I was a little suspicious from the get go with this wine.  I didn’t know anything about the producer (and still don’t) and the price seemed too good to be true.  The website listing on the label, silvertopwine.com doesn’t appear to exist anymore.  And the importer, Prestige Wine Group, doesn’t list this wine on their website.  At least both of those facts are true at the time I’m writing this, who knows if it will change.

While I had my suspicions, I still bought a bottle.  While I wasn’t as turned off by this wine as I thought I would be, it still wasn’t great.

There’s nothing objectionable about this wine, there’s just nothing special about it.  If I were blind tasting and trying to guess the variety, it would take me a lot of guesses before I would get to Malbec.  It’s not very characteristic of a Malbec… maybe a Cotes du Rhone blend, and a mediocre one at that.  I guess it’s mostly just not as big as I expect from a Malbec.  The nose is tight (i.e. the aromas are faint), but it has some subtle cherry and tobacco aromas.  The palate is also very light and with little more than plum and berry flavors, lacks complexity.  It’s a pleasant and drinkable wine, but not very complex, intense or interesting.

Wine: Silvertop
Variety: Malbec
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol: 13%
Rating: 81
Price: $7.99

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High Note was created through a partnership between Click Wine Group, a Seattle-based importer, and Vista del Sur winery in Argentina.

The name of this wine caught my eye because I often think about the aromas and flavors in wine like musical notes.  But I don’t think that’s how they came up with the name, rather I suspect it has something to do with the terrain where the grapes in this Malbec are grown.  With altitudes ranging from 3,000-5,000 feet above sea level, the Vista del Sur vineyards are way up there.

Another thing that’s interesting about this wine is that while most wineries are designed to create several different varieties of wine, Vista del Sur was created with nothing but Malbec in mind.  And Malbec is the only wine you’ll find under the High Note brand.

When I first poured this wine it has a touch of green in it, like a green bean aroma, but that blew off fairly quickly and it opened up to be a very fruity malbec. And the longer I let it open up, the better it became. The nose shows blueberry, cherry and blackberry aromas, but the intensity is only moderate.  On the palate it’s fresh berries galore, with blueberry, blackberry, a touch of strawberry and some plum flavors.  The tannins are gentle and there is not much spice.  If you prefer your Malbec be fruit-forward, then this may be the one for you.

I was able to find this wine for just under $10, and at that price this is a very good Malbec.

Wine: High Note
Variety: Malbec
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol: 13.7%
Rating: 87
Price: $9.98

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Like many wine producers, Alamos produces a couple different tiers of their wines.  I’ve previously reviewed their entry-level Malbec, which was pretty good.  This bottle, branded Alamos Selección, is the higher-tier Malbec from Alamos.  And while it’s at the high end of wines produced under the Alamos brand, these wines are part of the Catena family, which releases a number of even-more-high-end Malbec under the Catena brands.  Price-wise, at 20 bucks it’s at the upper end of what we cover at Cheap Wine Ratings, but it’s also approaching the upper end of enjoyability.  And that’s the suggested retail price, so you should be able to find it on sale for less.

Alamos Selección Malbec is 100% Malbec from high altitude vineyards in the Mendoza region.  All of the grapes for this Malbec came from vineyards in the Uco Valley.  The wine was aged in a combination of French and American oak.

Like most Malbec, the color of this wine is a deep purple.  But this one is really deeeeeeeeep purple.

Have I ever used “OMG” in any of my reviews?  If not, I have now, because OMG, I love the intensity and complexity on the nose of this wine.  Caramel, coffee, cherry, cassis, blueberry and a light smoky aroma give this wine outstanding complexity and it all comes through powerfully!  On the palate it’s black cherry and cassis with good concentration. There’s a little bit of a black pepper on the finish.  The tannins are firm, but not heavy.

The bottom line, this is an excellent Malbec.

Wine: Alamos Selección
Variety: Malbec
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol: 13.5%
Rating: 89
Price: $20.00

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Disclosure: This wine was provided as a sample for review.

Founded in 1885 by Italian immigrant Felipe Rutini, Rutini Wines is one of the oldest wineries in Argentina.  They currently have 255 hectares of vineyards in five different parts of Mendoza, Argentina.

The grapes for this Malbec come from 9 year old vineyards in the Vistalba region, about 3,000 feet above sea level.  The grapes were hand-harvested and destemmed for a 15 day fermentation and maceration.  The wine is aged for 7 months in a combination of American and French oak.

Intense, dark fruit aromas abound in this Malbec.  On the nose, blackberry, black currant and black cherry are layered on top of black pepper and cocoa.  The palate is full of cassis and blackberry, with chocolate on the mid-palate and a hint of black pepper. The finish is fairly short, but enjoyable nonetheless.

What makes the Trumpeter Malbec even better is that it’s under $12.  Yep, it’s a very good wine… especially for the price.

Wine: Trumpeter
Variety: Malbec
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol: 13%
Rating: 87
Price: $11.99

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Disclosure: This wine was provided as a sample for review.

Our series on Malbec continues today with a look at a very good Malbec from a French winemaker who relocated to Argentina.  Jean Bousquet began his winemaking career in Carcassonne, France, where he spent over 20 years honing his craft.  In 1990 he first became familiar with the vineyards of Mendoza, Argentina and in 1997 he purchased land in Tupungato, Mendoza and relocated his winery to Argentina.

