Cork broke in two, but the wine is delicious! This is round and enveloping with bright red and black fruits and still fresh! Zingy acidity and sweet fruit make it a perfect pair with Chori-pan! 91
Tatiana says 94
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shared with pat at selkirk manor. celebrating the end of the work week and surviving another week of pandemic. i continue to prune the cellar of bottles with past due drink by dates. no formal notes. the wine was still sound but fully mature and perhaps a bit on a downward slope compared with my last tasting note of 10/7/2015. we have had other catena wines that showed more complexity. i am wondering whether 2007 was an off vintage in argentina.
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This was a really pleasant surprise. Lovely nose of black currant, mocha and violets. The palate is nicely balanced with the youthful exuberance gone. Delicious flavors of black fruits, chocholate, tobacco come through in a very sleek, modern albeit simple style. I would drink this soon though because I don’t think it will get better from here.
Stored in the fridge for three days and then pulled this out again. It’s even better with full in the mouth delicious flavor but maintaining the balance described above. I guess given it stored well for a few days this wine probably can last several more years although I am not sure it will develop further complexity
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Dark purple hue, raspberries and vanilla on front. good oak, yet well balanced. A reliable producer, this 2007 was past its prime, but still excellent.
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Modest nose of blackberry and earth. Medium dark garnet the wine is in early maturity with flavors of black fruit, lavender, cedar, smoked meats and spices. Full bodied but with now partially resolved tannins this is delicious if a bit straightforward in a modern kind of style.
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Nice balance between tannins and acid. Wonderful food wine. Earth, cedar, mushroom, cranberry and dried fruit. hint of eucalyptus or mint? Very enjoyable, big wine. Congratulations of you still have a bottle in your cellar!
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This wine is in it prime, wonderful mouth feel with a great balance of acid and tannins. The nose wasn't very perfumed but there was some secondary flavors of dried forest floor, with hints of cranberry. On the palatte it was rounded and nice primary and secondary flavors. Nice cellar surprise, drink up you'll enjoy it.
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shared with pat at selkirk manor to celebrate the end of the work week. an excellent effort from catena. nice balance between fruit, acid and tannin. seems near full maturity. dark color. coats the mouth. a very enjoyable malbec and a very respectable qpr.
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Sehr reifes Bukett, Rosinen, Wacholder, Senfkorn, erste Alterungsnoten. Am Gaumen gehaltvoll, präsente Säure, viel herber Gerbstoff. Sollte schon getrunken werden.
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Very fruit forward, jammy with a lot of spice when first opened. Settled down nicely in the bottle, and ended up being quite nice. No tannins to speak of. Good choice if you are looking for a bold, almost peppery experience
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Paired nicely with Beef Chuck Pot Roast - even used a little of the wine to deglaze the roasting pan. This has aged quite well, all components are well integrated and balanced. The delivery is smooth, seamless all the way to a pleasant, soft finish. This wine does not deliver POWER, but instead, SLEEK POLISHED FINESSE. Drink now
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we served dinner, and with it a bottle of Catena 2007 Malbec ... aged to perfection, if I do say so myself: cassis and raspberry with good acidity to cut through the rich fruit, there was also some cranberry and sour cherry that appeared near the finish along with a touch of white pepper. This wine delivered the goods and was a lovely match to the chicken.
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A full-bodied wine with strong tannins, even after i tried to age it a bit into more balance. Also not much acidity nor fruit to balance it, it needed a hearty steak to complement it instead of the burgers we had. too tannic for a sipping wine though.
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- Garnet color with fast forming legs. It's balanced and has flavours of black currant with a medium/full body. Smooth texture with a long finish - Long finish. Has aged well.
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Still very fruit forward. No tannic structure to speak of, but the fruit continues to hold its own. Blackberries with a little lingering sweetness on the palate. Very "new world" in style to me. I don't think this has evolved much over the last several years, so enjoy now for what it is.
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Cor vermelho purpura brilhante. Nariz em camadas de chocolate e cafe, especiarias (pimenta) e frutas negras maduras. Em boca muito equilibrio entre acidez e taninos. Bom corpo com destaque para frutas negras maduras a as especiarias. Final macio e prolongado (retrogosto).
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This bottle was kickin' right from the pop n pour. Lively, plush red and black fruits, with a bit of fig and hoisin sauce. Somewhat one dimensional but that dimension is vibrant and delicious. The texture was velvety smooth, the tannins pretty resolved. Really nice wine for under 20 bones. I find that these regular Catena bottlings really benefit from about 2-3 years in the cellar. They smooth out nicely without too much degradation of the fruit, and for me this 07 is in the perfect spot now. Should be fine for another year or two maybe, but I would not wait to drink this and will consume my remaining bottle soon. Hope the 09 is as good as this.
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Popped and poured. Taste: tasty fruit, not anymore as lively as in November 2011, but more integrated with the tannins, I guess. Nice secondary/tertiary notes, soft, but little depth and complexity. Still there was some harshness now and then; maybe still some tannins? Seemed at the fourth day a bit more balanced. 85-86.
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Nice bottle. Quite different from a couple of years ago, but still really good. The nose was not as powerful as before, but the flavours were just exploding. Nice fruit...
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Easy drinker. Nice balance with some fruit but not a fruit bomb like some cheaper Malbec's. Has some interest with Mocha but not complex. Smooth. Hard to complain or get too excited about this one. Good wine if you don't want to think too much!
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PnVnD let air for 2hrs. Dark purple almost saturated with a crimson rim. Smoky plummy nose with a touch of earth and bramble. Medium weight with plush tannin. Bracing black fruit with a touch of earth and espresso and blackberry ganache. Lingering black fruit finish with refreshing acidity. Don't think it will get much better. Tasty and fresh.
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Nice. Not quite as smooth as I remember the last bottle, this one seemed a tad younger. But good fruit and nice body, with some fig paste and hoisin notes that add a bit of intrigue. Just a very solid wine and a good value.
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Purple/ruby in color, with medium plus intensity and numerous dark legs. The nose is clean of medium plus intensity with enticing aromas of black fruit, vanilla and sweet spice. The nose is developing. The palate is dry, and consistent with the nose. Black cherries, black plums, sweet spice, bacon and some leather. The acidity, tannins, body and flavor intensity are all medium plus. The alcohol is medium, at 13.5%. The finish is medium in length. This is a very nicely integrated wine, where the initial burst of sweet black fruit is balanced by the acidity and then carried into the finish by a backbone of tannins. This is a sleek and polished wine, with subtle but firm oak treatment, which is very drinkeable now. It has the potential for ageing another couple of years, but it is questionable whether it would improve since it is already in such a good balanced state now. This is a very good wine, which shines with earthy, rustic foods. It has a great QPR. WS 91 and WE 90.
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Clear, purple to amber rim, legs quick to form and noticeably staining, dark ruby core. Dark fruit, black raspberry and a hint of leather. Palate is clean, fresh dark fruit, medium acidity and medium tannin. Very nicely integrated, Wonderful and ready now.
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Popped and poured. Taste: lively fruit, with red cherries and blackberries. Quite sweet, with the taste of fruit liquor, and a hint of laurel. No depth, almost no complexity. With 13,5% rather much alcohol, but not burning. No harsh tannins anymore. Just a straight on wine. 85.
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Very approachable and ready to drink now. Paired well with a roasted chicken, baked potato and asparagus. Dark garnet color, mild nose, cherries and raspberries with mild tannins, low acidity and mild heat and decent length of finish.
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App: Dark purple red Aroma: Dark berries and vanilla on the nose Full-bodied and available tannins. Dark berries, chocolate, vanilla and mocca on the palate. Good length
Good wine for BBQ. I would be careful to make a match with more subtile types of food.
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I am drinking 2007 Catena Zapata, Bodega Malbec with Peg, Terry and my lovely wife, Judy. The wine shows a dark violet color with black tones. I detect scents of dark fruits and soft violets with traces of spice, vanilla and mocha. On the palette, I detect rich flavors of black cherry, black plums with sweet spices and tobacco. There is a balance between the tannins and acid. With that, it has a soft finish with exceptional length. (Very Good)
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The wine shows a dark violet color with black tones. I detect scents of dark fruits and soft violets with traces of spice, vanilla and mocha. On the palette, I detect rich flavors of black cherry, black plums with sweet spices and tobacco. There is a balance between the tannins and acid. With that, it has a soft finish with exceptional length. (Very Good)
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PnP. Drinking really beautifully now. The fruit is a touch more subdued than I remembered from the last bottle several months ago, but this wine is very smooth now. Just goes down like velvet. Typical malbec character with a bit of nice earthiness. It's not a huge wine anymore, but it has lovely balance and integration for a wine at this price point.
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Had w/dinner over 2 nights, best on 1st day after some time to breathe. 1st glass was PnP, & showed to be a tad tight & sharp. Then this opened up nicely & velvetly after sitting for 3 hrs. Dark purple hue. Soft earthy aromas & flavors w/notes of black cherry, plum, cedar cigar box, leather, bacon fat & spice. Medium-full bodied w/soft sweet tannins, good acidity & moderately lingering finish. Ready to drink now. Overall nice (89+).
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Opened with Steak Tips, and impressed with inky purple color. When first opened it was a little bit acidic and tight, but after 15-20 min in decanter it opened up very nicely. Smooth nice daily drinker
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Inky dark with candy apple red highlights. Deeply perfumed nose of violets, blueberry, and leather, with a slight undercurrent of meatiness. Very Syrah-like, yet quite unique. Medium to full bodied, cranberries, plums, dark cherries, black pepper, herb-inflected tannins, smoke, some heat, and a medium to long finish. This is their entry level? Wow.
