Found a last bottle of the 2006 hidden away in store. Lovely nose, good colour, soft sweet berry and mulberry fruit. Excellent balance. Not overly complex but still a lovely wine after 8 years. For me, there are few wines from excellent S. American producers like Catena Zapata that don't repay keeping for at least 5-6 years, even at the lower end of the price scale. Excellent value if you can wait (and store it well)…...
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Excellent wine, love the wine from Zapata! If you want more from this wine get the Catena Alta! This is a wine that I can opend and drink, altough it gets better whil it opens up!
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Deep medium dark ruby, purple opaque core, lighter near edges. Defined legs on glass. Nice blackberry fruity nose, slightly floral, slightly jammy, bit of vanilla.
A little warm from alcohol at first, but fades quickly to integrate. Also nice black fruit, a touch of oak. Tannins noticeable, but very smooth. Medium finish, with a little twang of acid to keep the fruit going.
Not bad at all, better than I expected.
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This was my first Malbec. After having many others, I can say that it exhibits very consistent varietalness. Dark fruit and a meaty, peppery nose are all well-integrated. Blackberry and plum offer subtle fruit on the palate. The big mouthfeel is not overly expressed by fruity ripeness, which is so often the case with Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon. The finish is smooth, but not too long.
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Dark plum red color. Smokey aroma with hints of black currant and tobacco. Fruit forward with flavors of currants, blueberries, and plum. A little spice too. Soft tannins with a nice mouth feel. Excellent with Mexican food.
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a reliable product from catena. deep color. the pleasure of this wine is in the nose with lots of dark fruit aromas. on the palate it has some depth but is somewhat one dimensional. good qpr. enjoyable with casual faire.
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Paired w/steak chili. Same notes as before, except I would add that it is starting to get a little old and is breaking down a bit from it's best fruit forward fruitiness. Drink up now because this vintage has peaked.
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This SUPERB wine is made in Mendoza's high altitude wine country in the foothills of the Andes mountains. Simply put, this is a unique wine (the grapes are grown at the highest altitude in the world) and, to this end, offers unique character and some real depth of flavor.
This wine is an intense violet color and presents a nose that conjures up dark fruit aromas with minor floral notes. On the palate, this wine is rich and full. Spices, tobacco, saddle leather and black currants flavors...wow! The finish was quite pleasing and long-lasting, this wine has great tannins and will continue to develop for at least the next few years.
Move over Don David, Ian has a new fav Malbec!
Davidson Rating Scale: 9.3 Cost: 21.00
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Blackberries on the nose and palate. Overall a rather thin and one-dimensional wine. Well-made and fruity it is, but just lacking depth and complexity to be interesting. A good everyday quaffer, but nothing I would need to drink again. - 84 points
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Deep, dark ruby in color. Aroma of mellow alcohol, not too strong, jammy, fruity-strawberry and other sweet berries. Jammy, medium-low tannins with a medium-length finnish. Great with homemade steak chili (no beans!). Good everyday drinker.
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Haven't had a Malbec in about 6 months. Nose was very inviting with plums and dark chocolate. Tannins gripped my tongue with first sip, with acidity giving was to some dark cherry and black pepper...medium length finish. Not bad, not sure if I've liked it as much as others, its been awhile since having bottle of 100% Malbec.
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Closed nose, a little slate and wood. Palate is smooth, but a bit sour and vegetative, with some dark fruit. Finish is short and simple, adding some tobacco and smoke. Fair, will try again on day 2.
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Drank at Wolf Trap - Le Miserable production. Pop and pour. Bacon fat and asparagus pee on the nose, very different. Nice vegetable components, smooth and elegant, delicious!
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Dinner at Tango Sur with roommate & neighbors (Tango Sur, Chicago, Il): Nose of dark fruit, some obvious plum, and a good touch of cedar. The taste starts with the dark fruit--plums & dark berries--and ends with a good mix of acidity & spice with just a slight tannic grip that is very smooth. Just medium bodied. Did each thing pretty well and like that it displays multiple flavors.
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This had some of the malbec characteristics I enjoy, some meatiness, chewy mouthfeel, above average nose, and was quaffable, but there are def other malbecs in the $9-$14 price range that I like more
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Deep purple in color. Very fruit forward with flavors of plumb and blackberry with a hint of toast mid palate. The finish is medium length with smooth tannins. The wine is not very complex but it enjoyable for a weekday drinker.
