza 2011

($16) Bright reddish pink. Strawberry and lees on the nose, plus a hint of exotic flowers. Supple, fruity and vinous, like a light red wine. A leesy element is enlivened by citrus peel lift. Could use a bit more depth and definition. Finishes quite dry, with moderate grip.
87 Malbec La Flor Mendoza 2010

Bright dark red. Aromas of blackberry, black cherry and bitter chocolate are lifted by a floral quality. Rich, smooth and quite dry, with woodsmoke and saline soil tones currently dominating black cherry fruit. Nicely concentrated but unforthcoming today--even a bit dull on the back.
87
R I G L O S
Gran Corte Mendoza 2009
($40) (50% malbec, 40% cabernet sauvignon and 10% cabernet franc; aged 22 months in new French oak): Full saturated ruby. Cassis, licorice, chocolate and sexy oak tones on the nose. Sweet, broad and lush, with strong spicy oak framing but not overwhelming the deep cassis and dark chocolate flavors. Really stuffed with fruit. Finishes with big but sweet tannins and complimentary oak tones.
91 Gran Malbec Las Divas Vineyard Mendoza 2009

($30) (aged 20% months in new French oak): Saturated ruby. Cassis, blackberry, violet, licorice and sexy chocolatey oak on the nose. Dense, sweet, round and satisfying, with a pliant, fine-grained texture to the dark berry and violet flavors. Quite full but not heavy, finishing with some very ripe bitter chocolate notes, sweet tannins and excellent persistence.
90 Gran Cabernet Sauvignon Las Divas Vineyard Valle De Uco 2009
($30) Bright medium ruby. Very sweet aromas and flavors of black cherry liqueur and game, with a lightly medicinal quality. In an exotic and rather chunky style; rich and dense but I wanted a bit more energy and definition. Finishes slightly warm, with substantial ripe tannins that turn a bit dry in the glass. This spent 20 months in all-new French oak.
87
R I O P E R D I D O
($12) Good full red. Dark aromas and flavors of currant, licorice, menthol and violet. Juicy, spicy and firm, with sound acidity giving the mid-palate a sappy, fresh quality. This would make a nice house pour. Finishes with dusty tannins and good persistence. 87
Malbec Gran Apartado Mendoza 2008
($72) (from 5-, 15-, and 86-year-old vines): Saturated ruby. Wild, musky aromas of blackberry, licorice and game. Dense, creamy and sweet, but with lively minerality giving lift to the dark fruit, leather, earth, black olive and dark chocolate flavors. Perhaps a bit rustic but long on personality and impressively deep. Wonderfully lush and perfumed on the very long aftertaste, which features creamy tannins and a lingering animal quality.
92 Encuentro Barrel Select Mendoza 2009

($44) (a blend of malbec, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc and petit verdot; 13.9% alcohol): Saturated ruby. Aromas of cassis, blackberry, licorice and sexy oak spices lifted by a violet topnote. At once savory and sweet, with lovely reserve and underlying structure to the youthful dark berry and bitter chocolate flavors. A saline quality contributes to the impression of chewy density. Finishes with firm, building tannins that coat the tongue and reach the incisors.

($20) Pale bright yellow. Sexy aromas and flavors of tropical fruits, white peach and vanillin oak lifted by a floral topnote. Fat and sweet but with nicely integrated peachy acidity providing shape to the middle palate. Very generous chardonnay with a persistent, smooth finish featuring sweet stone fruits and a touch of spicy oak.
89
S A N P E D R O D E Y A C O C H U Y A
Yacochuya Cafayate 2009
($25) (malbec grown at an altitude of 6,500 feet; 16.1% alcohol; aged for 12 months in 60% new French oak): Bright ruby-red. Exotic blackberry, molten chocolate, coffee and a wild whiff of game on the nose; just short of raisiny. Silky-sweet, round and fat, with an utterly seamless texture in light of the wine's very high alcohol. Just enough acidity here to give shape to the rich blackberry and chocolate flavors. Finishes with sweet, even tannins and palate-saturating length. This bruiser lacks finesse but will have its admirers. I'm not sure where it can go in the bottle. Enologist Michel Rolland makes this wine with the Etchart family. (Incidentally, two samples of the 2006 premium wine, called simply Yacochuya, were too pruney and high-toned to recommend, in spite of their huge chocolatey richness.)
91?
S A N T A C E L I A
Malbec Budeguer Patrimonio Mendoza 2009
($30) Bright medium ruby. Expressive, inviting scents of cassis, violet, minerals, bitter chocolate and spicy oak. Dense, sweet and deep but not heavy or particularly chocolatey. Strong blackberry and black raspberry flavors spread out to saturate the palate. The very long, broad finish features suave but serious building tannins and sexy oak tones. This is excellent.
91
S E P T I M A
Malbec Gran Reserva 2009
($20) (55% malbec, 30% cabernet sauvignon and 15% tannat): Saturated deep ruby. Very ripe, oaky aromas and flavors of cassis, blackberry, toffee and chocolate. Rich, sweet and deep, with an exotic, liqueur-like quality giving the wine a porty aspect. Finishes with broad, serious tannins and strong oakiness. For fans of very ripe, outsized red wines.
88
S O T T A N O
Judas Malbec Mendoza 2009
($70) (15% alcohol; aged for 18 months in new French oak): Bright, deep ruby. Black raspberry and licorice on the nose. Sweet, lush, creamy and deep; really fat with black fruit flavors. This big boy boasts terrific early appeal but its sweet tannins and superb breadth and length suggest it will give pleasure for at least the next several years.
91 Malbec Reserva De Familia Mendoza 2009