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Deep, inky purple. Savoury black fruit leads the way to salty and reductive notes. Flavours of boiled vegetables also on the palate along with mint and a sweet tang. Strong, integrated tannins despite a diluted mid palate and a bit of astringency do not help this one show itself better. Tasted this before and I guess there is a problem with this particular bottle.
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And Dağlarının batı eteklerindeki bağları, Pasifik Okyanusu’ndan esen rüzgarlar sayesinde ideale yakın koşullara sahip Şili’nin aksine Arjantin, aynı sıradağların doğu yamaçlarında daha zorlu koşullarla mücadele ediyor. Karasal iklimin hakim olduğu bağlar yazları aşırı sıcaklardan etkilenmemek için çoğunlukla deniz seviyesinden 500 ila 2000 m irtifada kurulmuş. Ülke bağlarının çoğunluğunun bulunduğu Mendoza bölgesi aynı zamanda tadılan şarabın yapımcısı, ülkenin en saygıdeğer üreticisi Catena Zapata’ya da ev sahipliği yapıyor. Malbec üzümü, güney batı Fransa’nın Cahors şarap bölgesi kökenli ama Arjantin’de o kadar benimsenmiş ki şu anda hem ülkenin sembol üzümü konumunda hem de başta ABD pazarı olmak üzere şarap ihracatının lokomotifi. Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec, üreticinin en temel Malbec şarabı olmasına rağmen dikkat çekici bir dengeye sahip. Damakta yumuşak ve yuvarlak yapısı, hem burun, hem de damaktaki canlı meyveliliği (siyah orman meyveleri), zarif ama güçlü tanenleri ile etkileyici.
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Initial nose is pleasant, easy to drink, plenty of acidity, not much rough edge, but not much complexity either, some dark fruits, lost freshness compared to two years ago, I don't see aging will benefit this wine, drink now.
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Yummy. Licorice, cassis, plum and cherries all over the place, a hint of bacon on the nose, and a spiciness that isn't overpowering. A great drink at a good price.
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Someone should have a word with these guys about marketing. Type in Catena Zapata Malbec into cellartracker and look at the options that come up. 3004 wines from the same producer with virtually the same name, which is not a receipe for repeat purchase. This stuff was apparently the "really good stuff, amigo, not like that OTHER catena zapata malbec". Caramel nose, pungent. On the palate like licking the velvet glove of a love slave. But then? Hmmm. Not much other than caramel and glove licking and confusion about which wine you purchased. I paid £55, but I'm not sure I got the top wine. And how would I know? All those names and bottles all look the same.
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Bu côte à côte avec son grand frère le Alta. Dans le même registre, mais plus accesible avec un peu tout de moins. Atuellement très intéressant à boire, et un ecellent rapport qualité-pris. Gagnera quand même à être attendu et se bonifiera avec le temps.
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Bu en paralèlle avec un Château Lagrazette 2004 (Cahors). Apparence: Rouge clair, dentelle fine Au nez: le fruit rouge (framboise) domine, légère touche d'anis et subtile arome de vanille. En bouche: Bon équilibre des tanins et de l'acidité. Fruit conforme au bouquet, la framboise rouge, fraiche et légèrement acidulé. Peu boisé. persistance moyenne. En comparaison du Chateau Lagrezette,, nettement style nouveau monde, fruit en avant plan.
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Had this with Indian food which complemented very well with all of the spices, drank really well without the need to decant, soft and smooth on the palate and a nice but slightly short finish.
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Mooi zwart fruit, vanille, een beetje stal en rubber in de neus. In de smaak het zwarte fruit, mooie ronde taninnes, sappige zuren en een mediumlange afdronk.
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Consistent with prior notes...Deep garnet color. Black fruit, wet earth, and a touch of oak, mocha, and faint floral notes on the nose, followed by dark fruit, mocha and on the palate. Round well integrated fruit, acids, and tannins uncommon at this price point. Long smooth finish. Really enjoyed!
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Vinturi. Garnet with a sanguine rim. Raspberry cobbler, kirsh, graphite, soy-sauce and plum-sauce. Rich and chewy, while retaing a clean finish. There's a little tar on the palate, with a lot of subtle fruit. A lovely Malbec that is classy, with prudent concentration. Drink now - 2015.
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Pop and pour without decant. Velvety smooth palate, nicely integrated tannins, later some spice appears but not much more. Rather short finish. If this was a bdx I would say this might develop some more interesting flavour but have my doubts in this case. Still not bad
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Catena Zapata Malbec 2007: Good fruit and some oak presence in a cheap wine for everyday drinking. A good companion to barbecue and burguer. I found decanting did not help it. Also available in half-bottle.
Catena Zapata Malbec 2008: little better than 2007, is more palatable and easy to drink. Some decanting will help improving it.
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Really hard to judge. Pretty sure this was flawed but hard to say. Rubbery niose but finished like a Bordeaux...kind of leathery and pencil shavings....did not taste like Malbec at all. Will buy another bottle to compare.
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Bright with deep purplish red color. Fruity aroma with a little spice. Developed a clean fairly complex bouquet. Medium bodied with lots of berry fruit, some cedar and hints of vanilla. Overall a very good wine, especially with the steak and baked potato.
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I've always liked the Catena Malbec. I think it outperforms the $16 you pay at Costco. Good black fruit, earth, spice, maybe a little leather. Very full and round. The thing that caught me by surprise this time was the finish. It finishes with a chalky tannin like a Bordeaux. Not sure I'd noticed that before, or it may be specific to the '07.
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Drank with filet mignon. Black licorice in the aroma, as well as some greenness. The green comes through in the taste with some pine flavor, along with a bit of coffee. I was honestly a bit underwhelmed by this, perhaps because of the inclusion in WS Top 100 in 2009. Still a nice wine, though. For the price, an OK QPR, 3 out of 5 stars.
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nose - roasty fruit mouth -lush plum and sour cherry, pleasant very primary fruit, some time in bottle might serve it well, yet wondering if it has the potential to gain much complexity.
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Deep violet/black, rich nose of dark fruits and plums. Very concentrated, nicely oaked and integrated, with touches of mocha in addition to the blackberries and plum. Very nice for such a young wine.
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This is really drinking very well right now. Loads of red and blue fruits on the nose, as well as a nice dried brush note. Soft and creamy on the palate, but with a streak of acidity that livens up the mouthfeel. Nice plummy fruit on the front, transitioning smoothly across the top of the tongue to a moderately long, earthy and dark chocolate finish. Just a touch of drying tannins lending bitterness at the close.
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Brought to lab meeting. Such a solid and reliable wine. Very open with nice red fruits (plum, raspberry), and a bit of hoisin sauce. Nice round feel in the mouth and good body. Not a lot of structure, so this is probably best drunk soon. I think JM at WS got it right when he said drink through 2011. Year after year, I find this to be the most reliable and appealing Malbec in the sub-$20 range ($18).
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Nice nose of berry & currant. Dark, inky color. Blackberry, plum and cedar flavors. Tannins were chewy, but not too big. Long finish. An enjoyable drinker for the price. Picked up a couple more bottles at Costco for winter drinking.
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Run-of-the-mill Argy Malbec, with some berry on the nose, oak on the palate. Surprisingly light weight and subdued for a Malbec, with thin tannins suggesting this will not evolve much in hte cellar.
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I guess i agree with others...this is 23$ CAN - and i think delivers. Nice balanced, fruity and perhaps a little high'ish sugar content - and that makes this more "delicious"...dark fruit all over with light acid/tannins and easy drinking solo and with classic food pairings...nice.
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Consistent with prior notes...Deep garnet color. Black fruit, wet earth and a touch of oak on the nose, followed by dark fruit on the palate. Round well integrated fruit, acids, and tannins uncommon at this price point. Long supple finish.
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No score or detailed notes. This was drinking really well though. Of note, I felt that this filled out and became fuller and lusher after about 1 hour open in the bottle. Very nice, happy to have 2 more in the cellar...
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The aroma is dark, rich, and earthy, with tons of chocolate and tobacco leaf tones. There are red and black fruits, combined with a somewhat buttery component at the core, and black currant and forest herbs on the spin.
Rich, smooth, and velvety, the palate is full of dark red plum and berry tones with exceptional cacao powder tannins. The mid palate opens up with some violets and moves into butter and cherries, finishing with the sensation of slightly burnt, blackberry scones. This is a decadent, jammy, and wonderfully complex wine, and a true pleasure to drink. A bargain at the price, this is absolutely a wine worth buying.
Source: What's Worth Drinking: Post #55: Malbec Week Part 3: The Best of ‘Bec ( http://whatsworthdrinking.com/2010/08/12/post-55-malbec-week-part-3-the-best-of-bec/ )
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WSET Level 3, AI vancouver, August 3, 2010 clear, deep ruby, maybe even purple core
Clean on the nose with medium intensity youthful notes of dark fruit - almost stewed, some floral notes, spicy, toastyness, cherries, vegetal, oaky
on the palate, off dry, medium tannins, high alcohol, medium acid, medium plus body, medium minus flavour intensity of red and black ripe fruits, green/herbaceousness, oak, medium plus finish
overall a fairly good and simple wine. drink now.