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Drink up; v. fruit forward, with a tad of chewy complexity on the mid-palate; in a blind tasting would pass for a nondescript CA syrah, cab, merlot, etc; these wines are all the same but at least this one was $7 and not $27; at $7 solid QPR; good party wine -- no one is going to hate it; won't buy any more, but solely because I have a boatload of wines waiting to drink
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Nice fruity and rich at first - but something was a bit off. Not corked or oxidized, but some flavor that I didn't care for. Tried this again on the third day, and this wine had risen again. Much better. Whaddaya know.
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Concentrated fruit flavors - maraschino cherry and plum came to mind. Had a noticeable anise or licorice finish which I liked, but the fruit was a bit over-the-top. Not as dry as other Malbec's and the tannins were very smooth, almost unnoticeable. Medium body with just a hint of Smokey toast. I poured off 1/2 bottle to re-seal under argon - for another day. The last glass from the bottle had lots of bits and pieces of something, wasn't cork. Heavy sediment of some type that was hard and crunchy almost crystalline. Some of the pieces were quite large and almost black. Luckily I saw it in the bottom of the glass before swallowing any. I have since taken this wine off the shopping list.
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Extremely fruit forward, to the point that it seemed like the wine had undergone carbonic maceration...more like a cru beaujolais than a traditional malbec. Tasty, but not serious stuff.
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Light barnyard nose that I've been noticing in most Argentinian malbec's. Medium-bodied as well as a medium red colored wine. Nice plum notes on the palate along with toast and a new coined note canned red kidney bean juice. Decent QPR. Day 2 the wine mellowed out more plum notes, lighter toast and lighter kidney bean juice with drying tannins on the finish which was new...definitely more enjoyable day 2 but still an 87.
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My first Malbec. Full & bold, dark fruit flavors & chocolate. Nose: tannins, strong fruity. Enjoyed with cheddar cheese and crackers. I like this wine, but I paid too much. Saw that it was $8 on WLTV.
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Quite an excellent Malbec for the money. Good fruit, dark color, not over powering flavor, nice balance. Not as much pepper and spice as other Malbecs. More fruit forward. Stood up well with spicy food I paired with this.
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Deep blackberry color. Refined, spicy, smokey oak, cherry and plum scent. Medium to full body, well-proportioned fruit and tannins, mineral undertones and a firm finish. Surprisingly good for the money.
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Perhaps our prior bottle was bad. This one and two others were exceptionally pleasing for sipping and accompanying roast chicken. Very dark in color, lots of plums in the nose and on the palate but good complexity. Sightly peppery finish.
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Very disappointing. Black raspberry on the nose. All flavours disappear quickly on the mid-palette, nothing showing on the finish but a bit of tannins. This tastes very watered down.
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Brought to parent's house for Christmas dinner. Color was very dark purple bordering on black. Nose had a little bit of leather and smoke. On the palate there was more smoke and some sweet dark berries. Wine finished fairly tannic. When paired with meatballs and gravy the finish was much more pleasant. Would purchase again.
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Initially enticing nose, but palate was acidic and simplistic. I thought it was opening a bit after an hour or so, but then became fairly sour. Much better values out there (even for the $10 I spent). Disappointed after the wine spectator review. oh well.
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Lots of blueberry up front, which carried through the flavor. Not my favorite aroma, but very authentic taste for the price. A good medium body with fair tannins and a relatively short finish. "Real wine" for a good price, though I don't think Malbec is the greatest grape on its own.
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Simple but tasty, very good value. Drank with Marquon with grilled sausages and homemade mac & cheese. Dark fruit, licorice, oak. A good everyday drinker for malbec lovers. Let it stand an hour or so before drinking, the acid is a little out of whack upon opening. Would perhaps be better with a year or two of bottle age.
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VERY GOOD. VISUAL: M intensity, ruby color. NOSE: Black fruit (plum, blackberry), toasted, chemical notes, light floral, M intensity, complexity and persistence. PALATE: M body, M intensity and alcohol, M+ acidity and tannins. FINISH: Good balance and M finish (15s). OVERALL: 87 points.
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A day later, a better bottle. Big coffee nose with blueberries. Plum up front with some toasted oak. Some leather and licorice with oak on the finish. My last bottle may have been cooked. Not bad, good value.
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Blueberry and leather on the nose. Blueberry up front. A mixture of cough syrup and vanilla on the mid-palate. The finish has some bell pepper with blueberry, leather, licorice. Nice complexity at this price point but some of the flavors will turn people off. If the more harsh flavors fade with age this will be a great deal and my score will change.
