AJ’s:

Bodega Renacer Malbec Mendoza Punto Final 2007; Unfiltered, Old Vine; plush and fresh raspberry and blackberry fruit, smooth on the finish $12.99

Total Wines:

Cruz Alta Malbec President Reserve 2005; A lovely wine from vineyards partially owned by Nicolas Catena.  A delightful blend of mostly Malbec with a little Cabernet and Syrah blended in.  Black fruit flavors intermingle with mocha and spice to yield a wine with balanced fruit, tannins and acidity.  $17.99

Flichman Malbec Tupungato 2006; A blend of 60% Malbec, 20% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon yielding a wonderfully balanced wine.  Ripe raspberry, blueberry and blackberry lay on a frame of smooth tannins and produce a lingering finish.  Very approachable now.  $16.99

Paul Hobbs Malbec El Felino 2007; Produced by one of California’s premier vintners, Paul Hobbs is known for his distinguished wines from Argentina.  While the wine sports distinct blackberry and blueberry fruits, the wine is a little young and stiff.  Time should smooth out the tannins and yield a fabulously balanced wine.  $15.79

Chateau de Mercues Cahors 2004; This wine takes you back to the origins of Malbec, the Cahors region in Southwest France.  An initial gamey aroma eventually reveals dark cherry, berry and plum which lingers on the finish and firm yet approachable tannins.  Perhaps a hint of bittersweet chocolate on the finish.  Well balanced representation of a French Malbec wine.  $18.99

Alamos Malbec Mendoza 2007; Fig and spice in an envelope of raspberry and baked crust.  $10.49

Beverage House:

Terrazas de los Andes Malbec 2007 (not sampled); $10.99

(The 2006 is described by the WS as an easy going style of Malbec with raspberry, briar and toast.  The 2005′s and 2004′s are equally well rated as well.)

La Posta Del Vinatero Angel Paulucci Vineyard Malbec 2007; Blackberry, currant and mocha flavors with a tinge of fig and solid acidity.  $16.59

Dona Paula Los Cardos Lujan de Cuyo Malbec 2007; Juicy hit of raspberry and black cherry with vanilla and spice flavors on the finish.  $10.19

Catena Malbec 2006; A fabulous wine from Nicolas Catena with tasty flavors of mocha, spice, raspberry and boysenberry with a defined lingering finish.  $23.39  (While a little over the Value Finder threshold, this is a very special wine for the price produced by one of Argentina’s premier vintners).

Altos Las Hormigas Malbec 2007; Light and easy going with fresh raspberry and dark cherry fruit flavors, some toasty aromas and a hint of licorice.  A nice lingering finish of flavors on the palate.  $12.29   A wonderful wine for the price.

Costco:

Alamos Malbec Mendoza Seleccion 2007; Another very special wine from the Catena family; vibrant waves of blueberry, boysenberry, fig and licorice and mocha with a lingering and yet still fresh finish.  $12.99

Dona Paula Los Cardos Lujan de Cuyo Malbec 2007; (see Beverage House above)  $9.99

Catena Malbec Mendoza 2006; (See above description)

Bodega Norton Malbec Reserva 2006; Generous raspberry, plum and fig notes with aromas of toast and mocha and all supported with a backbone of spice.  A gentle and smooth finish.  $12.69

Achaval Ferrer Quimera 2006; dark and brooding wine with currant, coffee, mocha and fig.  Great wine from a top notch producer.  $21.99

Pastiche:

Bodega Colome 2006 Malbec; #38 2008 wine of the year in the WS.

While a little more than the standard “Value wines,” this is a wine to pick up if you are willing to lay out a few more dollars.  Vibrant fruit flavors of plum and boysenberry underpinned by warm fig and coffee with a zing of minerality offers an upscale taste of what a Malbec can be.  A long and tasty finish.  $24.99

BevMo

Catena Malbec Mendoza 2006; See above description $18.99

Terrazas de los Andes Reserva 2005; Lush and forward raspberry and blackberry flavors with hints of fig….a wonderfully delicious wine.  $18.99

Kaiken Malbec Mendoza Ultra 2006; nice blend of boysenberry, blueberry and fig with some mild toasty hints; wonderfully integrated and refined finish.  $21.99

Melipal Malbec 2005; nice blend of raspberry, cocoa and fig; very solid finish.  A little one dimensional in fruit flavors but still a nice wine.  $16.99

Alamos Malbec Mendoza Seleccion 2007; See above description

La Posta Del Vinatero Angel Paulucci Vineyard 2007; See above description

VinTabla

Dante Robino 2005; described by the staff as very elegant with black plum, blueberry and an earthy character.  Wonderfully balanced acidity.  $18.00

Tags: AJ's Fine Foods, Malbec, Total Wines