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WSET Level 3 Part 2 Week 5 USA & South America (Downtown Vancouver [AI School]): Clear, Opaque Core moving to a med ruby Rim, showing legs legs legs~ A: Clean, Med Intensity, I say Showing Signs of Developing Teacher says Youthful nose Lil Meat, Lil Clean, Lil Savoury, Toast[Like it], Red Fruit, mineral, Stewed fruit T: Dry, Med Acid, Med Tannin, Med+ Body to Full, Med+ Alc, Med+ Intensity, Long Finish Dark fruit Juicy, Cherry Skin, Raisony
Conc: Mid Price, Good, Very fruit forward but A better showing of Malbec for me [not usually a fan]
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Deep garnet color. Black fruit, wet earth and a touch of oak on the nose, followed by dark fruit on the palate. Round well integrated fruit, acids, and tannins uncommon at this price point. Long supple finish. Had with Grilled Marinated Adobo style chicken. Very nice match
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Donkerpaarse wijn, dikke geur van kersen en bessen. In de smaak pruimen, kersenjam, cassis, cola en wat rook/tabak. Stevige tannines, behoorlijk drogend, ik denk dat deze wijn nog wel wat tijd in de kelder kan gebruiken. Erg dik aangezet, maar zeker niet onaardig.
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2nd bottle opened w/ guests - first malbec for most of them; VG as with my previous tastings, but they were not sure - definitely noted it was quite different from anything else they have previously drank - althought was not bad
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At this price-point, this was one of the most balanced bottles of Malbec I've had. Dark purple color; dark fruit, stone, bramble, and mocha on the nose; medium- to full-bodied and nicely balanced on the palate; ample tannins on the medium finish. This bottle definitely says, Mendoza, from start to finish, and only 13.5% alcohol. Drink now or continue to hold over short-medium term. A great BBQ wine.
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Au nez, c'est le fruit qui domine, avec cerises, mûres, fraises avec des quelques notes épicés et poivrés, sans être complexe, les arômes sans bien définis. En bouche, le vin est bien structuré avec des tannins bien présents mais de qualité, une légère sucrosité en bouche, mais sans nuir au côté digeste. La barrique a été utilisé avec parcimonie et subtilité. Longueur correct. Le vin s'est amélioré le lendemain.
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bright, intense, spicy red fruit. a sliver of oak imparted characteristica (tannins, vanilla) that has been administered with more deftness than is common in this price class of malbec. a very good wine! perfect with grilled meats/smoky bbq flavors.
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Nice enough Argentine Malbec, but surprised that both PR and WS would rate this wine a 91. Good fruit, but lacking somewhat in mid-palate and in depth. Also lacks the earthy qualities I taste in many of my favorite Malbecs. Pretty good, but nothing special.
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Lots of fruit and a little musty on the nose. Opens up nicely after 2+ hours and is very gorgeous on the palate. Dark and red fruit, spice, and a little tobacco. Open now or put away for a few years. Great either way!
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Delicious Malbec. I had read the reviews and was expecting it to be a nice malbec. It was better than that. I really enjoyed it. I think it is a great value.
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Two-hour decant. Bright purple, semi-translucent appearance. Quite floral and herbal on the nose. Light fruit with vanilla and some floral flavors. Nice light acid. Medium finish with soft tannins. Smooth drinking.
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Popped and poured ... First tried this wine back in October and bought a case which we're 1/4 of the way through now. Great value and, to my mind, a very quintessential Malbec. Medium purple color, decent but not huge nose and sour cherry fruit with a smooth, medium-long finish. This is definitely an "everyday" caliber wine, but a good drinking experience none-the-less.
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Opened for 3hrs prior to trying...Red fruit on the nose with loads of spice. First sip reveals cassis, raspberrries, red currant, and sour cherries. An almost cocoa flavor on the back end. Will continue to drink over the next few hours. An excellent wine for the price.
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Tasted blind. Unmistakable dark ruby purple color; fairly muted nose with hints of plum, blackberry, olive and green leaf, spice and mocha. The palate is smooth enough if lacking in acid: simple balance of fruit, tannin, alcohol and length. Figs, plums, blackberry jam, clove, and spice. Argie Malbec all seem to taste the same at this price point: one dimensional.
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I drank this one more slowly, allowing the wine to open more fully...and I really liked it! It's a little chunky, but finishes smoothly; worked very well with the lamb.
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Popped and poured - wanted to get quick comparison to 2006 drank two nights ago - very much lighter in body and color - more ruby vs. dark purple; still VG malbec, but not as good.
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Deep purple, opaque. Aroma of black fruit. Plums, blueberries. Full body, good fruit, peppery, spicy. Good mid palatte and decent finish. Modest tannins. Good pairing with porterhouse steak.
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Plums and assorted red fruit on the nose, with a touch of oak; smooth fruit continues on the palate, which is medium bodied without aggressive tanins. Very nice finish. Decanted an hour. Good QPR.
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Decanted for one hour and a half. After decanting rather lively fruit in the nose. In the glass the same. Taste: rather powerful fruit with chocolate, mocca and vanilla. At the second day it is this powerful, quite pure fruit that impresses mostly. Medium body, medium long finish. Also still rather prominent tannin, so my guess is that this wine will be better in one or two years. Because of the powerful fruit: an interesting wine. For now: 85.
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Popped & poured - dark purple color, with plum & berry - same notes as before; still readily available and pick up an adtl bottle or two a week - very good QPR for a malbec - nice finish
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Walker Portfolio Tasting (Al Forno): This is made in a richer style. Fairly typical, and the current price point makes it less of a sure thing as it was in the past.
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nose of red fruit, strawberry, cherry, a bit of smoke. quite sweet on the palate, vanilla, spicy finale. not my thing, tasted a bit too industrial for the price.
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Always a great malbec for the $. Dark purple in the glass...can't see through to the other side. Nice nose of dark fruit and glass coating legs. Licorice and plum with a nice medium finsih. Great deal at $18.
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Taste: Good length, well integrated flavor profile and moderate acidity. Light on front-palate fruit (bitter cherry), oak showing on the mid-palate and transitioning to chocolate finish.
Well put together, drinking at peak now, good qpr.
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Beautiful dark red color. Nose: Dark fruit, plums, cherries, some violet notes. The oak is noticeable but integrates well. Taste: Very good acid, youthful wine. Nice lingering aftertaste. The tannins have some bite but are not harsh at all.
Very nice to drink now, but should improve with some cellaring.
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VG malbec - have drank several vintages from Zapata - never disappoints; good QPR - dark purple color, but more medium in body; plum and berry coming thru with a nice finish; definitely will be picking up a few more bottles
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Avery approachable Argentinian malbec that opened nicely with decanting. Could be a strong 2nd house wine.
The wine looks Garnet colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like Blackberry, Blueberry, Fig, Plum, Pomegranate, Forest floor, Mineral, Oak, Vanilla, and Tobacco. It tastes like Blackberry, Black currant (cassis), Mineral, Oak, and Black Pepper. The body is Medium/Full. The wine is textured Juicy. The wine finishes Medium.
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Dark garnet color. Nose: sweet ripe blackberry and blackcurrant with fresh leather, baking spices, molasses, tobacco, and a little green nettle. Palate: intensely ripe blackberry and blackcurrant with some licorice, mocha, and chalky/flinty stone. Moderate, very finely grained mouth-coating tannins. Excellent juicy acidity adds lift. Long dry finish accented by damp earth. Finess, power, balance...superb wine.
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Always a consistent performer year on year - this is the ultra-reliable £10 wine with good balance, reasonable complexity and good for up-front drinking. Nose has a touch of dry herbs and cherries about it - less rich than previous vintages, but still quite a full wine. The fruit has a nice sweet touch to it, some morello cherries with a slight brawny finish. Good tannins and structure make for a very good wine - treads a nice line between simple, pleasurable quaffing wine but also with a bit of complexity.
Edit: left in the bottle for 1.5 days - re-opened and the wine was a lot fuller, more plummy and "furry". Certainly didn't improve, and in fact deteriorated.
Not sure if this wine is much of a keeper - probably best within 1-2 years
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Very impressed with this wine, what a great QPR at under $20/bottle, highly recommend this, definitely need to get a case of this and get this on the regular daily drinker rotation. Opened and breathing for 2-3 hours prior to consumption, not sure this needs a formal decant, paired beautifully with stuffed chicken sausages and spicy gourmet lamb burgers. Dark, soft, complex, polished and mature, well balanced and beautiful long lingering aftertaste. Floral and aromatic nose of allspice, cola and blueberries, primary flavors of earth, smoke and grilled meat, hint of black pepper, oak and dark stone fruit. Really looking forward to the remaining bottle.
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Very nice Malbec without that persistent funky flavor of some. Dark fruit nose, a bit of coffee too. Soft spiciness and a nice full fruit flavor throughout the mouth. Hung around for a while too.
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Very deep purple color with a thick fruity taste. Beautiful in the glass. Hints of cherry, chocolate and dark berries only slightly subdued by some tannins. Nice drink though I was bit overwhelmed by the fruits. Recommended.
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Nose was sweet berry, taste was strawberry jam with an earth undertone. Wine really started to open up during the hour or so we had it open (and it tasted great in the first place) - think it could benefit from a few more years of cellaring.
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I do not know what the hype about this particular wine is all about. Not much of a nose. Does have a nice purple/red color. On the palate it is very thin, and a bit sugary. Unbalanced with no structure. Has all the attributes of a poor right bank Bordeaux. Possibly a bad bottle?
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Very aromatic and fruity nose with blueberry and sour cherry gummies. Also a bit of campfire. Taste: oaky and dry with lots of acid and tannin in the back palate. Rich flavours with lingering tea leaf finish. Medium body with lots of sour cherry, raspberry and again, sour candy gummies (the sour cherry drop is very noticeable on the back palate). The fruit came through better after 12 hours to breath but still a rich red. Lots of depth which goes well with food. A hint of olive oil too.