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Subtle and restrained at first. Took an hour or so to show its somewhat jammy blackberry, spicy, fruit forward characteristics. Fun to drink and would please most that are looking for a quaffer at an amazing QPR.
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Very pretty in color, deep, dark ruby. Aroma of mellow alcohol, not too strong, jammy, fruity-strawberry and other sweet berries. Creamy smooth mouthfeel, velvety texture-like red velvet birthday cake. Jammy, medium-low tannins with a medium-length finnish. Paired with homemade chili (no beans!). Good everyday drinker.
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Bright berries and a bit of mustiness (leather?) on the nose. A bit brighter than 2005, but perhaps just from opening younger. The taste was very smooth and balanced tannins / acidity with a slight tobacco taste. Overall, smooth but very simple.
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I agree with previous notes - nothing wrong with it, some decent fruit like dark cherry; still get the toast as well. Good house wine for the money. Here are some tasting notes from the '03 Vintage (from Wine Enthusiast)...
RATING - 88 2003 Alamos Malbec, Mendoza, $10 - A Best Buy Saturated and extracted, with an incredibly deep purple tint paving the way for manly aromas of espresso, campfire and toasted coconut. The palate, meanwhile, runs a bit sweet, with boysenberry and plum. Soft on the back end, but with enough spine to see it through. For fans of bold reds. — M.S. (3/1/2005)
And here is what W.E. says about the '04... RATING 87 2004 Alamos Malbec, Mendoza, $10 A Best Buy Clean and smooth, with vanilla and boysenberry defining the nose. Not a complex wine, but one made for everyday drinking; thus the plum and berry fruit is ripe and forward, while the finish is just toasty enough. Flawless even though it lacks sophistication. No high gears but still a good ride. Imported by Billington Imports. — M.S. (11/15/2005)
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Nose had an offensive, almost soap-like smell that cloaked the fruit, taste contained blackberry, plum and something like allspice taste (but no soap). Still, I washed out my wine glass and tried again and finally pulled the cork on another wine to serve. I really wanted to like this wine as I had a glass back in early May and thought it a very good, Pinot-like drinking wine. May just have gotten a bad bottle.
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Sampled in a flight at Crust pizza & wine bar. Cost $2.10. The colour is medium dark. The nose is not strong. The wine is young tasting and tannic but good. The finish is short to medium. Abv 13%. In between a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Merlot. Good.
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Deep Purple in color, this wine expresses loads of blackberries and plum with hints of mocha. Its loaded with fruit, soft tannins and only a slight acidity. Very dense wine. Not very balanced and is new world style.
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Tasted at several places - Wine Discount Center, a friend brought a bottle to a picnic at the condo. Also had a prior vintage at Fogo de Chao. Was an excellent Malbec. Fiance wanted to rate even higher!
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4/10/2015 - chelidon Likes this wine: 87 Points
Quite fine, aging has helped -- last of the 2006 in the cellar, and I'm glad I let it sit. Drink any left in storage now...
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1/23/2014 - johnrm Likes this wine: 88 Points
Found a last bottle of the 2006 hidden away in store. Lovely nose, good colour, soft sweet berry and mulberry fruit. Excellent balance. Not overly complex but still a lovely wine after 8 years.
For me, there are few wines from excellent S. American producers like Catena Zapata that don't repay keeping for at least 5-6 years, even at the lower end of the price scale. Excellent value if you can wait (and store it well)…...
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12/23/2013 - maxima wrote: 82 Points
Quelconque et sans intérêt!
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7/1/2012 - gaschief wrote: 88 Points
rich red berries and slightly tart- long aftertaste- quite enjoyable
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6/2/2011 - gaschief wrote: 86 Points
pleasant, rich red, fruity and berries, somewhat jammy
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12/17/2010 - diegobatti wrote: 91 Points
Excellent wine, love the wine from Zapata! If you want more from this wine get the Catena Alta! This is a wine that I can opend and drink, altough it gets better whil it opens up!
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11/30/2010 - Aleduc wrote:
Passed its prime
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9/21/2010 - AlDum Likes this wine: 85 Points
Bon rapport qualité prix
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8/26/2010 - Wamrod wrote: 86 Points
Deep medium dark ruby, purple opaque core, lighter near edges. Defined legs on glass. Nice blackberry fruity nose, slightly floral, slightly jammy, bit of vanilla.
