Although the price of good Argentinian Malbec is creeping up, there are still some great buys in the $20 range — like this one. Dense purple in colour, it has a cedary, spicy nose of blackberries with a floral top note; it’s medium to full-bodied, dry and fruity with lively acidity. Another terrific BBQ wine for your red meat dishes.
Dense purple-black in colour; cedary, black plum and cherry bouquet with a note of smoke. Medium to full-bodied, dry, earthy, black fruit flavours with a firm tannic finish. Hold 2 to 3 years.
Scents of dark berry, cinnamon, clove, chocolate and a touch of herb give way to predominantly blackcurrant flavour with dark chocolate and a firmly dry, medium length finish. Well-made, consistently reliable value.
Dark berry fruit accented with cinnamon, clove and a splash of caramel on the nose leads the way for well-integrated dark fruit and spice on the palate. Harmonious and full-flavoured but rather subdued on the finish.
This flavourful Malbec is dense purple-black in colour with a warm nose of cedar, toasty oak and black fruits, lifted with a light floral note; it’s medium to full-bodied, dry, savoury, with blackberry and black cherry flavours and fresh acidity.
Tilia is Latin for Linden, the traditional tree found throughout Mendoza. Its flowers are used to make a popular herbal tincture said to have calming properties. This export-driven wine was made by long-time Catena winemaker Leopoldo Kushner at Bodegas Esmeralda, from Malbec sourced from eastern and southern regions of Mendoza. Medium pale blush in hue and bone dry, this is white pepper spiced orange, cherry, wild raspberry, spring rhubarb, light smoke on a brisk palate, tightened with roasted tea leaves and lengthened by the lingering, salty finish. An impressive showing, all at a welcome 12.5 degrees alcohol.
This wine is better than ever, shaped by Sebastian Zuccardi's lighter hand and inherent knowledge of soils. This wine was sourced from limestone laced soils of Tupungato, as well as Mendoza. Pure, light lemon is bedded with lees and salty spice in this bright, fresh, textural white. After direct press, this was native fermented in a mix of concrete and 20% oak, aged on the lees with no MLF, with freshness as aim. The mid-palate weight is now almost entirely less-led (compared to the wood of the past), bedding white peach, lemon blossom, pears and fine toast. Salted cashews and lemon pith linger on the lengthy finish. Very complete, offering a friendly view of the exciting new world of Argentine Chardy.