Malma Reserva, Merlot 2005, Nice and expressive

Malma Merlot Reserva 2005, By Bodega NQN, USD 13

Nice merlot from San Patricio´s Valley ,Neuquén, Northpatagonia.

Dark ruby with attractive plum and cherries compote and a wide middle palate. Strong but sweet tannins ending quite short though. Chocolate and tabacco off the top. Nice balance for a wine at the end of its best moment. I´d say 89 points with very good value. The Cab Sav 05 was more balanced (and the malbec was super and actually went to the `colección 05´blend of superlative quality).

Alma 4, Sparkling Bonarda 2006, great mix of fruits and honey

ALMA 4, Sparkling wine from Bonarda 2006,By Alma 4 (Zuccardi Wines,Mendoza), USD 20

Champenoise method with 30 month over lies ed sparkling wine. Strange but attractive set of honey,very soft toast and nice plum and red cherries from the bonarda grapes. Very balanced and gentle palate mostly initial with little bubbles and middle with bonarda typicity. I´d say 89 point sparkling with great value component.

Desierto Pampa Malbec 2006, more beauty from Northpatagonia

Desierto Pampa, Malbec 2006, By Bodega del Desierto, USD 25

Beautiful malbec from Northpatagonia (city of 25 de Mayo, La Pampa province). Middle to full

body malbec with attractive fruits like plum, cherries and sweet plum. Nice chocolate and vanilla softly engaged. Great middle palate and nice aftertaste. A malbec for 4-6 years cellar. I´d say 90 points malbec with very good value component.

Beta Crux, Tempranillo Blend from Uco´s Valley, great red

Beta-Crux, Tempranillo blend 2003, Bodega O. Fourner , USD 20

Great blend from Uco´s Valley Mendoza.

Nice composite of lightly cooked fruits and ripe sour plum marmalade well engaged. Strong all trough palate with nice aldough short aftertaste. Coffee and chocolate aftertaste. Beauty balance. Looks like a wine for not more than 6-8-years cellar without lose. I´d say a 90 points red with good value component.

Patrón Santiago, Malbec blend 2007, great red from maipu Mendoza

Patrón Santiago , Malbec blend 2007, By Bodega Manuel Lopez Lopez, USD 20

Maipu Departament, Mendoza.

A great malbec with beautifull balance of fruit and body. Red and black small cherries with plum

typical of malbec and sweet tannins gently envolved with chocolate and soft vanilla. Nicely equilibrated and good aftertaste. Enjoyable sip after sip. Nicer at 3-5 years old. I´d say 90 points red with good value bottom line.

Kawel Reserva Malbec 2005 From Uco´s a deception

Kawel, Reserva Malbec 2005, By Finca La Celia, USD 16

Uco´s Valley malbec with akward structure dominating sour fruits with strange acidity.

Harsh middle palate with no defect but hard to enjoy if any. I´d say 79 points red with a bad value price.I wound´t drink it twice. It doesn´t taste like either a malbec or an Uco´s. Bad step for a winery that gives us great wines and values.

Calafate Reserva Malbec 2008, strong Northpatagonia´ son from Añelo´s Valley

Calafate Reserva, Malbec 2008, By Bodega del Añelo (Cofruva SA), Neuquén (NorthPatagonia) USD 10

Strange mix of old world style red and northpatagonia´s malbec from Añelo Valley (Neuquén) Opaque but soft red with nice dried fruits like plum and assorted cherries and a good deal of smoky and chocolate envelope. Strong palate with very acid a quite alcoholic at the middle and final palate. I don´t pick th typical mint and eucalyptus from Rio Negro´s Valley. Long aftertaste. Not easy to drink though. Probably 3-5 years cellar gave rise to a drier and more dissociated red given the high alcohol present already. I´d say a 86 points red with good value component. Great typicity but not a great approachable wine. Some people will like it quite a bit, most people won´t or will find it too strong and hard to enjoy it.

Finca El Peral, Malbec 2007, don´t delay 2 years cellar to taste

Finca El Peral, Malbec 2007, By Bodega Los Cerrillos, Tupungato Mendoza, USD 8

Nice malbec from Uco´s Valley in Tupungato, Mendoza. Simple fruit mostly red cherries and boysenberries with dashes of plum usual for Tupungato and Uco´s. Some notes of oxidation though. A young and easy red to drink probably before three years born. I´d say 83 points red with barely if any good value. May be 1 point up if tasted younger.