A little warm from alcohol at first, but fades quickly to integrate. Also nice black fruit, a touch of oak. Tannins noticeable, but very smooth. Medium finish, with a little twang of acid to keep the fruit going.
Not bad at all, better than I expected.
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9/17/2009 - kmicho wrote: 84 Points
Moderate tanins, nice bite to the wine. Minerals, dried fruits. All in all a nice wine for the price.
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5/17/2009 - Cobbster wrote: 85 Points
Consistent with last tasting.
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4/1/2009 - Cobbster wrote: 85 Points
Spicey plum and dark berry fruit. Nice finish.
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3/23/2009 - csu.viticulture wrote: 87 Points
This was my first Malbec. After having many others, I can say that it exhibits very consistent varietalness. Dark fruit and a meaty, peppery nose are all well-integrated. Blackberry and plum offer subtle fruit on the palate. The big mouthfeel is not overly expressed by fruity ripeness, which is so often the case with Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon. The finish is smooth, but not too long.
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3/11/2009 - VanVino wrote: 87 Points
Dark plum red color. Smokey aroma with hints of black currant and tobacco. Fruit forward with flavors of currants, blueberries, and plum. A little spice too. Soft tannins with a nice mouth feel. Excellent with Mexican food.
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3/7/2009 - Dinovino wrote: 91 Points
Deep bright purple.Ripe raspberry,plum,carraway,earthy notes.Full bodied and rich,fantastic ripe silky tannins,very well balanced.
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3/2/2009 - graemeg wrote:
NobleRottersSydney - South America (Alio's, Surry Hills): [diam, 13.5%] Fishy, fungal; smells like a derro’s underpants. Toxic. Remember the Alamos and avoid.
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3/1/2009 - bacchus wrote: 89 Points
a reliable product from catena. deep color. the pleasure of this wine is in the nose with lots of dark fruit aromas. on the palate it has some depth but is somewhat one dimensional. good qpr. enjoyable with casual faire.
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2/26/2009 - JohnnyWine wrote: 84 Points
Paired w/steak chili.
Same notes as before, except I would add that it is starting to get a little old and is breaking down a bit from it's best fruit forward fruitiness.
Drink up now because this vintage has peaked.
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1/26/2009 - elevation02 wrote: 93 Points
Catena Malbec (2006) from Argentina
This SUPERB wine is made in Mendoza's high altitude wine country in the foothills of the Andes mountains. Simply put, this is a unique wine (the grapes are grown at the highest altitude in the world) and, to this end, offers unique character and some real depth of flavor.
This wine is an intense violet color and presents a nose that conjures up dark fruit aromas with minor floral notes. On the palate, this wine is rich and full. Spices, tobacco, saddle leather and black currants flavors...wow! The finish was quite pleasing and long-lasting, this wine has great tannins and will continue to develop for at least the next few years.
Move over Don David, Ian has a new fav Malbec!
Davidson Rating Scale: 9.3
Cost: 21.00
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11/29/2008 - cjames wrote: 85 Points
Bold taste, excellent value
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11/22/2008 - isbjoern wrote: 84 Points
Blackberries on the nose and palate. Overall a rather thin and one-dimensional wine. Well-made and fruity it is, but just lacking depth and complexity to be interesting. A good everyday quaffer, but nothing I would need to drink again. - 84 points
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11/18/2008 - JohnnyWine wrote: 85 Points
Deep, dark ruby in color.
Aroma of mellow alcohol, not too strong, jammy, fruity-strawberry and other sweet berries.
Jammy, medium-low tannins with a medium-length finnish.
Great with homemade steak chili (no beans!). Good everyday drinker.
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11/5/2008 - LynnMJ wrote:
Haven't had a Malbec in about 6 months. Nose was very inviting with plums and dark chocolate. Tannins gripped my tongue with first sip, with acidity giving was to some dark cherry and black pepper...medium length finish. Not bad, not sure if I've liked it as much as others, its been awhile since having bottle of 100% Malbec.
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9/10/2008 - Nutty08 wrote: 84 Points
Closed nose, a little slate and wood. Palate is smooth, but a bit sour and vegetative, with some dark fruit. Finish is short and simple, adding some tobacco and smoke. Fair, will try again on day 2.