($24) Good red-ruby. Very ripe, almost porty, blackberry and black cherry aromas are complicated by dark chocolate and licorice. Supple, rich and smooth but not at all overly sweet, with a silky texture given shape by harmonious acidity. Sexy oak tones add interest. Finishes with supple tannins and very good length.
90 Reserva Blend Mendoza 2010

($17) (60% malbec, 30% cabernet sauvignon and 10% syrah; aged in 70% French and 30% American oak, all new): Bright medium ruby. Perfumed, deeply spicy aromas of blackberry, blueberry, cassis and licorice. Harmonious acidity and a floral topnote energize and lift the dark fruit and spice flavors. Very nicely delineated, youthful wine with firm but suave tannins and lovely rising length. Light on its feet and built to age. Classy wine for the price.

($17) Good ruby-red. Complex nose melds black fruits, game, smoky oak and musky soil tones. Very ripe but a bit youthfully reduced, with integrated acidity and a spice element giving lift to the dark berry and meat flavors. Sweeter than the Reserva Blend but also muskier. Plenty of flavor here--and nicely balanced too. Finishes with very good persistence.
89
S U S A N A B A L B O
Torrontes Late Harvest Mendoza 2010
($30) (104 g/l r.s.; made without botrytis): Medium yellow. Come-hither aromas of white peach, lemon drop, orange blossom, jasmine, flowers and spices; reminded me a bit of muscat d'Alexandria on the nose. Sweet, creamy and concentrated, with strong stone fruit flavors complicated by saline and honey notes. For all its sweetness, this late-harvest wine maintains a light touch thanks to a citrus pith bitterness that keeps the palate refreshed. Finishes sweet, creamy, suave and long.
92 Brioso Mendoza 2008

($45) (a blend of 60% cabernet sauvignon, 15% malbec, 10% each merlot and cabernet franc and 5% petit verdot; 40-day maceration): Ruby-red. Blackberry, licorice and sexy oak tones on the expressive nose and palate. Juicy, suave and fine-grained, with an almost confectionery sweetness nicely leavened by harmonious acidity. Finishes with a broad dusting of tannins and excellent persistence.
91 Cabernet Sauvignon Signature Mendoza 2010

($25) Bright ruby-red. Cassis, bitter chocolate, licorice and spices on the nose. Juicy, spicy and nicely delineated, with a restrained sweetness to the flavors of plum and currant. Finishes with a firm tannic spine that should support some aging, but this would be good with fatty meats right now. Classy cabernet for the price range.
90 Nosotros Malbec Mendoza 2009

($115) Good full ruby. Cassis, licorice and bitter chocolate on the nose, with a strong element of coconutty oak. Creamy in the mouth, offering strong, weighty fruit and an almost exotic sweetness. Comes across as rather heavily extracted, and very sweet and oaky on the back end. This impressively dense, outsized wine shows good underlying minerality but was a bit extreme for this taster.
90?
Malbec Late Harvest Mendoza 2010
($30) (70 g/l r.s.): Deep saturated ruby. Exotic aromas of blackberry, tobacco, spices and licorice. Supersweet, tactile and lush, with a saline quality to the dense, chewy flavors of dark berries and chocolate truffle. An enticing fruit bomb, finishing with ripe tannins and excellent length. This very sweet, rather soft wine could be paired with a chocolate dessert.
90 Torrontes Crios De Susana Balbo Cafayate 2011