Festivo Malbec 2009, nice and good value

Festivo, Malbec 2009, By Bodega Monteviejo, Uco´s Valley, mendoza, USD 10

Nice and round malbec fruit driven but balanced. Not complex but attractive to enjoy without much analysis. Easy to drink and friedly with red cherries ripe and sweet, some plum less than usual for Mendoza, but what you expect from Uco´s. Soft smoke ending. A young wine for less than 4 years. I´d say 84 points and a good value.

Aguijon de Abeja, Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from mendoza, I already forgot it

Aguijón de Abeja, Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, By Pablo & Héctor Durigutti, Mendoza, USD 8

Barely good red from Mendoza. Ripe cherries and boysenberries with firm herbaceous and sweet peppery notes. Little bit harsh but drinkable with nice middle palate and adequate aftertaste. Just a hint of smoke. A young red for 2-3 years at the most. Not a good value but a fair basic Cab with I´d say 83 points. I won´t neither remember it nor buy it twice.

Quimera 2007, By Achaval Ferrer , nice beauty

Quimera, Malbec blend 2007, terroir blend from mendoza By Achaval Ferrer, USD 53

Very good malbec based blend from different terroirs of mendoza. A sweet initial palate and nicely

balanced punch of fruits remembering malbec. Softly oaked with coconut and vanilla. It lingers pretty well. Probably better in 2-3 years (like 6-7 from harvest) but it does´n weight like a red to cellar more,in fact I remember tasting of 10 years old with evident loses. I´d say 92 points red with barely a good value for the price. There are a bunch from Uco´s for 30 bucks and equal or better quality. But well ,Achaval Ferrer´s wines got a fame well deserved anyway.

Alta Vista single vineyard malbec, Temis 2006, superlative

Alta Vista Single Vineyard Malbec, Temis 2006, By Alta Vista, USD 38

Wonderful malbec from Uco´s Valley, Mendoza. Round and delicious with strong ripe fruits and seducing chocolate and smoke. Long palate through. Even some spicies and herbs with a super balance. A wine for 7-10 years cellaring with growing complexity. I´d say a 93 points red with a great value added.

Numina 2005, spirit vineyard, From Uco´s Valley the best ever

Numina Spirit Vineyard 2005, By Salentien Wines, USD 38

Malbec 60 & Merlot 40 % from Uco´s Valley Mendoza and a wonderful structure and balance. An extremely attractive red mostly seductive like a merlot. Strong backbone dark and bitter with spicy red cherries and boysenberries mixing herbs nicely. Hypnotizing equlibrium ,more if resting an hour in the cup. Complex over all just to make it even better. Now young and bright but no doubt better in 5-7 years more (like 10-12 years old). A 95 points red and probably 97-98 properly aged. A supervalue above most wines. Don´t remember any Uco´s better

Yauquén Malbec 2008, proudly made in Agrelo

Yauquén Malbec 2008, By Bodega Ruca Malen, USD 12

Nice malbec from Agrelo district of Lujan de Cuyo Dpt in Mendoza. Attractive and balanced malbec seduction. Beautiful bordeaux color quite intriguing. Mix of cherry and boysenberry with nice tannins ending with soft cocoa and smoke. Velvety and friendly. I feel it better somehow during the first 4 years of life out of winery. I´d say 87 points and a very good value component close to great value

Amalaya 2009, Malbec blend from Cafayate´s Valley fairly good

Amalaya 2009, By Hess Collection (Bodega Colomé), USD 10

Good mablec based blend from Cafayate Valley, Salta (6,500 ft/ 2,000 mt). Dark blue and deep concetrated typical from Salta. Nice black cherries and jammy plum ripe with sweet and gentle tannins. Soft smoke. Strange herbaceous minty stuff (some may like). Mostly initial and middle palate lingering with short aftertaste. Little bit alcoholic as from cafayate´s. I guess better after 2-3 years cellar. A good value for the price and a 85 points malbec with some attractiveness and typicity but poor in complexity.Better values around

Salentien Reserve, Pinot Noir 2006, Good effort from Uco´s Valley

Salentein Reserva, Pinot Noir 2006, By Salentein Wines, USD 15

Nice Pinot from Uco´s Valley in Mendoza. Not a great terroir for pinot noir though. Nice sour red and black fruits with nice initial palate and soft smoky finish. Notes of mint and eucalyptus unusual for PN and typical for Uco´s Valley. Not very typical for what we expect from a traditional PN. A red for cellaring 6-8 years to get some terciary stuff some people may enjoy the most. I´d say a 86 points red with good value relation to price. Look for Primus Pinot Noir By Salentien Wines coming up soon. The `icono´ wine for this grape´s variety and terroir.