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9/6/2008 - tgatesman wrote: 92 Points
Drank at Wolf Trap - Le Miserable production. Pop and pour. Bacon fat and asparagus pee on the nose, very different. Nice vegetable components, smooth and elegant, delicious!
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8/27/2008 - cobbpa wrote: 86 Points
Dinner at Tango Sur with roommate & neighbors (Tango Sur, Chicago, Il): Nose of dark fruit, some obvious plum, and a good touch of cedar. The taste starts with the dark fruit--plums & dark berries--and ends with a good mix of acidity & spice with just a slight tannic grip that is very smooth. Just medium bodied. Did each thing pretty well and like that it displays multiple flavors.
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6/27/2008 - jwsobeck wrote: 86 Points
This had some of the malbec characteristics I enjoy, some meatiness, chewy mouthfeel, above average nose, and was quaffable, but there are def other malbecs in the $9-$14 price range that I like more
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6/19/2008 - yowens44 wrote: 84 Points
Getting a bit old, some obvious rasberry and pepper on the nose, palate a bit flabby, not bad with a flank steak
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5/31/2008 - whynblog wrote: 85 Points
Deep purple in color. Very fruit forward with flavors of plumb and blackberry with a hint of toast mid palate. The finish is medium length with smooth tannins. The wine is not very complex but it enjoyable for a weekday drinker.
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5/22/2008 - Bellissimo wrote: 85 Points
Fruit forward, dark berries. Smooth transition. OK for the money.
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4/27/2008 - ctbob wrote: 84 Points
Drink up; v. fruit forward, with a tad of chewy complexity on the mid-palate; in a blind tasting would pass for a nondescript CA syrah, cab, merlot, etc; these wines are all the same but at least this one was $7 and not $27; at $7 solid QPR; good party wine -- no one is going to hate it; won't buy any more, but solely because I have a boatload of wines waiting to drink
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4/27/2008 - R-T wrote: 84 Points
Nice fruity and rich at first - but something was a bit off. Not corked or oxidized, but some flavor that I didn't care for. Tried this again on the third day, and this wine had risen again. Much better. Whaddaya know.
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3/31/2008 - RetiredNavy wrote: 84 Points
Concentrated fruit flavors - maraschino cherry and plum came to mind. Had a noticeable anise or licorice finish which I liked, but the fruit was a bit over-the-top. Not as dry as other Malbec's and the tannins were very smooth, almost unnoticeable. Medium body with just a hint of Smokey toast. I poured off 1/2 bottle to re-seal under argon - for another day. The last glass from the bottle had lots of bits and pieces of something, wasn't cork. Heavy sediment of some type that was hard and crunchy almost crystalline. Some of the pieces were quite large and almost black. Luckily I saw it in the bottom of the glass before swallowing any. I have since taken this wine off the shopping list.
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3/26/2008 - KevinS wrote: 88 Points
An enjoyable quaffer -- worth seeking more
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3/9/2008 - smorris291 wrote: 87 Points
Extremely fruit forward, to the point that it seemed like the wine had undergone carbonic maceration...more like a cru beaujolais than a traditional malbec. Tasty, but not serious stuff.
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3/8/2008 - Archaegeo wrote: 88 Points
good with pasta - not too dry
label says: balanced and full-flavored, excellent with chicken, lamb, grilled vegetables and pasta
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3/7/2008 - sstitt wrote: 87 Points
Light barnyard nose that I've been noticing in most Argentinian malbec's. Medium-bodied as well as a medium red colored wine. Nice plum notes on the palate along with toast and a new coined note canned red kidney bean juice. Decent QPR. Day 2 the wine mellowed out more plum notes, lighter toast and lighter kidney bean juice with drying tannins on the finish which was new...definitely more enjoyable day 2 but still an 87.
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2/6/2008 - hutch wrote: 87 Points
Catena Tasting: Well, this seems to be a popular wine. Dark purple color. Touch of earth behind the full fruit. Quite pleasant. 87ish
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2/6/2008 - GreatLibations wrote: 86 Points
Aged purple with huge tar and blackfruit aromas. Full and round with velvety tannins on a solid fruit core. The finish is long.
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2/4/2008 - Dale M wrote: 85 Points
Nice, forward fruit driven malbec. Went well with Super Bowl nachos.
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1/27/2008 - Fluffyruffles wrote: 86 Points
Very nice with Mexican chicken & corn.