($15) Good pale yellow. Sexy, almost gewurztraminer-like aromas of licorice, wild herbs, flowers and mint are at once bright and exotic. Juicy, saline and dry but with noteworthy texture and intensity to the ripe flavors of lavender, verbena and botanical herbs. Nothing austere about this serious, soil-driven torrontes. Finishes tactile and persistent, with a lightly saline quality.
90
Malbec Signature Mendoza 2010
($25) (includes 5% cabernet sauvignon): Good saturated ruby. Crushed blackberry and bitter chocolate on the nose. Dense and sweet but a bit chunky, with a firm structural underpinning to the black fruit and smoke flavors. Finishes with substantial tannins that reach the front teeth. This rather serious malbec needs a couple years of patience.
89 Cabernet Sauvignon Crios De Susana Balbo Mendoza 2010

($15) Medium ruby-red. Aromas of cassis, licorice and dried herbs accented by a peppery element. Moderately sweet and nicely creamy in the mouth, with a saline complexity to the chewy plum and currant flavors. Very suave cabernet sauvignon for the price range, finishing with fine-grained tannins that reach the front teeth and lingering notes of currant, plum, flowers, spices and licorice. (A second sample, which I rated 88 points, was a bit more medicinal and showed a stronger herbal element that gave the finish a slight dryness.)
89
Malbec Crios De Susana Balbo Mendoza 2011
($15) Good full medium ruby. Crushed blackberry, licorice and violet on the lively nose. Quite ripe and sweet in the mouth, showing impressive volume and breadth for the price range. Finishes with serious ripe tannins and noteworthy persistence. Susanna Balbo's son Jose Lovaglio, who took over the Crios label with this vintage, has gone to all French oak and somewhat warmer fermentations.
89 Rose Of Malbec Crios De Susana Balbo Mendoza 2011

($13) Bright, light red. Perfumed aromas of red berries and flowers. Cleanly made and lively, with a lovely hint of sweetness to the red berry and spice flavors. Very attractive, fruity rose with dusty tannins and very good finishing lift. Susanna Balbo's son Jose Lovaglio, a graduate of UC/Davis, took over winemaking responsibility for the Crios wines with the 2011 vintage.
88
Syrah/Bonarda Crios De Susana Balbo Mendoza 2009
($15) (a 50/50 blend): Good medium red-ruby. Spicy aromas of blackberry, licorice, minerals and menthol, plus a distinct smokiness from the syrah. Supple on entry, then a bit medicinal and dry in the middle, with flavors of spices, herbs and bitter chocolate. Despite some slightly edgy acidity, this could use a bit more definition. A tad dry on the finish.
87
S U T E R
Malbec Juan Suter Gran Reserva Mendoza 2007
($49) Good full ruby. Musky aromas of cassis, blackberry, game and mocha. Fat, creamy and sweet, with concentrated, chewy dark berry, soil and saline flavors framed by nicely integrated acidity. Quite chewy, even a bit extractive, but with plenty of buffering depth of fruit. This layered, mouthfilling wine coats the cheeks.

($23) Full medium ruby. Musky aromas of blackberry, raspberry, earth and violet face powder, plus a subtle whiff of game; almost syrah-like. Dense, sweet and gamey, with nicely integrated acidity framing and extending the black fruit flavors. Finishes with firm but supple mouthcoating tannins and lovely breadth and length. A suave malbec bottling.
90
T A M A R I
Malbec Tamari Zhik Valle De Uco 2007
($40) Full, saturated medium ruby. Blackberry, black cherry, licorice pastille and bitter chocolate aromas lifted by a violet topnote. Offers intense black fruit and spice flavors nicely lifted by harmonious acidity. At once sweet and firmly structured, finishing with palate-coating tannins and very good length. Pliant in the middle palate but a bit clenched on the back end today and in need of time in bottle.

($13) Ruby-red. Cassis, blackberry, licorice and menthol on the nose, plus hints of bitter chocolate and vanilla. Juicy, bright and penetrating, with good herbal cut to the lean berry and bitter chocolate flavors. Tannins are nicely integrated and fine, but the wine's slightly green herbal/minty finish calls out for food.
87
T E R R A Z A S D E L O S A N D E S
Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva Mendoza 2008
($18) Medium red-ruby. Cassis, black cherry, menthol and chocolatey oak on the nose. Good texture and density, and a restrained sweetness, to the intense flavors of dark berries and spices. Finishes with serious, dusty tannins and good lingering fruit. This wine should drink well for at least the next five or six years.

