Red Blend | The Food Buster

Vistalba Corte B

Vistalba Corte B 2004 70% Malbec, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon $18 to $32 on Wine-searcher, but numerous vendors at $20 or below. Keeper, especially for value Color is ruby, but somewhat light—seems just a tad young. Nice legs, especially for a middle-quality wine. Fruity, soft, and floral aroma. Like picking fresh fruits, or fresh...

Vistalba Corte C

Vistalba Corte C 70% Malbec, 20% Merlot, 10% Bonarda $10-$17 on Wine-searcher, but 3 vendors for $11 or less Nice ruby color but young, with few overtones, especially of darker colors. Light on the aroma. There is a subtle smell of fruits and rocks, but it’s very slight. Interesting taste. The wine acidic, bitter, smooth and...

Rutini Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec

Rutini Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec Not available on Wine-searcher, but it was quite cheap in Argentina (around the same price as the Rutini Malbec and Rutini Cabernet) Good Value. Nice ruby color, with great legs. Not much aroma, though light floral hints can be smelled. The blend works extremely...

Carinae Octans

Carinae Octans 2007 60% Malbec (not aged in barrel), 40% Cabernet Sauvignon (aged in barrel) Not available on Wine-searcher Dark ruby with numerous reddish tints. Aroma is of sour cherries, plums, and oak. The fruit and bitterness really come through. Body isn’t bad, but the wine is still a bit young and very acidic. There is...

Carinae Prestige

Carinae Prestige 2007 79% Malbec, 14% Syrah, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon $42 on Wine-searcher.com. 1 Vendor. Keeper This is the highest of Carinae’s line of wines. Very nice color—very dark, violet, strong. Not many shades, but still beautiful. Great aroma—earthy, but fresh, with a forest fragrance. A bit of coffee is in there...

Santa Julia Magna Corte

Santa Julia Magna Corte 2005 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Malbec, 10% Syrah Familia Zuccardi Not available on Wine-searcher, but price is on the lower end, at least in Argentina. Keeper for Value Nice color, with multi-colored tints throughout—dark orange, red, almost toffee-ish shades. Strong and earthy in the nose, a tad like...

Santa Julia Fuzión

Santa Julia Fuzión Malbec Syrah Familia Zuccardi Not available on Wine-searcher Nice, dark color. Very little aroma to it. Tastes very young. It’s smooth and light, but with a simplicity that is off-putting. It has a good oakiness to it, and some spice on the finish, but it’s a one-trick pony, with very little to really...

Carmelo Patti “Gran Assemblage”

Carmelo Patti “Gran Assemblage” 2003 Grapes, in order of highest to lowest proportion: Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Franc $45-$55 on Wine-searcher. Only 2 vendors. Keeper Nice ruby color. Purpling. Rather mature wine, and it’s apparently had time to age. One of the most complex wines I’ve ever tasted. Also,...

Alta Vista “Alto”

Alta Vista “Alto” 2005 80% Malbec, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon Icon-level wine $56-$85 on Wine-searcher. Only 2 vendors. The “Alto” is the highest wine that Alta Vista produces. Its color is one of the most intense I’ve seen, even in a Malbec. Very dark, blackish, with tons of purple and dark red. Very mature. Aroma burst out...

Felipe Rutini Apartado

Felipe Rutini Apartado 2002 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 30% Malbec, 20% Syrah Bodega La Rural $47-$55 on Wine-searcher, although 1 vendor is selling it for $29 (a steal). Keeper This is the top wine of the line and one of the few blends that Bodega La Rural does. It is a Bordeaux-style wine. The color is a gorgeous ruby....