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1/22/2008 - bccdavid wrote: 89 Points
My first Malbec. Full & bold, dark fruit flavors & chocolate. Nose: tannins, strong fruity. Enjoyed with cheddar cheese and crackers. I like this wine, but I paid too much. Saw that it was $8 on WLTV.
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1/20/2008 - ChrisBman wrote: 89 Points
Quite an excellent Malbec for the money. Good fruit, dark color, not over powering flavor, nice balance. Not as much pepper and spice as other Malbecs. More fruit forward. Stood up well with spicy food I paired with this.
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1/17/2008 - Evil Homer wrote: 86 Points
Nice colour. Earthy, cherry and some chocolate flavours. Good effort for the price.
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1/13/2008 - bin905 wrote: 90 Points
Deep blackberry color. Refined, spicy, smokey oak, cherry and plum scent. Medium to full body, well-proportioned fruit and tannins, mineral undertones and a firm finish. Surprisingly good for the money.
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1/6/2008 - scbottlenose wrote: 90 Points
Verry deep color; smokey and smooth - we enjoyed this wine, esp for the price (around $6 after discount). Would definitely look for this again.
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1/4/2008 - Fluffyruffles wrote: 87 Points
Perhaps our prior bottle was bad. This one and two others were exceptionally pleasing for sipping and accompanying roast chicken. Very dark in color, lots of plums in the nose and on the palate but good complexity. Sightly peppery finish.
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12/29/2007 - Greg_O wrote: 83 Points
Very disappointing. Black raspberry on the nose. All flavours disappear quickly on the mid-palette, nothing showing on the finish but a bit of tannins. This tastes very watered down.
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12/25/2007 - MagnumGourmet wrote:
Brought to parent's house for Christmas dinner. Color was very dark purple bordering on black. Nose had a little bit of leather and smoke. On the palate there was more smoke and some sweet dark berries. Wine finished fairly tannic. When paired with meatballs and gravy the finish was much more pleasant. Would purchase again.
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12/22/2007 - lano wrote: 84 Points
Initially enticing nose, but palate was acidic and simplistic. I thought it was opening a bit after an hour or so, but then became fairly sour. Much better values out there (even for the $10 I spent). Disappointed after the wine spectator review. oh well.
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12/14/2007 - TashNYC wrote: 86 Points
Jen had this. Some good fruit. The #2 wine at the Princeton Engineering Xmas / Holiday party 2007
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12/12/2007 - RDaneel wrote: 85 Points
Lots of blueberry up front, which carried through the flavor. Not my favorite aroma, but very authentic taste for the price. A good medium body with fair tannins and a relatively short finish. "Real wine" for a good price, though I don't think Malbec is the greatest grape on its own.
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12/9/2007 - thirtyoneknots wrote:
Simple but tasty, very good value. Drank with Marquon with grilled sausages and homemade mac & cheese. Dark fruit, licorice, oak. A good everyday drinker for malbec lovers. Let it stand an hour or so before drinking, the acid is a little out of whack upon opening. Would perhaps be better with a year or two of bottle age.
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12/2/2007 - rsazima wrote: 87 Points
VERY GOOD.
VISUAL: M intensity, ruby color.
NOSE: Black fruit (plum, blackberry), toasted, chemical notes, light floral, M intensity, complexity and persistence.
PALATE: M body, M intensity and alcohol, M+ acidity and tannins.
FINISH: Good balance and M finish (15s).
OVERALL: 87 points.
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11/28/2007 - billyg wrote: 88 Points
A day later, a better bottle. Big coffee nose with blueberries. Plum up front with some toasted oak. Some leather and licorice with oak on the finish. My last bottle may have been cooked. Not bad, good value.
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11/27/2007 - billyg wrote: 85 Points
Blueberry and leather on the nose. Blueberry up front. A mixture of cough syrup and vanilla on the mid-palate. The finish has some bell pepper with blueberry, leather, licorice. Nice complexity at this price point but some of the flavors will turn people off. If the more harsh flavors fade with age this will be a great deal and my score will change.
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11/26/2007 - PDD wrote: 87 Points
Still good - but a little sweet. Maybe not as good as the 2005. Some of the complexity was overpowered by the sugars.
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11/19/2007 - jjclips2 wrote: 85 Points
Subtle and restrained at first. Took an hour or so to show its somewhat jammy blackberry, spicy, fruit forward characteristics. Fun to drink and would please most that are looking for a quaffer at an amazing QPR.