($18) Bright ruby-red. Blackberry, kirsch, bitter chocolate and sexy oak on the nose; at once candied and fresh. Creamy and seamless in the mouth, with a deep kernel of dark berry and violet flavor to support the flamboyant oak element. The broad finish offers a fine dusting of tannins and lingering dark berry sweetness. A lot of wine for the price.
89
Chardonnay Reserva Mendoza 2010
($18) Bright lemon-yellow. High-pitched aromas of lemon, lime, peach, licorice and spices. Silky in the mouth, with ripe peachy fruit complemented but not overwhelmed by vanillin oak. Finishes with very good length, a late note of smoky oak, and more grip and lift than the Altos bottling. More intense too.
88 Chardonnay Altos Del Plata Mendoza 2010

($12) Pale lemon-yellow. Lively aromas of lime peel, tropical fruit and spices. Supple and fleshy, with good verve to the flavors of peach, citrus fruits and spices. A bit oaky and simple on the end but has good life.
87 Malbec Altos Del Plata Mendoza 2010

($12) Good dark red. Briary dark berries, smoke, dark chocolate and menthol on the nose. Smooth and sweet, with attractive inner-mouth aromatic character to the dark cherry and smoky oak flavors. Nicely concentrated, sweet and balanced for this price range. Finishes smoothly tannic, with spice and smoke notes.
87
T I E R R A P R O M E T I D A
Good full ruby-red. Blackberry, black cherry, licorice, dark chocolate, violet and a note of dusty oak on the nose. Nicely concentrated, chewy and serious, with a saline, earthy complexity leavening the wine's impression of full ripeness. Finishes with rather easygoing tannins and good lift.
88
T I K A L
Malbec Natural Mendoza 2010
($20) (made with organic grapes): Red-ruby. Pure, complex nose offers blackberry, blueberry, violet, licorice and a whiff of chocolatey oak. Ripe but juicy and firm, with harmonious acidity framing the dark berry, black cherry and saline flavors and keeping the wine's sweetness under wraps. Finishes with chewy, ripe, palate-dusting tannins and very good soil-driven length. Has the structure to age. A superb value.
91 Jubilo Mendoza 2009

($40) (a 60/40 blend of malbec and cabernet sauvignon, aged in 100% new French oak): Bright red-ruby. Licorice and chocolatey oak dominate the nose. Very ripe and thick but also juicy and serious, with a flavor of raspberry liqueur supported by serious tannic structure. Less confectionery than the Patriota or Jubilo bottlings, and a bit less easygoing today. Finishes broad, round, lush and fairly tannic, with strong chocolatey oak tones and good energy. This held up nicely with extended aeration.
91
Malbec Amorio Mendoza 2010
($30) Good bright ruby-red. Complex nose melds blackberry, chocolate, licorice, wild herbs and smoky minerality. Creamy, lush and sweet but with just enough acidity to give it balance. This sexy, seamless wine finishes with very sweet, edge-free tannins. Impressive in a New World style; some tasters will find this to be too much.
90 Patriota Mendoza 2010

($20) (a 60/40 blend; this contains more malbec than previously): Bright medium ruby. Deep, very ripe aromas of blackberry, black raspberry, bitter chocolate and sweet oak. Suave on entry, then distinctly sweet in the middle, with just enough acidity to maintain its balance. Very creamy, almost confectionery wine, best suited for fans of this style. Finishes with sweet tannins and very good length. Perfectly drinkable now.
89
Priced from: 16.95 Compare prices T I L I A
Syrah/Malbec Mendoza 2010
($10) Bright, deep red-ruby. Blackberry and violet aromas lifted by a peppery note. A suave, juicy midweight with good peppery energy to the black raspberry and licorice flavors. Finishes with firm but light tannins and lingering notes of sweet oak and flowers. A bit less sweet and more brisk than the varietal malbec bottling.
87
Malbec Mendoza 2010
($10) Bright red-ruby. Blackberry, bitter chocolate, mocha and tobacco on the nose, plus hints of game and spices. Juicy, supple and moderately ripe, with a smooth texture to the dark berry, spice and mocha flavors. Finishes with light tannins and decent length. Sweeter and more convincing than the solidly made but slightly green merlot and cabernet sauvignon bottlings.
87
Priced from: 7.99 Compare prices T I N T O
Malbec Reserve Uco Valley Mendoza 2010
($17) Medium red-ruby. Black cherry pastille, licorice, fresh herbs and a hint of violet on the nose. Juicy, spicy and dry, with only moderate mid-palate definition to the red fruit flavors. The easygoing, chocolatey finish offers modest length.
87 Malbec Co-Ferment Mendoza 2010

