Luigi Bosca Malbec 2011

95
Luigi Bosca
Varietal: Malbec
Vintage: 2011
Country of Origin: Argentina
Appellation: Lujan de Cuyo
Retail Price: $17

Tasting Notes: Intense with sweet tannins, ripe red fruits, cassis and black pepper tones. A pure and full-bodied malbec. This bold gem pairs nicely with braised short ribs, stews and game.
Luigi Bosca Malbec 2011

Layer Cake Malbec 2012

92
Layer Cake
Varietal: Malbec
Vintage: 2012
Country of Origin: Argentina
Appellation: Mendoza
Retail Price: $17

Tasting Notes: A classic malbec: Big, brooding, black fruit, then rich earth, truffles and dark cocoa are at the front. The vineyard is at its core, always evident with the thread of minerality that the deep alluvial cobblestones lend. This wine is so elegant in the mouth, with fresh-picked blackberries, hints of chocolate and wisps of smoked bacon.
Layer Cake Malbec 2012

Decero Remolinos Vineyard-Agrelo Malbec 2011

95
Decero Remolinos Vineyard-Agrelo
Varietal: Malbec
Vintage: 2011
Country of Origin: Argentina
Appellation: Agrelo
Retail Price: $23

Tasting Notes: The vineyard is located at 3,500 feet in Mendoza’s sub-region of Agrelo where the grapes are hand picked. The wine, aged in French oak barrels for 14 months, is a superb example of modern Argentine winemaking. A floral nose leads to concentrated flavors of sweet/tart red fruits with nuances of cedar, spice, and vanilla. The tannins are firm and linger with some lip-smacking acidity. Pair this with a good steak!
Decero Remolinos Vineyard-Agrelo Malbec 2011

Colome Malbec 2012

92
Colome
Varietal: Malbec
Vintage: 2012
Country of Origin: Argentina
Appellation: Salta
Retail Price: $28

Tasting Notes: This is definitely the whole milk of malbec, with some of the highest-elevation fruit on the planet. The grapes have a rich concentration of flavors that show dramatically through every sip. Savor this malbec with a grilled steak or simply after dinner by a fire on a cold winter night.
Colome Malbec 2012

Altamira Navigato Grand Reserve Malbec 2008

98
Altamira Navigato Grand Reserve
Varietal: Malbec
Vintage: 2008
Country of Origin: Argentina
Appellation: Uco Valley
Retail Price: $52

Tasting Notes: This is one serious malbec. High-altitude fruit from the Uco valley. Old-vine designation utilizing plantings from 1947. An exotic blend of malbec, cabernet sauvignon, and cabernet franc aged 24 months in French oak. Intense purple color, soft aromas of apricot, plum, and bright cherries. Elegant, supple mouthfeel, and a long, smooth finish.
Altamira Navigato Grand Reserve Malbec 2008

Altamira de los Andes, Reserve Malbec 2009

93
Altamira de los Andes, Reserve
Varietal: Malbec
Vintage: 2009
Country of Origin: Argentina
Appellation: Uco Valley
Retail Price: $45

Tasting Notes: High-altitude malbec sourced from three of the best growing areas in the Uco valley. Aged 18 months in oak, this wine has beautiful violet color in the glass, with intense aromas of cherry and vanilla and just a hint of dark chocolate. A formidable, classic malbec.
Altamira de los Andes, Reserve Malbec 2009

Achaval Ferrer Malbec 2012

93
Achaval Ferrer
Varietal: Malbec
Vintage: 2012
Country of Origin: Argentina
Appellation: Mendoza
Retail Price: $31

Tasting Notes: Full, bright ruby red. Porty, yet high-pitched aromas of blackberry, kirsch, blueberry and violet are complicated by balsamic and black olive nuances. Dense, thick and super ripe, but still with noteworthy clarity to its dark fruit and fresh fig flavors. A nutty oak element is leavened by insinuating acidity. The wine ultimately displays a very attractive sugar/acid balance and finishes with good lift.
Achaval Ferrer Malbec 2012