Wunn, Malbec Reserva 2007, nice bottle

Wunn, Malbec Reserva 2007, By Chacras del Sol, USD 16

Thinny malbec from Northpatagonia must say. Nice aromas rom ripe and lightly cooked reddys like cherries ,raspberries and plum. Nice alcohol and acidity but short middle palate with cheap old barrel component like chocolate and wet wood. A wine for not more than 4 years. I´d say 84 points and bad value for the price.

FIN Malbec 2007, A wonder about to bloom

FIN, Malbec 2007, By Bodega del Fin de Mundo, USD 30

Wonderful Malbec from San Patricio´s Valley in Neuquen, Northpatagonia.

As vineyards get older wines improve quite a bit. This happens with these close to 7 yrs old vines. This malbec is wide, juicy and balanced. Nice red color with bright look. Beautiful tannins of adecuated riped grapewines. Red and black fruits and a soft lasting end with a chocolate and smoky touch. Very complex and attractive.I guess it´l get better in 5-7 years cellar. A 91 points malbec and a good value. These vines will surely give there best in the upcoming years and those wines will be better than most Mendoza´s Malbecs. Cross my heart on this.

Lindaflor, Malbec 2005, A sensory bomb from Uco´s Valley

Lindaflor, Malbec 2005, By Monteviejo, USD 35

Wondeful malbec from Uco´s Valley Mendoza

Deep and dark red with wonderful nose and better palate. Strong backbone with sweet fruits mostly ripe black boysenberries and currants in a all through palate ending long after with a smoky and chocolate little touch. Nice complexity. Gorgeous balance and attractiveness. If this much at 5 years I´d bet It´ll be even better by 8-10 years old. I´d say a 94 points red great value too.

Arnaldo B, Gran Reserva 2004 & 2006, A Big Boy from Cafayate Valley, Salta

Arnaldo B, Gran Reserva 2004 & 2006, By Bodegas Etchard, USD 25

Typical blend from Cafayate´s Valley in Salta with Malbec mostly and filled in the blanks with some Cab Savignon and Tannat (that grows nice in high lands,close to 6,500 ft/2000 mts, of Cafayate). A beautiful color mostly deep red and dark but brilliant not concentrated. Frank from the aroma down to aftertaste. Much sour blackberries,plum and boysenberries finishing with some cocoa and vanilla nicely brushed. Soft herbs and fresh red sweet pepper. Wide middle palate and nice ending too. The 2004 more balanced toward complexity and the 2006 vintage more fruity and alcoholic. Both quite attractive reds with beautiful typicity for Cafayate without unbalance. Strong backbone initially harsh but pretty soon a sip after sip wish. A red for 6-8 years cellar with growing complexity.I tried 8 yrs old well kept and they were mostly dying. I´d say a 90 point red with great value component.

Malma Reserva, Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, a beauty well matured by a proper vintage

Malma Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, By Bodega NQN, USD 14

Beauty from San Patricio´s Valley, Neuquén, Nothpatagonia. A Cab well matured with deep

red bluish dense moving in the cup. Attractive tannins with strong backbone and black fruits sour cooked and touching alcohol. Nice early and middle palate and less impressive ending with cocoa and tabacco. A wine to enjoy after 5-6 years if cork,cellar and vintage allow. I´d say a 89 points Cab with great value component.

Pasion 4, Merlot 2007, Nice and round

Pasion 4, Merlot 2007, By R Joffre & Hijas Winery, USD 8

Nice merlot from mendoza. Fresh boisenberries and sweet spice like clove with hint of green

peppercorn. Frankly it doesn´t taste like a Uco´s Valley but more like a Perdriel district of Lujan de Cuyo Dpt. Great balance but a soft red with better initial palate and short end. Good value for this I´d say 85 points merlot with equilibrated typicity. Not for cellaring more than 4 years.

If it were more concentrated and maintaining the balance with oak it´ll be a 90 points merlot for 20 bucks.

