BUYING GUIDE - Wine Enthusiast

88
Lexicon 2011 Malbec (Mendoza). Jammy
and generous smelling, with pastry and solid
black-fruit aromas. Feels good and balanced for a
young Malbec, with flavors of sweet plum, blackberry
and a medicinal character. Plump and fruity on the finish,
and steady wire to wire. Kysela Père et Fils. Best
Buy. —M.S.
abv: 13.5% Price: $13
88
Mi Terruño 2008 Mayacaba Malbec
(Mendoza). A big, dark, extracted Malbec
with murky lead aromas of Graham cracker and sweet
blueberry. The palate is jammy and chunky, with dark,
earthy flavors of prune, blackberry and raisin. Finishes a
bit pruny, but there’s enough acidity to maintain a sense
of balance. Drink now. Copa Fina Imports CA. —M.S.
abv: 14.5% Price: $50
88
Nice 2008 Malbec (Mendoza). Floral red
fruit aromas carry a hint of minerality and garrigue.
The palate is lively, with good overall balance.
Tastes of ripe red plum, raspberry and vanilla, while the
finish is light in weight and quick, but satisfying. Nice
Winery. —M.S.
abv: 13.5% Price: $30
88
Nuna 2010 Reserve Malbec (Mendoza).
Bright, vivid and sizzling on the nose, then zesty,
tight and acidic in the mouth, with high-toned plum,
berry and red currant flavors offset by a touch of milk
chocolate. Long on the finish, but not that nuanced or
complex. Kysela Père et Fils. —M.S.
abv: 14% Price: $17
88
Septima 2010 Malbec (Mendoza). Warm,
slightly leathery and earthy on the nose, with a
hint of cheese. Feels full, nice and solid, with decent
depth. Flavors of black fruits and pastry are friendly,
while the finish is pleasant. Delivers all it can for the
price. Aveniù Brands, Inc. Best Buy. —M.S.
abv: 14% Price: $11
88
Solsticio 2008 Malbec (Mendoza). A big
wine that handles its 15.3% abv. Smells of pastry,
earth and soft berry fruit. Feels round but reticent,
with no fire or heat but plenty of blackberry, molasses
and coffee. Mellow, toasty and blackened on the finish,
with an earthy feel and a baked aftertaste. Solsticio
LLC. —M.S.
abv: 15.3% Price: $15
88
Tango Reàl 2008 Gran Reserva Malbec
(San Rafael). Plum and berry aromas are
straightforward, but also clean and nice. The palate on
this wine from San Rafael is focused and orderly, with
flavors of red fruits, spice and mild woody notes. Long
lasting on the finish, with freshness and just a modicum
of tannic bite. Tango LLC. —M.S.
abv: 13.5% Price: $25
88
Viña Cobos 2010 Felino Malbec (Mendoza).
Fiery, foxy and leathery on the bouquet,
with a hint of latex in addition to ripe blackberry
aromas. Feels round and fresh, with a complete mix of
plum, berry and currant flavors. Finishes tight and legit,
with good length and feel. Paul Hobbs Wines. —M.S.
abv: 14.5% Price: $20
44 | WINE ENTHUSIAST | MONTH 2012
87
Altocedro 2011 Año Cero Malbec (La
Consulta). Concentrated aromas of blackberry
come with leather and dried-cheese scents. The palate
is full in depth and solid in feel, with flavors of creamy
oak, medicinality and blackberry. Feels rich, grabby and
tastes resiny on the finish, but there’s enough solid black
fruit to override the oak. Vino Del Sol. —M.S.
abv: 14.7% Price: $19
87
Arge & Tina 2009 Malbec (San Juan).
Honest plum and berry aromas get it going,
followed by a fresh, comfortable palate with raspberry
and plum flavors and nonpushy tannins. Feels entirely
clean, with a pleasant red-fruit aftertaste. Everyday
Malbec that gets it right. IBESC Wine Distributor. Best
Buy. —M.S.
abv: 13.5% Price: $8
87
Colomé 2008 Reserva Malbec (Calchaqui
Valley). Smells cheesy and leathery, with
herbal notes. Feels condensed and flat, as if it’s collapsing
on itself. Flavors of baked berry and prune are dark
and typical of very ripe Malbec, while the finish is warm
but basic in feel and flavor. Bullish, sweet and heavy.
Not Colomé’s best effort, especially given the price.