($20) (with 7% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot): Bright ruby-red. Subdued aromas of blackberry, mint and licorice. Then surprisingly sweet (5.8 grams per liter r.s.) and plump in the mid-palate, with a chocolatey ripeness somewhat leavened by licorice, menthol and herbal elements, as well as some edgy acidity running through the wine. Still, this is a bit exotic owing to its sweetness. Finishes with sweet tannins.
87
T R A P E Z I O
Bo Bo Mendoza 2008
($60) (70% malbec and 30% cabernet franc): Bright full ruby. Blackberry, cassis, violet and a whiff of game on the nose. Juicy and nicely delineated, with penetrating flavors of black fruits and violet face powder complicated by a saline suggestion of soil. Nicely balanced, firmly tannic wine with solid spine and a lingering note of bitter chocolate.
90(+?) Merlot/Cabernet Franc Mendoza 2009

($32) (a 70/30 blend, aged for 12 months in new 300-liter American oak barrels): Bright full ruby. Reduced aromas of dark berries and chocolate. Sweet and supple in the mouth but still a bit blocked by reduction, with plum, cassis and licorice flavors turning a bit medicinal, even clenched, on the back end. The substantial tannins are nicely ripe, but a slight tart edge suggests that this wine will require a few years of cellaring.
89(+?)
T R A P I C H E
Malbec Single Vineyard Jorge Miralles La Consulta Mendoza 2008
($57) (from ten-year-old vines; 15% alcohol): Bright red-ruby. Sweet plum, cassis, blackberry and chocolatey oak on the nose; smells like a Penfolds wine. Suave and vinous on the palate, with sound acidity energizing the plush flavors of cassis, blackberry, dark chocolate and spices. The strong berry and sexy oak flavors linger impressively, and the fine tannins coat the front teeth. (Incidentally, my first bottle of this wine was more herbal and did not match this one for density or depth of flavor.)
91(+?) Malbec Vina Federico Villafane La Consulta Mendoza 2008

($57) (from 13-year-old vines; 15% alcohol): Saturated ruby. Blackberry, black cherry, licorice pastille, mocha and dark chocolate on the oaky nose Tight, high-pitched and intense, with almost peppery acidity giving a penetrating quality to the black fruit flavors. This wine has good creamy depth but will need several years of aging for its serious tannic structure to begin to yield. The long finish displays a slightly candied quality. All three of these single-vineyard malbecs spent 18 months in new French barriques.
91 Malbec Vina Cristina Y Bibiana Coletto El Peral Mendoza 2008

($57) (54-year-old vines planted at 3,696 feet): Bright medium ruby. Complex aromas of blackberry, black plum, violet pastille and licorice complemented by a wild forest floor scent and building oak. Quite vibrant but youthfully closed, with a strong herbal/spicy character contributing to the impression of spine. Finishes with fine-grained tannins and strong spicy oak and cola notes. Plenty of energy here, with a restrained sweetness.
90(+?)
T R I V E N T O
Malbec Eolo Lujan De Cuyo 2008
($80) (15.5% alcohol; includes 5% cabernet sauvignon and 2% petit verdot): Deep, saturated ruby. Cassis, licorice and bitter chocolate on the slightly warm nose. Densely packed and concentrated if a bit unrefined. There's a juiciness to the powerful fruit but I would have liked to see more restraint. This big, rich wine is rather overwhelming but the tannins avoid dryness. For fans of the style.
90
V A L D E F L O R E S
Mendoza 2007
(mostly old-vines malbec; aged 14 months in new French oak): Bright saturated ruby. Musky aromas of blackberry, violet, truffle and smoked meat; reductive and rather syrah-like. Lush on entry, then smooth and wild in the middle, with a saline character to its flavors of blackberry, cocoa powder and nutty oak. Very broad and full but not heavy thanks to a lovely combination of sweetness and supporting acidity. Classically dry, resounding finish shows suave tannins and terrific length. This should be a crowd-pleaser.
91
V A L L E L A S N E N C I A S
Malbec Family Selection Mendoza 2008
Dark red. Blueberry, currant, dark chocolate and sexy oak on the nose, along with hints of leather and game. Denser than the Malbec Reserva but a bit more oaky and clenched, showing plenty of acidity and dusty, oak-driven tannins. Finishes with good length but I don't yet find the complexity for 90 points. I'd give this a year or two in the cellar before pulling the cork.