Trumpeter, Reserve Petit Verdot 2008, Rutini Wines pushes forward

Trumpeter Reserve Petit Verdot 2008, Rutini Wines, USD 13

A roud Petit Verdot from Ugarteche district in Lujan de Cuyo Dpt  in Mendoza. Deep red and brilliant. Nice sour plumand some sweet forest small fruits. Nice red bell pepperish and gentle green fresh herbs.Almost no spice nor mint. Smoky finish but a short aftertaste. Adequate typiciy for terroir and variety and average attractiveness. I´d say 85 points red with barely acceptable value to price. A wine for less than 4 years cellar.

Tomero Malbec 2008, beauty from Vistalba District

Tomero Malbec 2008 By Carlos Pulenta Winery, USD 13

Beauty from Vistalba distric of Lujan de Cuyo Dpt Mendoza with a very good value component to price. Nice red dark and bright. Attractive from the beginning with violets flowers and rich ripe fruit. Balanced palate with high dark and red small fruits like red currant and cherries finishing tosty. No bothering acidity or alcohol. A red for cellar fewer than 4 years. I´d say a 87 points malbec.

Crios , By Susana Balbo, malbec 2008, nice label not wine

Crios By Susana Balbo, Malbec 2008, USD 12

Just barely balanced malbec from Lujan de Cuyo, mendoza. Simple acid plum and raspberry fruits

with striking acidity almost bothering. Not very fruity and actually a bitterness not very attractive.

Young red for 4-6 years cellar. But I wouldn´t go more than 84 points and no good value at all.

Ventus Malbec Roble 2009, supertypicity Northpatagonia

Ventus, Malbec Roble 2009, By Bodega del Fin del Mundo, USD 5

Latest release from Northpatagonia (San Patricio´s Valley). A simple malbec but well conceived. Correct balance with nice typicity conveying red acid fruits lightly cooked, soft mint and green peppercorn. Hint of smoke at the end. The palate is neat all through. A red for 2-4 years at most. I´d say 85 points with very good value for 5 bucks.

Three fast friends for 4 bucks, La Niña,La Consulta,Callia Alta

La Niña, Malbec 2008, Ugarteche distric in Lujan de Cuyo,By Bodega Don Cristobal 1492,USD 4. Nice malbec with the mix it´s got to have. Deep reddish with violet nose and and mix of red smallfruits and plum (lets say a hint of merlot stick out!) with nice middle palate finishing with hint of smoke.

La Consulta, Malbec Roble 2009, Uco´s Valley, By Finca la Celia, USD 4 (probably sold int´l as Angaro or Furia) Lighter red with sweet cherries and harsh smoke ending. No very malbec but nice.

Callia Alta, Shiraz & Mabec 2009, Tulum´s Valley ,San Juan, By Salentien ,USD 4

Nice red deep with some purple. Fruity balanced with lots of coconuts. Entertains nicely the palate though.

Three 4 bucks to enjoy easily and get paid even. Only La Niña reminds a malbec. Callia Alta won´t deceive.La Consulta shows a oversimplified easy red. Alone or with people I figure they all go nicely with finger food.

Quieto 2005, by Bodega Montequieto, great value

Quieto 2005, By Bodega Montequieto, Agrelo District in Lujan de Cuyo Departament, Mendoza, USD 10.

Beauty blend with 50% Cab Frank ,30% Malbec and 20% Cab Sauvignon. First hand fruit ripe and moderate in acidity like cherries, plum and boysenberry. Hint of quince marmalade. Hint of smoke at the end too. Quite pleasure through the palate ,mostly initial and middle. A red to see evolve in 6-8 years cellar even it´s `unprotected´given the short barrique cellar. I´d say a 89 points red with very great value component.

Colonia Las Liebres, Bonarda 2008, By Altos Las Hormigas, you´ll see !

Colonia Las Liebres, Bonarda 2008, Altos La Hormigas, USD 12

Nice unoaked Bonarda from Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza. Straight fruit like acid red plum righ off the tree a little before completely ripe. Kind of monotonous though. Wide palate with nice acidity and great middle part. Not longer aftertaste though. Young red for not more than 4 years cellar. I´d say 83 points and not even a good value .I feel it expensive.

La Linda, Chardonnay unoaked 2009 ,very nice effort by Luigi Bosca

Finca La Linda, Chardonnay unoaked 2009, By Luigi Bosca, USD 10

Beauty from Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza. Nice fresh peach and pineapple with a little bit of applesauce. Not sweet melting but rather balanced and fruity. Vivid acidity but delicate. Complete palate passage with short aftertaste. Young and fine white. I´d say 88 points and a very good value price.