Hess Collection. —M.S.
abv: 15.9% Price: $90
87
Finca Sophenia 2010 Altosur Malbec
(Tupungato). Fresh, clean and pure, with
standard dark berry aromas. Feels round, creamy and
chewy, while the flavors tend towards black fruits and no
shortage of oak. Tastes toasty and feels resiny on the finish,
with vanilla and berry syrup filling up the aftertaste.
The Country Vintner. Best Buy. —M.S.
abv: 14% Price: $12
87
Finca Sophenia 2010 Reserve Malbec
(Tupungato). Forceful from the opening,
with floral notes, dark oak, shoe polish and char vying
with black fruit aromas. Feels both lush and tough, with
hard tannins poking through. Tastes of black fruits, cola
and heavily toasted oak. Bittersweet on the finish; lusty
and black but neither elegant nor light on its feet. The
Country Vintner. —M.S.
abv: 14% Price: $18
87
Lamadrid 2010 Single Vineyard Malbec
(Agrelo). Dense and inky on the bouquet, with
blueberry as the core fruit aroma and some grass or alfalfa
around the edges. Feels blocky and tannic, with
sweet, roasted flavors of black fruits that come with a
peppery aftertaste. Full on the finish, with coconut and
oaky accents. Vino Del Sol. —M.S.
abv: 14% Price: $18
87
Maipe 2011 Andean Culture Malbec
(Mendoza). Opens with berry fruit aromas,
density and slightly medicinal notes. Feels bright and
lively, with ample acidity pushing toasty, lightly herbal
flavors of blackberry and plum. Shows mild spice, licorice
and barrel notes on the finish, along with herbal
notes. Seems like a very good everyday or value-driven
choice. Kysela Père et Fils. Best Buy. —M.S.
abv: 13.5% Price: $13
87
Nomade 2008 Malbec (Mendoza). Dry
and unusual smelling, with baking spice, cinnamon
and exotic notes. Not your normal black-fruited
bruiser; this wine spreads out in the mouth, with sweet
flavors of nutmeg along with dry plum and berry fruit.
Lively and warm on the finish, with zest and an herbal
element. Domaine Select Wine Estates. —M.S.
abv: 14.2% Price: $18
87
Terrazas de Los Andes 2009 Reserva
Malbec (Mendoza). Black fruit aromas feature
a touch of licorice. Feels lively and alert, with edgy
acids and juicy, forward flavors of plum and wild berry.
Toasty, integrated and spicy on the finish, with pinches
of green and black pepper. Moët Hennessy USA.
—M.S.
abv: 14.5% Price: $18
86
Alberti 154 2010 Malbec (Mendoza).
Black fruit aromas and rubber on the nose.
Feels good in the mouth, with proper weight and balance.
Tastes ripe and fairly sweet; blackberry and dark
plum flavors turn peppery with time. Easy to drink Malbec.
Southern Wine Group. —M.S.
abv: 14% Price: $13
86
Bodega Poesia 2010 Malbec (Mendoza).
Earthy and leathery on the bouquet, with a
cooked, charred element. Feels drawing but solid, with
choppy tannins and flavors of baked berries, herbs and
charred oak. Finishes warm and meaty, with an herbal
note. Bob Bofman Selections. —M.S.
abv: 13% Price: $15
86
Familia Cassone 2010 La Florencia Malbec
(Luján de Cuyo). Char and hickory override
fruit on the bouquet, while the palate is full, round
and falls into form with time in the glass. Tastes of forward
oak and spice along with berry and plum fruit.
Toasty and warm on the finish, but oaky and resiny. Bedford
International. —M.S.
abv: 14.5% Price: $12
86
Pampano 2009 Malbec (Mendoza). Fruity
and friendly on the nose, with composure and
solid aromas. Feels both plump and dry, with toasty
black-fruit flavors accented by peppery spice that turns
slightly bitter on the finish. Good and dark overall, with
limited follow-through on the finish. Five Gold Hands.
Best Buy. —M.S.
abv: 13.5% Price: $10
86
Rio Perdido 2010 Malbec (Mendoza). Exotic
and unusual for value-priced Malbec, with
aromas of blueberry and Middle Eastern spice. Feels
chunky yet juicy, with good acidity highlighting lightly
herbal flavors of plum and tomato. Meaty, round and
solid on the finish, with saucy spiciness. Southern Starz,
Inc. —M.S.
abv: 13.5% Price: $12
86
Ruca Malen 2009 Reserva Malbec (Mendoza).
Smells sort of furry and earthy initially,
with notes of graphite and woodspice. Feels narrow and
grabby, with pointed acididty framing red plum, cher-