Bright red-ruby. Raspberry, exotic flowers, spices and a whiff of game on the nose. Dense, ripe and sweet, with harmonious acidity framing the chewy raspberry, chocolate and floral flavors. A note of woodsmoke adds nuance without overwhelming the wine's fruit. Relies as much on its fresh acidity as on its smooth tannins for structure. This floral, aromatic malbec finishes persistent and light on its feet.
89
Priced from: 14.95 Compare prices V I N A 1 9
Gran Malbec Single Vineyard Lujan De Cuyo 2008
($46) (15.5% alcohol; Michel Rolland consults here): Good deep ruby-red. Boysenberry, blackberry, dark chocolate, mocha and sexy oak on the nose, plus a whiff of stony minerality. Rich, deep, dark berry and chocolate flavors show a truffley nuance, as well as a liqueur-like quality buffered by adequate acidity. A bit aggressive with alcohol but the echoing finish features a fine dusting of tannins and excellent length. This outsized, no-holds-barred malbec remains just this side of over the top.
90 Malbec Lujan De Cuyo 2008

Saturated bright ruby-red. Pungent aromas of blackberry, licorice pastille, violet, menthol, fresh herbs and spicy oak. Fat, sweet and densely packed, with a thickness of texture and a lightly saline character. This broad, slightly high-toned malbec finishes with substantial ripe tannins and hints of black cherry and menthol. A bit youthfully clenched today.
89
V I N A A L I C I A
Nebbiolo Lujan De Cuyo 2008
($65) (just 200 cases produced): Bright medium ruby-red. Aromatic nose combines crushed blackberry, violet, licorice and crushed pepper. Juicy and sharply delineated, with terrific inner-mouth energy to the flavors of black fruits, spices and mint. Classy, firmly built wine with an enticing saline complexity on the back end and solid tannic spine. Finishes with a medicinal reserve and a suggestion of bitter chocolate. As in other recent successful vintages here, this is one of a handful of outstanding nebbiolos made outside Italy's Piedmont region. 93
Morena San Alberto Lujan De Cuyo 2008
($33) (an 88/12 blend of cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc, from multiple clones vinified separately): Good deep red-ruby. Complex nose offers currant, graphite, milk chocolate, tobacco leaf and violet; in a distinctly Left Bank style. At once fat and juicy, with lovely sappy depth and sweetness to the berry and mineral flavors. Most impressive on the smoothly tannic, very long and seamless finish, where the impression of graphite minerality reverberates. 92
Brote Negro Malbec Lujan De Cuyo 2009
($90) (malbec): Saturated ruby. Superripe aromas of crushed blackberry, bitter chocolate, licorice and mocha. Fat, thick and sweet, with a distinctly creamy texture to the flavors of roasted currant and minerals. Very sweet, even a bit youthfully aggressive, but with the sheer concentration of material to support its substantial ripe tannins. Built for a slow evolution in bottle. 92
Tiara Lujan De Cuyo 2011
($33) (50% riesling, 40% albarino and 10% savagnin): Bright light yellow. Complex nose melds apple, lemon cream, white flowers and star anise, plus a leesy nuance. At once rich and lively, with harmonious acidity giving shape and cut to the peach and spice flavors. Mouthfilling without showing any undue weight. Finishes with a slightly chewy, phenolic character and sneaky length. A very successful blend. 90
Malbec Las Compuertas Lujan De Cuyo 2009
($33) Good full ruby-red. Graphite, mocha and sexy Taransaud oak on the nose. Round, lush and smooth, with a restrained sweetness to the berry, game and smoky soil tones. Conveys a strong impression of terroir, with sound acidity giving the wine very good balance. The broad, lingering finish features smooth tannins. 90
Malbec Paso De Piedra Lujan De Cuyo 2009
($19) Good bright red-ruby. Highly perfumed nose offers cassis, bitter chocolate, violet, tobacco and minerals. Juicy, spicy and saline, with a nicely restrained sweetness, a seamless texture and complex soil tones. Savory, fine-grained wine with smooth tannins and very good length. Excellent value. 90
Cabernet Sauvignon Paso De Piedra Lujan De Cuyo 2009
($19) Dark red. Currant, fresh herbs, licorice and a whiff of bell pepper on the nose. Lively but a bit dry, even green, in need of more stuffing and sweetness. Finishes with slightly drying, dusty tannins. Not bad but lacks real give. 88
Volturno Cobos Marchiori Vineyard Perdriel 2009
($200) (previously called Corte u Nico; an 81/19 blend of cabernet sauvignon and malbec): Bright full red-ruby. Aromas of black raspberry, cassis, dark chocolate, cola and minerals. Like liquid silk in the mouth, with a saline element to the lush, palate-saturating dark fruit and new oak flavors. Concentrated, dense and sweet but with excellent shape. Finishes with big, dusty, noble tannins and excellent subtle persistence, but needs time in bottle to absorb some of its sweet exotic oak.
93 Malbec Cobos Marchiori Vineyard Mendoza 2009