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Not crazy about the nose at first (consistent in two bottles from different lots) - a little artificial...blows off after a lonngggg decant, and a rich, focused palate makes up for it. Great structure suggests it'll be better with another year of cellaring.
Drink now or hold. 88 -JRS
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Colour: Dark purple. Nose: Very fruity, dark fruits, plum, raspberry jam, hint of smokey cedarwood. Taste: dry, light to medium body. Nice tannin on the finish. Very fruity: cassis, raspberry jam, plum, pomegranate, blueberry pie. Smokey cedar in the finish. Could be left to breathe a little more. A warm, dry, fruity wine. Very pleasant on its own, but would go well with food. Very smooth and great long finish.
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Nice wine for the money. i liked the fact that it was not over the top. had a wonderful floatiness to it which I find in high altitude wines. Got chocolate on the palette, but it was not unctuous. was well matched with acidity. length was medium and body was light. great wine to open now and enjoy with friends.
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Damson plums, blackcurrants and peppery spice on the nose, following through into the dark fruit and peppery flavors; dark, dark midpalate, with mocha, lovely tannins, and a lingering finish. Delicious.
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Tasted January 23, 2010 at a retail tasting. Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of smoke, currants and plums. Flavors of black berries, black cherries and a hint of blueberry on the medium finish. medium acidity, somewhat firm tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink now with some air or continue to hold over the short to medium term.
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South America (Farpointe Cellar): The nose had pencil lead and fish sauce, raspberry and mocha, and a good plum finish. The palate was soft and rich, with plum, mocha, graphite, and a soy sauce finish.
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Popped and poured, inky dark as expected, dark fruits, pepper and a touch of eartrh in the nose. Black currants, chocolate and touch of pepper on the palate. Initially a little harsh on the finish, which smooth out a touch after 30min of being opened. Simple and flavorable.
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Overall, very similar to the 2006, but more primary. In the glass, dark red fading rapidly to black. On the nose, a touch of dusty Malbec funk. On the palate, dark fruit with moderate tannins; this surely needs a couple more years, but I couldn't resist opening one now.
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A delicious mouthful of berries. Wine is still young but drinkable now and with good structure and a very nice finish. Becomes more polished as it opens up. Made with grapes cultivated at high altitude.
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Very good bottle. Full bodied, deep plummy tannic taste, almost a bit chewy. Not as smooth as some might like but has good balance with just the right amount of acid for me.
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Nice Malbec. Muted but pleasant nose. Strong tannins when first opened, but softened in the glass after 20 minutes. 2nd glass was much more pleasant, so give it some air. Soft mouthfeel, cherries, plums. We enjoyed it, and will buy again. Picked up for $19. Good QPR.
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Juicy blackberries, blueberries, cassis, bing cherries. Light Asian spices, white pepper. Good flavor, light body. Similar to the other highly rated malbecs I've tried--very tasty but lacks power.
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Holy Hanna, what a nose this monster has. I tasted it at a retail tasting and was amazed at how vinrant the nose was. On the palate there was dark berries and a hint of spice. Full bodied with mouth coating tannins. This is a real bargain! I bought three to see if my opinion at home matches the tasting. If it does, this could become a new daily drinker for me.
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Lovely, always a good bet for a solid Argy Malbec, not quite reaching the 'WS 91' in my opinion, but excellent nonetheless - Black, well concentrated with a nose of plum, cherry, spice, chocolate and vanilla, well made, balanced, smooth on the palate with very good length, a 'buy by the case' wine for sure! (90 Points).
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A nice wine with plum and cherry. A more elegant style than the 2008 Achaval-Ferrer Malbec. This is more elegant and restrained but I would not call this elegant if drinking by itself. I nice wine and a nice QPR.
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Not big aroma, cherry, smoke, a little dusty. Decent mid palate, cherry, some earthy minerality, but not much. Light to medium body. Could use more acidity on the finish and more tannin, very soft finish. Drink now (end 2009).
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Had this at a restaurant tonight. We did a taste off between France and Argentina. France came out on top. This wine was lighter, fruitier and had a stronger vanilla oak component. Well made but the comparison between 2 90 pointers left me in the French camp by quite a bit. On it's own I'd buy it again though. It is a well made wine at a very good price.
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had this with lamb shank after 2 hr decant & following a bottle of '05 coho as a starter. really was impressive for the $20 cost. not a huge finish but respectable. held together nicely....& packed more of a punch than i expected....oak & fruit.
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Weak nose, not much there, but palate is tart, sugary dark cherry and consistency is too thin to hide that with balance. Second time disappointed with this (1st was 2006). With all the names from this label that this winery brings up, I'm thinking this is the entry level bottle.
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We drank this as part of the Appetizer affair before Thanksgiving Dinner. I remember a lot of talking, a lot of eating, and 3 bottles disappearing. We agree; we didn't hate it.
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Argentina $20 to $40 (Ray's Home): Purple in color with some ruby at the rim. This wine was aromatically challenged. Some dust and hints of plum. On the palate, it is much better with sweet black cherries. Slightly thin, but a lively acidity. Long finish. This improved as the night wore on. This was the group's WOTN.
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Very Nice color. Deep rich purple velvet. Nose of oak, but not excessive. There is some good dark berry and cherry fruit, which is a fair balance. You can taste the obvious quality here. Just a well made Malbec, and I think a great consistent table RED for Grilled fair, but flexible enough to pair with Goat Cheese and sausage lasagna.
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Lots of oak on the nose. With pretty, bright fruit. Really nicely balanced. Lots of creamy oak and dark fruit. Good tannins, enough acid to keep it lively. I like this quite a bit. Needs an hour of air or so to really moderate the significant tannins
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Everything from wine experts all the way up to novices suggests balance and smoothness. Very nice modest wine with fruit and character. "Nimble" and "supple"in other comments -- I concur.
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Cherry on both nose & palate along with a distinctive earthiness; great acidity - quite old world in style. Not much of a finish, but for $20, this is a nice malbec.
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Deep purple; beautiful full nose of cherry and a touch of smoke; palate brought some vanilla to the cherries; full body balanced with nice acidity; finish a bit short.
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Rich purple color. Nose mostly black cherry with a smidge of vanilla. Full bodied and smooth. Everything I read about this wine from amateur on up mentioned the nice balance, and that was my first impression as well. Smooth yet powerful with dark fruit, a little oak, and minimal spice. Ate with filet mignon. I loved it for the 19.99 I paid for it. Love to try it in a couple years.
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Had a glass of this at a bar with olives and nuts (not ideal I know). Bottle was just oppened and needed to wait a bit. Full body, smooth and silky with beautifull cherry taste. Slight heat at the end. If only I had a steak
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I agree with the "nice steakhouse wine" descriptor, but this doesn't impress me much. Yes it's well-made and full of fruit, but there's just not a lot of class or character there for me. It's a quaffer and fairly priced, but not the obvious QPR I was hoping for.
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8/14/2022 - WineGuyX Likes this wine: 91 Points
Cork broke in two, but the wine is delicious! This is round and enveloping with bright red and black fruits and still fresh! Zingy acidity and sweet fruit make it a perfect pair with Chori-pan! 91
Tatiana says 94
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5/7/2022 - Vegas Bob Likes this wine: 89 Points
solid Malbec. smooth. held up well after 14 years.
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2/21/2022 - bacchus wrote: 89 Points
shared with pat at selkirk manor. no formal notes. the wine is starting to show signs of age. drink up.
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3/13/2021 - bacchus wrote: 89 Points
shared with pat at selkirk manor. celebrating the end of the work week and surviving another week of pandemic. i continue to prune the cellar of bottles with past due drink by dates. no formal notes. the wine was still sound but fully mature and perhaps a bit on a downward slope compared with my last tasting note of 10/7/2015. we have had other catena wines that showed more complexity. i am wondering whether 2007 was an off vintage in argentina.
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11/14/2020 - mclanew Likes this wine: 91 Points
This was a really pleasant surprise. Lovely nose of black currant, mocha and violets. The palate is nicely balanced with the youthful exuberance gone. Delicious flavors of black fruits, chocholate, tobacco come through in a very sleek, modern albeit simple style. I would drink this soon though because I don’t think it will get better from here.
Stored in the fridge for three days and then pulled this out again. It’s even better with full in the mouth delicious flavor but maintaining the balance described above. I guess given it stored well for a few days this wine probably can last several more years although I am not sure it will develop further complexity
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10/18/2020 - edckim wrote: 89 Points
Fresh, clean youthful taste, balanced and smooth, blackberry and raspberry with vanilla undertones, lighter finish
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4/9/2020 - BcDuncan Likes this wine: 89 Points
Still excellent, good structure, good fruit and lovely finish
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1/1/2020 - Djwpar3 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark purple hue, raspberries and vanilla on front. good oak, yet well balanced. A reliable producer, this 2007 was past its prime, but still excellent.
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3/28/2019 - mclanew wrote: 92 Points
Modest nose of blackberry and earth. Medium dark garnet the wine is in early maturity with flavors of black fruit, lavender, cedar, smoked meats and spices. Full bodied but with now partially resolved tannins this is delicious if a bit straightforward in a modern kind of style.
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1/24/2019 - GQG wrote: 89 Points
Still drinking well; has structure, fruit, and acidity left, and it's fully integrated.
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9/4/2017 - VinnieVeritas wrote: 89 Points
Still young in the glass, presenting dense berry fruit with hints of mocha and cocoa. Firm to the palate, structured and mouth-filling.
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4/21/2017 - jshufelt wrote: 87 Points
Consistent with previous tasting notes.
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11/21/2016 - treesritter wrote: 94 Points
What an amazing surprise this wine was. It made my Monday.
