Malbec | The Food Buster

Zuccardi Q Malbec

Zuccardi Q Malbec 2006 100% Malbec Familia Zuccardi $15-$27 on Wine-searcher, but all vendors except one charge less than $20 Keeper for Value Rich, dark color, with violet shades. Not bad, though nothing spectacular. Bursting with a woody aroma, with a hint of minerals. Lovely forest smell, like an evergreen fragrance. Great...

Santa Julia Magna Malbec

Santa Julia Magna Malbec 2007 (I think it’s known as the Malbec Reserva 2007 in the US) 100% Malbec Familia Zuccardi $9-$16 on Wine-searcher Okay color, with violet tones. Smell isn’t bad. Kind of earthy, but with a slight black fruit hint. Has the smell of minerals. Taste is a bit underwhelming, especially for a Malbec. Nice...

“Judas” Malbec

Judas Malbec 2006 Bodega Sottano 100% Malbec Region: Luján de Cuyo $70 on Wine-searcher. 1 Vendor. Excellent color—jet black with ruby and violet shades. Very strong, plum aroma, with coffee overtones. Taste: It’s just so complex, so full bodied, so strong, and so bold. Very acidic and fruity, but very smooth and drinkable. It...

Sottano Malbec Reserva

Sottano Malbec Reserva 2006 100% Malbec Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina Awarded with 91 points (Gold Medal) in the Malbec World Competition $22 on Wine-searcher. Only one vendor. Keeper for Value Nice color—orange with a slight purple shade. Some garnet in there. Aroma—strong and fresh. Chocolate stands out, along with dried...

Carmelo Patti Malbec

Carmelo Patti Malbec 2004 Malbec $26 on Wine-searcher. Only one vendor. Good Value. Frosty, floral aroma is good. Smoothness is decent, but the wine has very strong tannins that give it an overpowering oaky bitterness. The bitterness, though, is quite refreshing. Not much acidity to it at all. Overall Score:...

Alta Vista Malbec Gran Reserva Terroir Selection

Alta Vista Malbec Gran Reserva Terroir Selection (a.k.a. the Grand Reserve Malbec) 2006 100% Malbec. Blend of Malbec grapes from numerous terroirs. $20-$28 on Wine-searcher Keeper Nice dark ruby color, with great legs. Strong, controlled, humid aroma. Rather complex—smells of earth and fruit. Lots of body and rather smooth. Very...

Alta Vista “Atemporal” Blend

Alta Vista “Atemporal” Blend 2007 43% Malbec, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Syrah, 10% Petit Verdot $13-$20 on Wine-searcher Keeper Lovely, dark ruby color, with purplish tints. Aroma is very light. Has a floral and oaky smell. Great, full body. Very light on the finish, too. Nice oakiness that causes a puckering sensation, but...

Los Cardos Rosé Malbec

Los Cardos Rosé Malbec Malbec $7.50-$15 for the 2007. I got this wine at a cheap restaurant in Peru, where they don’t customarily show you wine bottles as they pour your wine, so I was unable to check the year. I do suspect it was the 2007 (which is the only year for which I could find this wine). Absolutely horrible taste....

Alta Vista Malbec “Temis”

Alta Vista Malbec Single Terreno “Temis” 2006 Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina 100% Malbec $57 on Wine-searcher Keeper Note: This is a Malbec drawn from a single terrain of land, the one known as Temis in the Alta Vista vineyards. It is located in Uco Valley. Great purple reflections come through out of the dark red color of the...

Alta Vista Premium Malbec

Alta Vista Premium Malbec 2008 100% Malbec. Not available online. $14-$15 on Wine-searcher for the 2007. Contrary to its name, this is from the young line of the winery. Young, and it shows in the color. Rather light red. Aroma is rather soft, with pleasant hints of oak and caramel. Not too much body, rather light, and very...