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11/10/2007 - Dulcie and Aylwin wrote:
Opaque purple red colour, slightly closed in on the nose, sharp berry fruit forward, some oak and acidity, a good buy.
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11/8/2007 - buddy22 wrote: 84 Points
Beginning to discover I am just not a fan of Malbecs.
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10/19/2007 - barryv wrote: 85 Points
I like this wine, very drinkable, didn't finish strong but I'll buy again as an everyday wine.
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10/18/2007 - JohnnyWine wrote: 86 Points
Very pretty in color, deep, dark ruby.
Aroma of mellow alcohol, not too strong, jammy, fruity-strawberry and other sweet berries.
Creamy smooth mouthfeel, velvety texture-like red velvet birthday cake. Jammy, medium-low tannins with a medium-length finnish.
Paired with homemade chili (no beans!). Good everyday drinker.
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10/18/2007 - brianmik wrote: 87 Points
Bright berries and a bit of mustiness (leather?) on the nose. A bit brighter than 2005, but perhaps just from opening younger. The taste was very smooth and balanced tannins / acidity with a slight tobacco taste. Overall, smooth but very simple.
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10/2/2007 - drphil wrote: 85 Points
Rather hot on the palate and a bit too acid.
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9/16/2007 - PDD wrote: 87 Points
I agree with previous notes - nothing wrong with it, some decent fruit like dark cherry; still get the toast as well. Good house wine for the money. Here are some tasting notes from the '03 Vintage (from Wine Enthusiast)...
RATING - 88
2003 Alamos
Malbec, Mendoza, $10 - A Best Buy
Saturated and extracted, with an incredibly deep purple tint paving the way for manly aromas of espresso, campfire and toasted coconut. The palate, meanwhile, runs a bit sweet, with boysenberry and plum. Soft on the back end, but with enough spine to see it through. For fans of bold reds. — M.S. (3/1/2005)
And here is what W.E. says about the '04...
RATING
87
2004 Alamos
Malbec, Mendoza, $10 A Best Buy
Clean and smooth, with vanilla and boysenberry defining the nose. Not a complex wine, but one made for everyday drinking; thus the plum and berry fruit is ripe and forward, while the finish is just toasty enough. Flawless even though it lacks sophistication. No high gears but still a good ride. Imported by Billington Imports. — M.S. (11/15/2005)
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9/1/2007 - RNA_Polymerase wrote: 83 Points
Nose had an offensive, almost soap-like smell that cloaked the fruit, taste contained blackberry, plum and something like allspice taste (but no soap). Still, I washed out my wine glass and tried again and finally pulled the cork on another wine to serve. I really wanted to like this wine as I had a glass back in early May and thought it a very good, Pinot-like drinking wine. May just have gotten a bad bottle.
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8/30/2007 - yui wrote: 87 Points
Good QPR. Dark, Berries, cherries, choclate, long finish a bit tannic. Had w/Steak plus caramelized onions/grilled tomatos/blue cheese.
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8/24/2007 - Ombibulous wrote: 84 Points
Sampled in a flight at Crust pizza & wine bar. Cost $2.10. The colour is medium dark. The nose is not strong. The wine is young tasting and tannic but good. The finish is short to medium. Abv 13%. In between a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Merlot. Good.
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8/11/2007 - ijayb wrote: 87 Points
Deep Purple in color, this wine expresses loads of blackberries and plum with hints of mocha. Its loaded with fruit, soft tannins and only a slight acidity. Very dense wine. Not very balanced and is new world style.
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7/15/2007 - Omar Khayyam wrote: 88 Points
excellent grillwine. had this with grilled pork tenderloin dill potatoes and a creamy tzatziki. Fruity with some spice and licorice. medium bodied.
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7/4/2007 - DancingDavidE wrote: 91 Points
Tasted at several places - Wine Discount Center, a friend brought a bottle to a picnic at the condo. Also had a prior vintage at Fogo de Chao. Was an excellent Malbec. Fiance wanted to rate even higher!
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6/14/2007 - Fluffyruffles wrote: 75 Points
vERY BLAND = MUCH LESS THAN EXPECTED VERY DISAPPOINTING = CERTAINLY NOT ON A PAR WITH MOST ARGENTENIANS WE HAVE ENJOYED.
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5/30/2007 - codewheeney wrote: 89 Points
A very good bottle, rich and luscious, dry. Buy again.
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5/28/2007 - 3dvw wrote: 84 Points
fruit bomb. enjoyable, good for the price.
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