I tasted this wine alongside some $40+ Malbecs—which were exceptional—and it held it’s own next to them.

What I like about this wine is that it has character.  It’s not just fruity or big, but has complexity and interesting qualities that make you want to explore the wine, not just drink it.  The aromas in this Malbec remind me of coffee, caramel, an old cedar chest and blackberries.  A floral aroma also weaves through the nose.  The palate has rich fruit flavors including plum, red raspberry and black cherry.  There is also a touch of black pepper, which is always something I appreciate.  It is a little bit sweet on the palate, but it’s not a total fruit bomb.  The finish is medium in length with powerful cherry flavors.

Wine: Jean Bousquet Malbec Reserva
Variety: Malbec
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol: 14.5%
Rating: 88
Price: $18.00

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Disclosure: This wine was provided as a sample for review.

Sometimes I search and search, but can’t find any background info on a wine to share with you all.  I combed through the results on my favorite wine search engine, Able Grape, and there was nothing enlightening to be found.  Even the website listed on the bottle doesn’t seem to be working.  All I have to give you is my review, and maybe that’s all you want anyway.

Simply put, this is a big, big wine and an outstanding value.  It has a sappy, black cherry and blackberry nose woven with bright perfumed accents. The palate is full and fruity, with slightly jammy blackberry and plum flavors.  There’s a little cocoa on the finish, which is relatively short.  I’d like it if it had a touch more tannin, but it’s still a great wine at this price!  Actually, for the price it’s exceptional!!

As for pairing, this would be great with barbecue or grilled meats, as well as the potato dish you have along with those foods.

Wine: Diseño
Variety: Malbec
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol: 13.5%
Rating: 86
Price: $6.98

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I picked up this particular Malbec on a whim one day.  I hadn’t seen it before and had never actually heard of it, but for some reason I decided to give it a shot, and I’m glad I did.

The grapes in the Gouguenheim Malbec were grown in El Vallo Escondido, in the Tupungato Valley, about 70km from the city of Mendoza.  This area is pretty much desert conditions, with 320 days of sun per year and water irrigated in from the Andes Mountains.

Wowee, there is quite some intensity on the nose here.  Coffee, walnut, black pepper, cherry and blackberry make for an interesting and enjoyable bouquet.  The palate is a nicely balanced chorus of fruit, spice and tannin.  Strong, somewhat jammy blackberry flavors are the first thing to hit you, followed by a black pepper spice with a touch of heat and mellowed out by some soft, black tea tannins.  The finish is relatively long and enjoyable.

Arguably, I’m a bit tardy with this review as you’re likely to find the 2008 vintage on the shelves rather than the 2006.  But if you do see a bottle or two of 2006, I’d suggest snatching them up.  And if I find some 2008 I’ll give that a shot too and let you know if it’s as good as this.

Wine: Gouguenheim
Variety: Malbec
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol: 13.5%
Rating: 89
Price: $11.99

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We taste a lot of different wines for this website and thanks to advances in the technology of winemaking over the past 20 years, we don’t come across a lot of total clunkers.  There are plenty of wines that aren’t great, plenty that could be better… but most wines we come across don’t have me taking the bottle to the sink to dump it.  However, every now and then we come across one that just doesn’t cut it.  This is one such example.

I came across the Tanguero Malbec at a local wine shop and for a mere $5 I figured it was worth a shot.

Tanguero has a strong barnyard aroma in the bouquet, along with dark cherry, chocolate and cedar.  I suspect the barnyard aroma is a result of brett.  Brett isn’t the winemaker’s name, it’s short for Brettanomyces, which is a type of yeast.  Sometimes it’s intentionally added to wines in small quantities to add complexity, but too much of it (or its unintentional presence) is considered a flaw.  It sometimes can be indicative of poor hygiene in the winemaking process, but of course I don’t know if that was the case here.

The palate is significantly off balance.  Strong acid and bitter tannins dominate this wine.   There is some fruit, cherry & blackberry, but it’s overwhelmed by the bitterness and acidity.  The finish is short and bitter as well.  While I love to find a $5 deal on wines, I can’t recommend this one.

Wine: Tanguero
Variety: Malbec
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol: 13%
Rating: 69
Price: $4.99

Not so long ago, we reviewed the Alamos Chardonnay and now we’re taking another look at Alamos for their Malbec.  Check out the Chardonnay review for a little background on Alamos, as I’m going keep this review short and get right to the wine.

The 2008 Alamos Malbec isn’t 100% Malbec.  There is a little Cabernet Sauvignon and a little Bonarda added for complexity.  Like the vast majority of Argentine Malbec, this one comes from the Mendoza region.  The grapes came from vineyards in the Uco Valley and in the Luján de Cuyo area south of the city of Mendoza.  Part of the wine spent time in French oak and part in American oak before blending and bottling.

This wine smells like an Argentine Malbec should smell.  Pungent black pepper, lush blackberries, soft violets and a wet strop of leather.  The fruit is bountiful on the nose and there’s great complexity with the spice, floral and earthy aspects.  The palate is smooth and full, showing intense blackberry and plum with black pepper on the finish. The tannins are smooth too, but the acid is slightly stronger than I would like.  It’s a very enjoyable wine, but not quite exceptional.  It’s close.  The aromas work harder for this wine than the flavors.

Wine: Alamos
Variety: Malbec
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol: 13.5%
Rating: 86
Price: $13.00

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Disclosure: This wine was provided as a sample for review.