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6/18/2016 - jshufelt wrote: 89 Points
Consistent with previous bottle.
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6/4/2016 - jshufelt wrote: 87 Points
This is fully resolved, and a perfectly serviceable wine to accompany food, but not much more than that. Drink up if you have any bottles left.
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2/20/2016 - FredF Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice balance between tannins and acid. Wonderful food wine. Earth, cedar, mushroom, cranberry and dried fruit. hint of eucalyptus or mint? Very enjoyable, big wine. Congratulations of you still have a bottle in your cellar!
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2/10/2016 - ccotton8 Likes this wine: 91 Points
This wine is in it prime, wonderful mouth feel with a great balance of acid and tannins. The nose wasn't very perfumed but there was some secondary flavors of dried forest floor, with hints of cranberry. On the palatte it was rounded and nice primary and secondary flavors. Nice cellar surprise, drink up you'll enjoy it.
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10/17/2015 - bacchus wrote: 89 Points
shared with pat at selkirk manor to celebrate the end of the work week. an excellent effort from catena. nice balance between fruit, acid and tannin. seems near full maturity. dark color. coats the mouth. a very enjoyable malbec and a very respectable qpr.
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6/6/2015 - Botte515 Likes this wine: 91 Points
The best vintage of this Malbec Catena's offered in the last 10 years. We'll rounded for under $20.
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2/1/2015 - cadams wrote: 88 Points
Still drinking really well but has lost that spicy malbec fruit.
Rich cherry, a little moss, mushroom, forest floor, tobacco, muted nose
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1/26/2015 - RMapou Likes this wine: 85 Points
Now past its prime. Still good, and opened up of a half hour, but less complex than expected. Should have drunk it sooner.
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12/8/2014 - Kék Frankos wrote: 88 Points
Sehr reifes Bukett, Rosinen, Wacholder, Senfkorn, erste Alterungsnoten. Am Gaumen gehaltvoll, präsente Säure, viel herber Gerbstoff. Sollte schon getrunken werden.
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4/19/2014 - DTWOB Likes this wine: 91 Points
Alas, my last bottle of this vintage. Still drinking quite nicely!
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12/23/2013 - djreme wrote: 88 Points
Very fruit forward, jammy with a lot of spice when first opened. Settled down nicely in the bottle, and ended up being quite nice. No tannins to speak of. Good choice if you are looking for a bold, almost peppery experience
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12/14/2013 - DTWOB Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinking very nicely. Paired well with cheese/spinach ravioli and red meat sauce.
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12/13/2013 - lewisrise wrote: 90 Points
Nose of dark cherries and wet pine. Sour cherries with a hint of milk chocolate on the finish
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11/29/2013 - DTWOB Likes this wine: 91 Points
Extremely smooth with nice balance, integration and density.
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11/24/2013 - DTWOB Likes this wine: 91 Points
Paired nicely with Beef Chuck Pot Roast - even used a little of the wine to deglaze the roasting pan. This has aged quite well, all components are well integrated and balanced. The delivery is smooth, seamless all the way to a pleasant, soft finish. This wine does not deliver POWER, but instead, SLEEK POLISHED FINESSE.
Drink now
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11/10/2013 - mkupfers wrote:
Wonderful. Fruit (berry) and some tannins. Great balance.
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9/29/2013 - sophiesmom wrote: 90 Points
Great taste per dollar. Add to your budget wine list.
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9/4/2013 - kmharri wrote: 90 Points
- Garnet color with fast forming legs. It's somewhat balanced with a medium/full body. Linear texture with a medium finish.
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8/28/2013 - owr Likes this wine: 88 Points
we served dinner, and with it a bottle of Catena 2007 Malbec ... aged to perfection, if I do say so myself: cassis and raspberry with good acidity to cut through the rich fruit, there was also some cranberry and sour cherry that appeared near the finish along with a touch of white pepper. This wine delivered the goods and was a lovely match to the chicken.
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8/26/2013 - Tomportwine wrote: 88 Points
A full-bodied wine with strong tannins, even after i tried to age it a bit into more balance. Also not much acidity nor fruit to balance it, it needed a hearty steak to complement it instead of the burgers we had. too tannic for a sipping wine though.
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7/7/2013 - JonasOlsson Likes this wine: 90 Points
Excellent mature notes with a lot of blueberries and fruit still there.
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5/25/2013 - kmharri wrote: 92 Points
- Garnet color with fast forming legs. It's balanced and has flavours of black currant with a medium/full body. Smooth texture with a long finish - Long finish. Has aged well.
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5/12/2013 - ksmith wrote: 89 Points
Still very fruit forward. No tannic structure to speak of, but the fruit continues to hold its own. Blackberries with a little lingering sweetness on the palate. Very "new world" in style to me. I don't think this has evolved much over the last several years, so enjoy now for what it is.
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5/1/2013 - woody0198 wrote: 91 Points
Great QPR. Subtle earthiness, round mouth feel, balanced very well.
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3/24/2013 - bfayan wrote: 90 Points
Taninis well resolved, velvet in the palate, site dark fruits in the nose. Should drink now.
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12/17/2012 - ksmith wrote: 89 Points
Blackberry, bordering on jammy. Overall in balance, so a pretty good wine if you are a fan of new world, fruit forward wines.
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11/22/2012 - Montecristo13 wrote: 88 Points
T-Giving con Padres Hector, Raul y Mnsnr Hombach
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8/31/2012 - DTWOB Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice overall - a little sourness on the finish.
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7/30/2012 - jcarlosds wrote:
Excellent quality for its price. Dark fruits, Chocolate, tannins.
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7/15/2012 - Lublu Likes this wine: 90 Points
Cor vermelho purpura brilhante. Nariz em camadas de chocolate e cafe, especiarias (pimenta) e frutas negras maduras. Em boca muito equilibrio entre acidez e taninos. Bom corpo com destaque para frutas negras maduras a as especiarias. Final macio e prolongado (retrogosto).
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7/12/2012 - SpoochMan Likes this wine: 89 Points
This bottle was kickin' right from the pop n pour. Lively, plush red and black fruits, with a bit of fig and hoisin sauce. Somewhat one dimensional but that dimension is vibrant and delicious. The texture was velvety smooth, the tannins pretty resolved. Really nice wine for under 20 bones. I find that these regular Catena bottlings really benefit from about 2-3 years in the cellar. They smooth out nicely without too much degradation of the fruit, and for me this 07 is in the perfect spot now. Should be fine for another year or two maybe, but I would not wait to drink this and will consume my remaining bottle soon. Hope the 09 is as good as this.
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6/29/2012 - phokel wrote: 90 Points
95 RP rating so I thought I'd have a taste.
It's a good wine, grows on u.
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5/26/2012 - Vinobc wrote: 90 Points
A nice wine, good QPR.
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5/13/2012 - RayOB wrote: 86 Points
Drank at BA
Red fruits on the nose. Slightly rough mouth feel.
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5/4/2012 - euroyup wrote: 85 Points
Popped and poured. Taste: tasty fruit, not anymore as lively as in November 2011, but more integrated with the tannins, I guess. Nice secondary/tertiary notes, soft, but little depth and complexity. Still there was some harshness now and then; maybe still some tannins? Seemed at the fourth day a bit more balanced. 85-86.
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4/25/2012 - geppetto wrote: 90 Points
Nice bottle. Quite different from a couple of years ago, but still really good. The nose was not as powerful as before, but the flavours were just exploding. Nice fruit...
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4/19/2012 - chifred wrote: 89 Points
Easy drinker. Nice balance with some fruit but not a fruit bomb like some cheaper Malbec's. Has some interest with Mocha but not complex. Smooth. Hard to complain or get too excited about this one. Good wine if you don't want to think too much!
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4/17/2012 - df1962 wrote: 89 Points
PnVnD let air for 2hrs. Dark purple almost saturated with a crimson rim. Smoky plummy nose with a touch of earth and bramble. Medium weight with plush tannin. Bracing black fruit with a touch of earth and espresso and blackberry ganache. Lingering black fruit finish with refreshing acidity. Don't think it will get much better. Tasty and fresh.
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4/10/2012 - Chateau du Fey 1994 wrote: 87 Points
Floral nose with oak and spice. Nice acidity not overly fruity. Good value but nothing special. A little too simple. Can't see how WS gives it 91.
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3/16/2012 - Rhenry wrote:
Sous bois au Nez, encore du tannin, cerise mures. Prets a boire
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3/8/2012 - Hawk94 wrote: 89 Points
a good Malbec, kind of over-extracted, nothing more.
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3/6/2012 - willthethrill wrote: 83 Points
Yuk
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2/27/2012 - Tmckenzi wrote: 86 Points
Cherry nose. Not a fruit forward wine. Oaky, clove, with some saskatoon berry. Great smooth mouthfeel. Would be nice with BBQ or pizza.
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2/22/2012 - SpoochMan Likes this wine: 88 Points
Nice. Not quite as smooth as I remember the last bottle, this one seemed a tad younger. But good fruit and nice body, with some fig paste and hoisin notes that add a bit of intrigue. Just a very solid wine and a good value.
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2/8/2012 - DRS-Inc wrote: 89 Points
Consistent TN from last year, while picking up notes of coffee & truffle this time around. This has evolved well, & still a very nice bottle.
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12/24/2011 - RogerG wrote:
(was 28.99) Dark color, plummy but a bit more acidic than fruity; extra fruit in finish.
