These were cheap as dirt when released and came in these cannister gift tins. We sold the hell out of them as Malbec was the "buzz" wine of the day, and our margins great on these as they threw in extras on case deals. The wine? Upon release, nothing offensive, a tasty value at under $10 but nothing to write home about. Fast forward 7 years. I find one of the cannister tins in my cellar thinking it is just an empty ornament. Lo, there is a bottle inside. Take in to open as I am looking for a Malbec to pair with Indian spinach and Tandoori chicken. Bottle looks in good shape but cork breaks easily trying to open; splits in half. It is brittle and dry, so cannot extract other half easily. Crumbling. Does not bode well. I punch a hole after a few tries and pour through a strainer into a decanter. Color is good, smells appealing with no hint of age. Now the real test, pour a glass. Take a first sip and am transported to happy land. The wine is just singing. Firing on all cylinders. Plush and ripe blue fruits, satiny velvet smoothness, acidity lifting and at perfect pitch. The oak beautifully integrated and not calling attention to itself, nor the alcohol. This has got to be the definition of perfect timing. It was great with the food. Had a little chocolate afterwards but really not helping it as the tannins in the wine were so resolved and soft. If you've got this it will probably last another 2 years, but why wait when it is vibrating with perfect tension?
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This wine has a definite delicious factor. A little overripe and jammy, but it tastes good. There is a load of dark fruit with a slight smokiness. ($9)
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I love Malbecs and this one takes the varietal to another level. It's not as peppery as most other Malbecs, but still has a nice amount of black pepper both on the nose and through the finish. It's a remarkably well-balanced wine for $10 and I would suggest if you find it, buy at least a case. It'll cost you just over a $100, but you will impress your friends, always have a nice, inexpensive wine gift or just have a case of good wine all to yourself.
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A nice, enjoyable bottle of red wine. I'd have gone higher if not for some of the rogue notes I spotted while drinking it. Something metallic. Or was it dried blood on cold pavement? A little raisin? When those wacky things weren't apparent it was quite tasty.
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Rich purple, very dark at the core. Powerful sweet cherry and plum on the nose. Medium bodied with good acidity and smooth, well integrated tannins. Very distinct flavours develop on the palate, more sweet fruit; blackcurrant, mulberry, violets; coffee and a hint of spice and smokiness towards the finish. Good length; blackcurrant and violet linger in the mouth. Superb wine for £6.49.
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Consistent notes. Deep purple red in color. Dark fruit dominates the nose -- plum and black cherry with a touch of lighter red fruit. There is a bit of toasted oak as well. Nice on the mid-palate, nothing too spectacular but very nice QPR at under $10.
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This is a great choise for $10 per bottle. I will purchase a few to hold in the cellar. Good tannins after some air (second day) deep ruby red, good alchol balance.
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Nose: Initially vegetal within 10 min. after opening, but gives way to black cherry after a while; a little dirt; pepper dominates. Palate: Smokey, and initially a little meaty; spicy; medium-to-light; dark fruits dominate the red fruits, especially black cherry. Finish: A little hot, but stays smooth; dark, bitter chocolate and black cherry flavors linger. Overall: Well balanced; nothing offensive; not manipulated; does not drink like a "cheap" wine, but rather has the structure that's so hard to find in value USA red wines; remarkable value; easy to drink, and easy to enjoy.
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Good the first day but better the second day when it opened up . Medium bodied wine. Very smooth with a rich blend of fruit and oak that results in a long velvety finish. A great choice at $10 a bottle.
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Quite delightful and great QPR. Under $10! Started out as inky purple and emerged as ruby red in the decanter. Nose of spice, blue fruit and some coffee. Some alcohol was there too. The palate was smooth and clean right up to the finish, which was slightly tannic. The finish was average. Not terribly complex, but this is an excellent everyday drinker.
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Color: Deep, dusky red Taste: At the initial opening and for most of the first day, the tannins dominated. On the second day dark, fruit flavors come in with the tannin undertone
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Pretty conistent. Doesn't have the richness or depth of the Reserve, which I greatly prefer. Much lighter. However, it is the same mocha, dark red/black fruit profile of the reserve. A solidly made bottle, but even at a couple bucks over $10, there are other options I'd rather go with from Argentina. Or spring the extra couple bucks for the reserve.
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8/15/2015 - Pasco Pappy wrote:
Wine was past its prime and didn't drink well.
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12/18/2014 - SexyEpicurean Likes this wine: 88 Points
These were cheap as dirt when released and came in these cannister gift tins. We sold the hell out of them as Malbec was the "buzz" wine of the day, and our margins great on these as they threw in extras on case deals. The wine? Upon release, nothing offensive, a tasty value at under $10 but nothing to write home about. Fast forward 7 years. I find one of the cannister tins in my cellar thinking it is just an empty ornament. Lo, there is a bottle inside. Take in to open as I am looking for a Malbec to pair with Indian spinach and Tandoori chicken. Bottle looks in good shape but cork breaks easily trying to open; splits in half. It is brittle and dry, so cannot extract other half easily. Crumbling. Does not bode well. I punch a hole after a few tries and pour through a strainer into a decanter. Color is good, smells appealing with no hint of age. Now the real test, pour a glass. Take a first sip and am transported to happy land. The wine is just singing. Firing on all cylinders. Plush and ripe blue fruits, satiny velvet smoothness, acidity lifting and at perfect pitch. The oak beautifully integrated and not calling attention to itself, nor the alcohol. This has got to be the definition of perfect timing. It was great with the food. Had a little chocolate afterwards but really not helping it as the tannins in the wine were so resolved and soft. If you've got this it will probably last another 2 years, but why wait when it is vibrating with perfect tension?