($175) Full medium ruby. Superripe aromas of black cherry, cassis, dark chocolate and cola. Lush, full and sweet, with a saline complexity to the black raspberry and chocolate flavors. Very rich and spicy wine with intriguing soil tones. Seems a bit less vibrant than the Bramare malbec from the same vineyard but this is compellingly broad, deep, mouthfilling wine, spreading out on the back end and avoiding heaviness.
93 Cabernet Sauvignon Bramare Marchiori Vineyard Mendoza 2009

($60) Bright ruby-red. Complex nose melds black raspberry, black cherry, minerals, menthol, clove and chocolately oak. Silky on entry, then sweet and concentrated in the middle. A fruit bomb like the Lujan de Cuyo bottling but this is complicated by saline soil tones and boasts more inner-mouth energy and definition. Builds impressively and spreads out on the back, finishing with very civilized tannins.
92 Malbec Bramare Marchiori Vineyard Mendoza 2009

($80) Saturated ruby. Aromas of black raspberry, cocoa powder, minerals and sexy oak, lifted by a floral element. Lush and fine-grained but also bright, conveying a lovely light touch for such a rich, dense wine. Finishes suave, shapely and long, with chocolatey tannins and subtly building dark berry flavors.
92 Malbec Bramare Rebon Vineyard La Consulta Mendoza 2009

($55) Saturated medium ruby. Superripe aromas of blackberry and dark chocolate verge on liqueur-like. Creamy, suave and smooth in the middle, with black fruit, sassafras and cola notes lifted by a violet element. Turns a bit more aggressive and medicinal on the back end, finishing with serious tannins and a slight warmth. Give this a few years to settle down.
91 Cabernet Sauvignon Bramare Lujan De Cuyo 2009

($40) Bright ruby-red. Black cherry, cassis, licorice, menthol and bitter chocolate on the nose, along with some sexy oak tones. Dense and rich, with slightly elevated alcohol but good harmonious acidity to the black cherry, brown spice and mocha flavors. Plenty of sexy oak here but not at all heavy. Finishes with refined tannins and ripe notes of black cherry and chocolatey oak.
91
Malbec Bramare Lujan De Cuyo 2009
($40) (15% alcohol): Good red-ruby. Blackberry, black plum, mocha, tobacco and licorice on the nose, plus a whiff of game. Creamy-sweet but still a bit youthfully aggressive, with blackberry and spicy oak flavors dominating. Finishes long, with medicinal black cherry and licorice flavors and substantial, dusty oak tannins that do not quite overwhelm the fruit. I'd give this big boy three or four years to open and gain in nuance.
90
Chardonnay Bramare Marchiori Vineyard Mendoza 2010
($35) Medium straw-yellow. Pear, peach, mandarin orange and butterscotch on the nose, lifted by a floral element. Smooth and fine-grained, with peach and soft citrus flavors complicated by tropical notes. Suave, elegant, palate-coating wine; a bit sweet without being heavy. Finishes with nutty oak notes and very good length.
90 Malbec El Felino Mendoza 2010