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12/16/2011 - TannicBeast wrote: 90 Points
Purple/ruby in color, with medium plus intensity and numerous dark legs. The nose is clean of medium plus intensity with enticing aromas of black fruit, vanilla and sweet spice. The nose is developing. The palate is dry, and consistent with the nose. Black cherries, black plums, sweet spice, bacon and some leather. The acidity, tannins, body and flavor intensity are all medium plus. The alcohol is medium, at 13.5%. The finish is medium in length. This is a very nicely integrated wine, where the initial burst of sweet black fruit is balanced by the acidity and then carried into the finish by a backbone of tannins. This is a sleek and polished wine, with subtle but firm oak treatment, which is very drinkeable now. It has the potential for ageing another couple of years, but it is questionable whether it would improve since it is already in such a good balanced state now. This is a very good wine, which shines with earthy, rustic foods. It has a great QPR. WS 91 and WE 90.
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12/8/2011 - Cellar Hand Likes this wine: 88 Points
Clear, purple to amber rim, legs quick to form and noticeably staining, dark ruby core. Dark fruit, black raspberry and a hint of leather. Palate is clean, fresh dark fruit, medium acidity and medium tannin. Very nicely integrated, Wonderful and ready now.
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12/3/2011 - Montecristo13 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Fer's B-day. Very good deal
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11/14/2011 - Flavito wrote: 88 Points
Good value for money, as usual.
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11/13/2011 - euroyup wrote: 85 Points
Popped and poured. Taste: lively fruit, with red cherries and blackberries. Quite sweet, with the taste of fruit liquor, and a hint of laurel. No depth, almost no complexity. With 13,5% rather much alcohol, but not burning. No harsh tannins anymore. Just a straight on wine. 85.
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11/13/2011 - DTWOB Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very approachable and ready to drink now. Paired well with a roasted chicken, baked potato and asparagus. Dark garnet color, mild nose, cherries and raspberries with mild tannins, low acidity and mild heat and decent length of finish.
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10/10/2011 - OmiyaDrinker Likes this wine: 89 Points
As remembered, takes some time to open up. Fresh, blue cheese nose. Dark fruit with cigar box and well balanced tannin, acid.
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9/24/2011 - jshufelt wrote: 89 Points
Consistent with previous tasting note. Still a fair amount of tannins here.
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9/18/2011 - admid wrote: 84 Points
App: Dark purple red
Aroma: Dark berries and vanilla on the nose
Full-bodied and available tannins. Dark berries, chocolate, vanilla and mocca on the palate.
Good length
Good wine for BBQ. I would be careful to make a match with more subtile types of food.
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9/13/2011 - gilberto57 wrote: 92 Points
I am drinking 2007 Catena Zapata, Bodega Malbec with Peg, Terry and my lovely wife, Judy. The wine shows a dark violet color with black tones. I detect scents of dark fruits and soft violets with traces of spice, vanilla and mocha. On the palette, I detect rich flavors of black cherry, black plums with sweet spices and tobacco. There is a balance between the tannins and acid. With that, it has a soft finish with exceptional length. (Very Good)
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9/13/2011 - gilberto57 wrote: 92 Points
The wine shows a dark violet color with black tones. I detect scents of dark fruits and soft violets with traces of spice, vanilla and mocha. On the palette, I detect rich flavors of black cherry, black plums with sweet spices and tobacco. There is a balance between the tannins and acid. With that, it has a soft finish with exceptional length. (Very Good)
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9/3/2011 - pupaes wrote: 88 Points
dark cherry nose,cola,plum, and charcoal, with a tannic finish. a little more age might help. the tannins calmed down the second day.
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8/29/2011 - SpoochMan Likes this wine: 90 Points
PnP. Drinking really beautifully now. The fruit is a touch more subdued than I remembered from the last bottle several months ago, but this wine is very smooth now. Just goes down like velvet. Typical malbec character with a bit of nice earthiness. It's not a huge wine anymore, but it has lovely balance and integration for a wine at this price point.
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8/13/2011 - jshufelt wrote: 90 Points
Consistent with previous tasting note.
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7/17/2011 - DRS-Inc wrote: 89 Points
Had w/dinner over 2 nights, best on 1st day after some time to breathe. 1st glass was PnP, & showed to be a tad tight & sharp. Then this opened up nicely & velvetly after sitting for 3 hrs. Dark purple hue. Soft earthy aromas & flavors w/notes of black cherry, plum, cedar cigar box, leather, bacon fat & spice. Medium-full bodied w/soft sweet tannins, good acidity & moderately lingering finish. Ready to drink now. Overall nice (89+).
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7/9/2011 - Quarked wrote: 91 Points
Matt Scott nailed it below, except we also caught fresh-baked bread at the beginning, which we noticed since we PnP'ed. A lovely malbec!
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6/24/2011 - yankee22 wrote: 86 Points
Smoky nose, and red fruit. Very light, nice fruit, violet, fair tannins. Finish little strong.
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6/23/2011 - MilesOfDenver wrote: 87 Points
Strong flavored and deep purple in color this Malbec begs for a rich, dish with butter or animal fats. I can't eat this kind of food often.
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6/14/2011 - Seeu1 wrote: 89 Points
Opened with Steak Tips, and impressed with inky purple color. When first opened it was a little bit acidic and tight, but after 15-20 min in decanter it opened up very nicely. Smooth nice daily drinker
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6/3/2011 - merryberry wrote: 89 Points
Inky dark with candy apple red highlights. Deeply perfumed nose of violets, blueberry, and leather, with a slight undercurrent of meatiness. Very Syrah-like, yet quite unique. Medium to full bodied, cranberries, plums, dark cherries, black pepper, herb-inflected tannins, smoke, some heat, and a medium to long finish. This is their entry level? Wow.
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6/2/2011 - ctbob wrote:
Plenty of dark fruit; v. good structure and in balance; no immediate rush
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5/31/2011 - chifred Likes this wine: 89 Points
Deep red with nice fruit balanced by oak and tannins. Good apertief wine. Went ok with pizza and salad
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5/22/2011 - Umay Ceviker wrote: 84 Points
Deep, inky purple. Savoury black fruit leads the way to salty and reductive notes. Flavours of boiled vegetables also on the palate along with mint and a sweet tang. Strong, integrated tannins despite a diluted mid palate and a bit of astringency do not help this one show itself better. Tasted this before and I guess there is a problem with this particular bottle.
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5/18/2011 - The Wine Write wrote: 82 Points
Popped & poured, drank over two nights. Funky nose with bacon nuances. Black cherry fruit with peppery finish. Nothing special.
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5/6/2011 - limule wrote: 90 Points
Tres bon
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4/13/2011 - Umay Ceviker wrote: 89 Points
And Dağlarının batı eteklerindeki bağları, Pasifik Okyanusu’ndan esen rüzgarlar sayesinde ideale yakın koşullara sahip Şili’nin aksine Arjantin, aynı sıradağların doğu yamaçlarında daha zorlu koşullarla mücadele ediyor. Karasal iklimin hakim olduğu bağlar yazları aşırı sıcaklardan etkilenmemek için çoğunlukla deniz seviyesinden 500 ila 2000 m irtifada kurulmuş. Ülke bağlarının çoğunluğunun bulunduğu Mendoza bölgesi aynı zamanda tadılan şarabın yapımcısı, ülkenin en saygıdeğer üreticisi Catena Zapata’ya da ev sahipliği yapıyor.
Malbec üzümü, güney batı Fransa’nın Cahors şarap bölgesi kökenli ama Arjantin’de o kadar benimsenmiş ki şu anda hem ülkenin sembol üzümü konumunda hem de başta ABD pazarı olmak üzere şarap ihracatının lokomotifi. Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec, üreticinin en temel Malbec şarabı olmasına rağmen dikkat çekici bir dengeye sahip. Damakta yumuşak ve yuvarlak yapısı, hem burun, hem de damaktaki canlı meyveliliği (siyah orman meyveleri), zarif ama güçlü tanenleri ile etkileyici.
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4/13/2011 - Hawk94 wrote: 87 Points
Initial nose is pleasant, easy to drink, plenty of acidity, not much rough edge, but not much complexity either, some dark fruits, lost freshness compared to two years ago, I don't see aging will benefit this wine, drink now.
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3/21/2011 - theoakkermans wrote: 88 Points
Als eerder
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3/15/2011 - TChandler wrote: 88 Points
Yummy. Licorice, cassis, plum and cherries all over the place, a hint of bacon on the nose, and a spiciness that isn't overpowering. A great drink at a good price.
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3/11/2011 - pjaines wrote:
Someone should have a word with these guys about marketing. Type in Catena Zapata Malbec into cellartracker and look at the options that come up. 3004 wines from the same producer with virtually the same name, which is not a receipe for repeat purchase. This stuff was apparently the "really good stuff, amigo, not like that OTHER catena zapata malbec". Caramel nose, pungent. On the palate like licking the velvet glove of a love slave. But then? Hmmm. Not much other than caramel and glove licking and confusion about which wine you purchased. I paid £55, but I'm not sure I got the top wine. And how would I know? All those names and bottles all look the same.
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3/4/2011 - ggb wrote: 89 Points
Bu côte à côte avec son grand frère le Alta. Dans le même registre, mais plus accesible avec un peu tout de moins. Atuellement très intéressant à boire, et un ecellent rapport qualité-pris. Gagnera quand même à être attendu et se bonifiera avec le temps.
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2/27/2011 - YoRi wrote: 89 Points
Bu en paralèlle avec un Château Lagrazette 2004 (Cahors).
Apparence: Rouge clair, dentelle fine
Au nez: le fruit rouge (framboise) domine, légère touche d'anis et subtile arome de vanille.