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10/7/2013 - redbrix wrote: 80 Points
Great wine for the value. Lighter style malbec. Great nose leathery and spice. Peppery finish. Aerate.
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2/5/2011 - ecola wrote: 89 Points
This wine has a definite delicious factor. A little overripe and jammy, but it tastes good. There is a load of dark fruit with a slight smokiness. ($9)
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11/20/2010 - MtStPipier wrote: 87 Points
Blackberry and fresh cut grass on the nose. Tannins a bit strong although a little thin on structure. Good value
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6/10/2010 - Armando B wrote: 78 Points
Boring and generic. Nothing characteristic of Malbec. Would rather drink beer.
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5/29/2010 - TechGuy wrote:
Good. Connie even liked it.
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5/16/2010 - RussK wrote: 90 Points
RUSSK Had at Bryan and Sandy's. Surpised at how good it was, expecting not to enjoy it. Should buy more at $10.
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12/24/2009 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote: 89 Points
I love Malbecs and this one takes the varietal to another level. It's not as peppery as most other Malbecs, but still has a nice amount of black pepper both on the nose and through the finish. It's a remarkably well-balanced wine for $10 and I would suggest if you find it, buy at least a case. It'll cost you just over a $100, but you will impress your friends, always have a nice, inexpensive wine gift or just have a case of good wine all to yourself.
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7/10/2009 - angryphoton wrote: 86 Points
a bit astringent on the finish and bitter. not bad though as there is some fruit and decent structure, its just that the finish was not so good.
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5/7/2009 - RobertDwyer wrote: 85 Points
A nice, enjoyable bottle of red wine. I'd have gone higher if not for some of the rogue notes I spotted while drinking it. Something metallic. Or was it dried blood on cold pavement? A little raisin? When those wacky things weren't apparent it was quite tasty.
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4/17/2009 - PVJC wrote:
Inky, a little dry, definitely more structure/body than typical for a $10 wine. Very drinkable and good value but not special otherwise.
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3/22/2009 - Biggsy wrote: 90 Points
Rich purple, very dark at the core. Powerful sweet cherry and plum on the nose. Medium bodied with good acidity and smooth, well integrated tannins. Very distinct flavours develop on the palate, more sweet fruit; blackcurrant, mulberry, violets; coffee and a hint of spice and smokiness towards the finish. Good length; blackcurrant and violet linger in the mouth. Superb wine for £6.49.
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3/22/2009 - angryphoton wrote: 86 Points
simple, blueberry, vanilla, some dusty tannins. medium length but had some bitterness in the finish.
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2/5/2009 - Biglama wrote: 87 Points
paars rood, fruitig, lichte zuivel geur, kersen yochurt, warm , alcohol, smaak is rijp en sappig, mooi zuurtje goed gemaakt, gewoon goed
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1/25/2009 - jrobs7777 wrote: 87 Points
Consistent notes. Deep purple red in color. Dark fruit dominates the nose -- plum and black cherry with a touch of lighter red fruit. There is a bit of toasted oak as well. Nice on the mid-palate, nothing too spectacular but very nice QPR at under $10.
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1/12/2009 - Fluffyruffles wrote: 88 Points
Plums but not much else. Very differing opinions from 84 to 91.
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12/8/2008 - jiggerz wrote: 85 Points
Liked it.
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12/6/2008 - matt2brad wrote:
yummy
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11/24/2008 - ajones05446 wrote: 87 Points
This is a great choise for $10 per bottle. I will purchase a few to hold in the cellar. Good tannins after some air (second day) deep ruby red, good alchol balance.
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11/22/2008 - THA wrote: 85 Points
Nose: Initially vegetal within 10 min. after opening, but gives way to black cherry after a while; a little dirt; pepper dominates. Palate: Smokey, and initially a little meaty; spicy; medium-to-light; dark fruits dominate the red fruits, especially black cherry. Finish: A little hot, but stays smooth; dark, bitter chocolate and black cherry flavors linger. Overall: Well balanced; nothing offensive; not manipulated; does not drink like a "cheap" wine, but rather has the structure that's so hard to find in value USA red wines; remarkable value; easy to drink, and easy to enjoy.
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11/9/2008 - wine4me2 wrote: 87 Points
Good the first day but better the second day when it opened up . Medium bodied wine. Very smooth with a rich blend of fruit and oak that results in a long velvety finish. A great choice at $10 a bottle.
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11/8/2008 - laparka wrote: 87 Points
One of the best buget malbecs out there. Is our everyday wine and never disappoints.
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9/14/2008 - jrobs7777 wrote: 87 Points
Quite delightful and great QPR. Under $10! Started out as inky purple and emerged as ruby red in the decanter. Nose of spice, blue fruit and some coffee. Some alcohol was there too. The palate was smooth and clean right up to the finish, which was slightly tannic. The finish was average. Not terribly complex, but this is an excellent everyday drinker.
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8/28/2008 - ewill wrote:
Color: Deep, dusky red
Taste: At the initial opening and for most of the first day, the tannins dominated. On the second day dark, fruit flavors come in with the tannin undertone
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8/15/2008 - hutch wrote: 86 Points
Pretty conistent. Doesn't have the richness or depth of the Reserve, which I greatly prefer. Much lighter. However, it is the same mocha, dark red/black fruit profile of the reserve. A solidly made bottle, but even at a couple bucks over $10, there are other options I'd rather go with from Argentina. Or spring the extra couple bucks for the reserve.
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4/26/2008 - matt2brad wrote: 92 Points
Rich color edging on purple, berries and slight tobacco on nose, big bold blackcurrant, cloves and strong finish all for under $10 tremendous.
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