($20) Bright ruby-red. Ripe but not overripe aromas of blackberry, espresso and licorice. At once dense and suave, with surprisingly verve and shape to the rich flavors of dark berries and chocolate. Finegrained, concentrated, cleanly made malbec, finishing with smooth tannins and persistent flavors of blackberry, black cherry and menthol. A very good showing this year for these Felino wines.
89
Cabernet Sauvignon El Felino Mendoza 2010
($20) Medium red-ruby. Black cherry, dark berries, licorice and spicy oak on the nose. Sweet but firm on the palate, with nicely integrated acidity giving shape to the black cherry and spice flavors. Finishes with easygoing tannins, sound framing acidity and a hint of menthol.
88
Chardonnay El Felino Mendoza 2010
($19) (20% fermented in barrel, the rest in stainless steel): Bright yellow with a green tinge. Aromas of peach, lime, talc, vanilla and spices complicated by a leesy nuance. Juicy, bright and spicy, with a sake-like fatness of texture to the peach, apricot and orange fruit flavors. Just enough oak to add nuance without overshadowing the wine's varietal character. An enticing chardonnay midweight with shape and firmness. Finishes spicy and persistent.
88
Merlot El Felino Mendoza 2010
($20) Bright medium red-ruby. Aromas of black cherry, black raspberry, currant and sandalwood, complicated by tangy spices and some very ripe hints; reminded me a bit of Beaujolais. Supple, saline and chocolatey, with moderate definition and a slightly liqueur-like ripeness to the middle palate. Finishes soft, with broad, dusty tannins that turn a tad dry with air.
87
Priced from: 14.98 Compare prices V I N O R U
Victorio Altieri Gran Reserva Lujan De Cuyo 2009
($70) (malbec with 25% new oak; aged for 18 months in all-new French oak): Bright full ruby. Cassis, plum and nutty oak on the nose, with some musky reduction. Good energy to the flavors of dark berries and exotic dark chocolate. Shows a nicely restrained sweetness, as well as a strong oakiness from start to finish. Finishes with fairly strong, building, dusty tannins that call for at least a couple years of patience.
89(+?)
Cabernet Sauvignon Brandsen Gran Reserva Lujan De Cuyo 2009
($25) Bright, full ruby-red. Slightly reduced aromas of blackcurrant and spices. Rich, lush and sweet, but with black fruit, plum, coffee and chocolate flavors currently blocked by reduction. The chocolatey finish features sweet tannins and very good length. This will need time in bottle, or significant aeration if you plan to open it anytime soon.
88(+?)
X U M E K
Malbec/Syrah Reserve Valle De Zonda San Juan 2009
($30) (a 60/40 blend): Bright red-ruby. Aromas of blackberry, dark chocolate, pepper and game. Suave and fine-grained, with slightly wild flavors of dark berries and violet. Displays a juicy texture that reminded me of pinot noir. Finishes with fine tannins, a firm acid spine and very good length and lift.
89 Malbec Zonda San Juan 2010

($17) Dark bright red. Lively aromas of blackberry, fresh herbs, violet and spices. Supple and chewy, with moderately concentrated dark fruit and floral flavors complicated by hints of game and pepper. A bit wild and saline in a syrah way. This nicely balanced malbec delivers attractive sweetness without heaviness and finishes with a fine dusting of tannins.
88
Z O R Z A L
Climax Owners Blend Mendoza 2009
($49) (70% malbec and 30% cabernet sauvignon): Bright full ruby. Cool, fruit-driven aromas of blackberry, cassis and bitter cherry. Suave and quite fine-grained, with very good concentration and definition to the cassis and violet flavors. This chewy but juicy wine finishes with an even dusting of tannins and very good spicy length.
90 Malbec Reserve Mendoza 2009

($25) Good deep ruby. Aromas of blackberry, menthol, licorice, bitter chocolate and sexy oak. Densely packed, high-pitched and peppery, in need of a bit more flesh and sweetness. Nicely fine-grained wine with smooth tannins and a finishing note of bitter chocolate, but the peppery quality carries through on the back end.

($13) Full red-ruby. Blackberry, licorice and bitter chocolate on the nose, plus a whiff of violet. Quite primary on the palate, with good intensity and personality to the dark fruit flavors. Finishes smooth and fresh, with dusty tannins and decent length. (My first bottle was quite gassy.)
87 Pinot Noir Reserve Tupungato 2010

($25) Good deep red-ruby. Currant and chocolate aromas lifted by floral perfume, with sexy oak spices adding interest without being overbearing. Silky and supple in the mouth, with mellow raspberry and vanillin oak flavors; not about primary, high-pitched fruit but sexy and smooth. Finishes with even tannins and lingering sweetness, with the oak element building.
87
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