En bouche: Bon équilibre des tanins et de l'acidité. Fruit conforme au bouquet, la framboise rouge, fraiche et légèrement acidulé. Peu boisé.
persistance moyenne.
En comparaison du Chateau Lagrezette,, nettement style nouveau monde, fruit en avant plan.
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2/5/2011 - asultan wrote: 89 Points
Had this with Indian food which complemented very well with all of the spices, drank really well without the need to decant, soft and smooth on the palate and a nice but slightly short finish.
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2/4/2011 - theoakkermans wrote: 88 Points
Mooi zwart fruit, vanille, een beetje stal en rubber in de neus.
In de smaak het zwarte fruit, mooie ronde taninnes, sappige zuren en een mediumlange afdronk.
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1/29/2011 - Martin Redmond Likes this wine: 90 Points
Consistent with prior notes...Deep garnet color. Black fruit, wet earth, and a touch of oak, mocha, and faint floral notes on the nose, followed by dark fruit, mocha and on the palate. Round well integrated fruit, acids, and tannins uncommon at this price point. Long smooth finish.
Really enjoyed!
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1/29/2011 - Matt Scott wrote: 91 Points
Consumed in Kona
Vinturi. Garnet with a sanguine rim. Raspberry cobbler, kirsh, graphite, soy-sauce and plum-sauce. Rich and chewy, while retaing a clean finish. There's a little tar on the palate, with a lot of subtle fruit. A lovely Malbec that is classy, with prudent concentration. Drink now - 2015.
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1/18/2011 - pavel_p wrote: 88 Points
Pop and pour without decant. Velvety smooth palate, nicely integrated tannins, later some spice appears but not much more. Rather short finish. If this was a bdx I would say this might develop some more interesting flavour but have my doubts in this case. Still not bad
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1/17/2011 - alexaraujo Likes this wine: 85 Points
Catena Zapata Malbec 2007: Good fruit and some oak presence in a cheap wine for everyday drinking. A good companion to barbecue and burguer. I found decanting did not help it. Also available in half-bottle.
Catena Zapata Malbec 2008: little better than 2007, is more palatable and easy to drink. Some decanting will help improving it.
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1/14/2011 - Evil Homer wrote: flawed
Really hard to judge. Pretty sure this was flawed but hard to say. Rubbery niose but finished like a Bordeaux...kind of leathery and pencil shavings....did not taste like Malbec at all. Will buy another bottle to compare.
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1/12/2011 - WG198 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Bright with deep purplish red color. Fruity aroma with a little spice. Developed a clean fairly complex bouquet. Medium bodied with lots of berry fruit, some cedar and hints of vanilla. Overall a very good wine, especially with the steak and baked potato.
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12/29/2010 - jshufelt wrote: 90 Points
Consistent with previous tasting note.
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12/27/2010 - athackney wrote:
w/Steve & Irene
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12/23/2010 - WannabeRenaissanceMan wrote: 89 Points
No formal notes - not as good as I remembered.
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12/11/2010 - Gunman Likes this wine: 90 Points
I've always liked the Catena Malbec. I think it outperforms the $16 you pay at Costco. Good black fruit, earth, spice, maybe a little leather. Very full and round. The thing that caught me by surprise this time was the finish. It finishes with a chalky tannin like a Bordeaux. Not sure I'd noticed that before, or it may be specific to the '07.
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12/2/2010 - Wine Sparty wrote: 88 Points
Drank with filet mignon. Black licorice in the aroma, as well as some greenness. The green comes through in the taste with some pine flavor, along with a bit of coffee. I was honestly a bit underwhelmed by this, perhaps because of the inclusion in WS Top 100 in 2009. Still a nice wine, though. For the price, an OK QPR, 3 out of 5 stars.
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11/22/2010 - soyhead wrote: 88 Points
nose - roasty fruit
mouth -lush plum and sour cherry, pleasant very primary fruit, some time in bottle might serve it well, yet wondering if it has the potential to gain much complexity.
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11/13/2010 - gajalaa wrote: 87 Points
Decent enough for the price, mocha and rasberry on the nose, oak on the palate. Nice weight and firm tannins
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11/8/2010 - The Vinsider wrote: 87 Points
Smooth. Chocolate covered berries. Simple and enjoyable, but nothing memorable.
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11/1/2010 - Mr Cabernet wrote: 90 Points
Just a great deal.
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10/20/2010 - jshufelt wrote: 89 Points
Consistent with previous tasting notes.
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10/16/2010 - chd850 wrote:
Opened at noon and had a glass. It was not bad.
The rest of the bottle sat in the kitchen. Poured another class in the evening and it was very aromatic and sweet. Delightful surprise.
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10/3/2010 - marcellevi Likes this wine: 90 Points
Deep violet/black, rich nose of dark fruits and plums. Very concentrated, nicely oaked and integrated, with touches of mocha in addition to the blackberries and plum. Very nice for such a young wine.
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10/3/2010 - OmiyaDrinker wrote: 90 Points
Needed time to open up was really good on the second day
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10/1/2010 - Mig22 wrote: 89 Points
Consistent with last bottle. Maybe a bit softer after 7+ months. Coffee/cocoa came out a bit more this time.
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9/28/2010 - Bumbanian wrote: 90 Points
This is really drinking very well right now. Loads of red and blue fruits on the nose, as well as a nice dried brush note. Soft and creamy on the palate, but with a streak of acidity that livens up the mouthfeel. Nice plummy fruit on the front, transitioning smoothly across the top of the tongue to a moderately long, earthy and dark chocolate finish. Just a touch of drying tannins lending bitterness at the close.
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9/25/2010 - jrwhitney6 wrote: 87 Points
good.. soft on the palette, some alcohol on the finish.
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9/17/2010 - SpoochMan Likes this wine: 89 Points
Brought to lab meeting. Such a solid and reliable wine. Very open with nice red fruits (plum, raspberry), and a bit of hoisin sauce. Nice round feel in the mouth and good body. Not a lot of structure, so this is probably best drunk soon. I think JM at WS got it right when he said drink through 2011. Year after year, I find this to be the most reliable and appealing Malbec in the sub-$20 range ($18).
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9/15/2010 - jonysan Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice nose of berry & currant. Dark, inky color. Blackberry, plum and cedar flavors. Tannins were chewy, but not too big. Long finish. An enjoyable drinker for the price. Picked up a couple more bottles at Costco for winter drinking.
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9/14/2010 - jorge48 wrote: 88 Points
Run-of-the-mill Argy Malbec, with some berry on the nose, oak on the palate. Surprisingly light weight and subdued for a Malbec, with thin tannins suggesting this will not evolve much in hte cellar.
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9/9/2010 - spretzer wrote: 90 Points
solid qpr, good malbec
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9/6/2010 - YWG Wine Guy Likes this wine: 88 Points
I guess i agree with others...this is 23$ CAN - and i think delivers. Nice balanced, fruity and perhaps a little high'ish sugar content - and that makes this more "delicious"...dark fruit all over with light acid/tannins and easy drinking solo and with classic food pairings...nice.
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9/3/2010 - nogohawk wrote: 90 Points
Popped & poured - VG malbec
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8/30/2010 - Martin Redmond Likes this wine: 90 Points
Consistent with prior notes...Deep garnet color. Black fruit, wet earth and a touch of oak on the nose, followed by dark fruit on the palate. Round well integrated fruit, acids, and tannins uncommon at this price point. Long supple finish.
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8/28/2010 - wynnewood500 wrote:
Drank casually over 3 nights. Pretty full bodied with the fruit outweighing the tannins. Kept in refrigerator and it was excellent on the third night.
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8/22/2010 - gordoyflaca wrote: 89 Points
rich chocolate cherry fruit with reasonable acidity.
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8/21/2010 - Bumbanian wrote:
No score or detailed notes. This was drinking really well though. Of note, I felt that this filled out and became fuller and lusher after about 1 hour open in the bottle. Very nice, happy to have 2 more in the cellar...
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8/19/2010 - GlenviewGSW wrote: 88 Points
Solid malbec but nothing spectacular. smooth finish with dark fruit.
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8/12/2010 - Tyler_at_WWD Likes this wine: 91 Points
The aroma is dark, rich, and earthy, with tons of chocolate and tobacco leaf tones. There are red and black fruits, combined with a somewhat buttery component at the core, and black currant and forest herbs on the spin.
Rich, smooth, and velvety, the palate is full of dark red plum and berry tones with exceptional cacao powder tannins. The mid palate opens up with some violets and moves into butter and cherries, finishing with the sensation of slightly burnt, blackberry scones. This is a decadent, jammy, and wonderfully complex wine, and a true pleasure to drink. A bargain at the price, this is absolutely a wine worth buying.
Source: What's Worth Drinking: Post #55: Malbec Week Part 3: The Best of ‘Bec ( http://whatsworthdrinking.com/2010/08/12/post-55-malbec-week-part-3-the-best-of-bec/ )
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8/7/2010 - nalavigne wrote:
WSET Level 3, AI vancouver, August 3, 2010
clear, deep ruby, maybe even purple core
Clean on the nose with medium intensity youthful notes of dark fruit - almost stewed, some floral notes, spicy, toastyness, cherries, vegetal, oaky
on the palate, off dry, medium tannins, high alcohol, medium acid, medium plus body, medium minus flavour intensity of red and black ripe fruits, green/herbaceousness, oak,
medium plus finish
overall a fairly good and simple wine. drink now.
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8/7/2010 - Nvuicich wrote: 91 Points
One of the best Malbecs I've had in a while. Deep fruits and a medium pallet made this a great drink. We enjoyed it steak and chimichurri sauce.
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8/4/2010 - richard.stevens wrote: 88 Points
Chocolate. Low tannin
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8/3/2010 - Weston3220 Likes this wine: 87 Points
WSET Level 3 Part 2 Week 5 USA & South America (Downtown Vancouver [AI School]): Clear, Opaque Core moving to a med ruby Rim, showing legs legs legs~
A: Clean, Med Intensity, I say Showing Signs of Developing Teacher says Youthful nose
Lil Meat, Lil Clean, Lil Savoury, Toast[Like it], Red Fruit, mineral, Stewed fruit
T: Dry, Med Acid, Med Tannin, Med+ Body to Full, Med+ Alc, Med+ Intensity, Long Finish
Dark fruit Juicy, Cherry Skin, Raisony
Conc: Mid Price, Good, Very fruit forward but A better showing of Malbec for me [not usually a fan]
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8/3/2010 - Martin Redmond wrote: 90 Points
Deep garnet color. Black fruit, wet earth and a touch of oak on the nose, followed by dark fruit on the palate. Round well integrated fruit, acids, and tannins uncommon at this price point. Long supple finish. Had with Grilled Marinated Adobo style chicken. Very nice match
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8/1/2010 - Strikermax wrote: 88 Points
Donkerpaarse wijn, dikke geur van kersen en bessen. In de smaak pruimen, kersenjam, cassis, cola en wat rook/tabak. Stevige tannines, behoorlijk drogend, ik denk dat deze wijn nog wel wat tijd in de kelder kan gebruiken.
Erg dik aangezet, maar zeker niet onaardig.
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7/26/2010 - vegaswino wrote: 88 Points
Really nice wine for the price. Easy drinking.
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7/20/2010 - nogohawk wrote: 88 Points
2nd bottle opened w/ guests - first malbec for most of them; VG as with my previous tastings, but they were not sure - definitely noted it was quite different from anything else they have previously drank - althought was not bad
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7/13/2010 - ArntErik Does not like this wine: 79 Points
Borderline plonk.
Avoid.
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7/6/2010 - gigabit wrote: 90 Points
At this price-point, this was one of the most balanced bottles of Malbec I've had. Dark purple color; dark fruit, stone, bramble, and mocha on the nose; medium- to full-bodied and nicely balanced on the palate; ample tannins on the medium finish. This bottle definitely says, Mendoza, from start to finish, and only 13.5% alcohol. Drink now or continue to hold over short-medium term. A great BBQ wine.
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7/2/2010 - ggb wrote: 89 Points
Au nez, c'est le fruit qui domine, avec cerises, mûres, fraises avec des quelques notes épicés et poivrés, sans être complexe, les arômes sans bien définis. En bouche, le vin est bien structuré avec des tannins bien présents mais de qualité, une légère sucrosité en bouche, mais sans nuir au côté digeste. La barrique a été utilisé avec parcimonie et subtilité. Longueur correct. Le vin s'est amélioré le lendemain.
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6/30/2010 - soyhead wrote: 89 Points
Limited notes, good fruit and good minerality. Not overdone.
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6/20/2010 - Omar Khayyam Likes this wine: 86 Points
bright, intense, spicy red fruit. a sliver of oak imparted characteristica (tannins, vanilla) that has been administered with more deftness than is common in this price class of malbec. a very good wine! perfect with grilled meats/smoky bbq flavors.
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6/15/2010 - nogohawk wrote: 90 Points
Popped & poured - VG malbec - same notes as before
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6/14/2010 - ewsds wrote: 88 Points
Nice enough Argentine Malbec, but surprised that both PR and WS would rate this wine a 91. Good fruit, but lacking somewhat in mid-palate and in depth. Also lacks the earthy qualities I taste in many of my favorite Malbecs. Pretty good, but nothing special.
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6/11/2010 - Cubatobaco wrote: 91 Points
Lots of fruit and a little musty on the nose. Opens up nicely after 2+ hours and is very gorgeous on the palate. Dark and red fruit, spice, and a little tobacco. Open now or put away for a few years. Great either way!
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6/11/2010 - jshufelt wrote: 90 Points
Consistent with previous tasting note.
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6/8/2010 - rstark wrote: 90 Points
Jerry Feitel Monthly Blind Tasting - Malbecs from Argentina (Del Mar, CA): Earth on the nose. Nice balance of medium weight fruit. Surprising structure for a wine this price. The group liked it much better than the '06 Catena Alta, which costs 3 times as much. #3 out of eight.
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6/5/2010 - kevin h wrote: 88 Points
Big fruit, soft focused, easy - a decent bbq wine.
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6/3/2010 - olecram1 wrote: 90 Points
Delicious Malbec. I had read the reviews and was expecting it to be a nice malbec. It was better than that. I really enjoyed it. I think it is a great value.
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6/2/2010 - awinejourney wrote: 89 Points
Two-hour decant. Bright purple, semi-translucent appearance. Quite floral and herbal on the nose. Light fruit with vanilla and some floral flavors. Nice light acid. Medium finish with soft tannins. Smooth drinking.
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6/1/2010 - mariolanza wrote: 85 Points
very fruity, good length, not for the long term
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5/31/2010 - InternationalWineReport wrote: 88 Points
Ripe but sleek, with dark blackberry and raspberry ganache flavors backed with hints of espresso and spices. The finish is long and supple. JD88
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5/21/2010 - AMeatWithVino wrote: 90 Points
Nice plum, raisiny nose and a great value malbec - love this wine
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5/20/2010 - Dillon wrote:
delicious, as always.
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5/18/2010 - markandsusanw Likes this wine: 87 Points
Popped and poured ... First tried this wine back in October and bought a case which we're 1/4 of the way through now. Great value and, to my mind, a very quintessential Malbec. Medium purple color, decent but not huge nose and sour cherry fruit with a smooth, medium-long finish. This is definitely an "everyday" caliber wine, but a good drinking experience none-the-less.
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5/16/2010 - Pinot Evil wrote: 91 Points
Well structured Malbec, went well with grilled tri tip
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5/16/2010 - Cubatobaco wrote: 89 Points
Opened for 3hrs prior to trying...Red fruit on the nose with loads of spice. First sip reveals cassis, raspberrries, red currant, and sour cherries. An almost cocoa flavor on the back end. Will continue to drink over the next few hours. An excellent wine for the price.
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5/14/2010 - nogohawk wrote: 90 Points
Popped & poured - drank over 2 nights - VG malbec
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5/13/2010 - sethmorgenlong wrote:
Tasted blind. Unmistakable dark ruby purple color; fairly muted nose with hints of plum, blackberry, olive and green leaf, spice and mocha. The palate is smooth enough if lacking in acid: simple balance of fruit, tannin, alcohol and length. Figs, plums, blackberry jam, clove, and spice. Argie Malbec all seem to taste the same at this price point: one dimensional.
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5/6/2010 - Migs wrote: 87 Points
Quality Malbec. Good value.
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5/5/2010 - sarlyb Likes this wine: 89 Points
I drank this one more slowly, allowing the wine to open more fully...and I really liked it! It's a little chunky, but finishes smoothly; worked very well with the lamb.
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5/2/2010 - nogohawk wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured - wanted to get quick comparison to 2006 drank two nights ago - very much lighter in body and color - more ruby vs. dark purple; still VG malbec, but not as good.
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5/2/2010 - wine n joy wrote: 90 Points
Deep purple, opaque. Aroma of black fruit. Plums, blueberries. Full body, good fruit, peppery, spicy. Good mid palatte and decent finish. Modest tannins. Good pairing with porterhouse steak.
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4/29/2010 - Maznoc wrote: 90 Points
Plums and assorted red fruit on the nose, with a touch of oak; smooth fruit continues on the palate, which is medium bodied without aggressive tanins. Very nice finish. Decanted an hour. Good QPR.
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4/28/2010 - Yagil wrote:
pleasant daily wine
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4/25/2010 - euroyup wrote: 85 Points
Decanted for one hour and a half. After decanting rather lively fruit in the nose. In the glass the same. Taste: rather powerful fruit with chocolate, mocca and vanilla. At the second day it is this powerful, quite pure fruit that impresses mostly. Medium body, medium long finish. Also still rather prominent tannin, so my guess is that this wine will be better in one or two years. Because of the powerful fruit: an interesting wine. For now: 85.
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4/25/2010 - nogohawk wrote: 86 Points
Good malbec - drank over 4 hours; was definitely more closed than previous tastings (popped & poured), but got better with time.
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4/22/2010 - nogohawk wrote: 90 Points
Drank over 3 nights - VG malbec - same notes as before; maybe opening a bottle of 2006 for comparison this weekend
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4/17/2010 - nogohawk wrote: 90 Points
Popped & poured - VG malbec - same notes as before
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4/14/2010 - nogohawk wrote: 90 Points
Popped & poured - dark purple color, with plum & berry - same notes as before; still readily available and pick up an adtl bottle or two a week - very good QPR for a malbec - nice finish
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4/11/2010 - lumpkins wrote: 88 Points
mocha & fig notes. medium bodied, nicely balanced
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4/7/2010 - hutch wrote: 88 Points
Walker Portfolio Tasting (Al Forno): This is made in a richer style. Fairly typical, and the current price point makes it less of a sure thing as it was in the past.
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4/6/2010 - elledeca wrote: 88 Points
nose of red fruit, strawberry, cherry, a bit of smoke. quite sweet on the palate, vanilla, spicy finale. not my thing, tasted a bit too industrial for the price.
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4/5/2010 - dinokourafas wrote: 90 Points
Pronouned Oak on nose and palate with A lingering finish
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4/5/2010 - dinokourafas wrote: 90 Points
Enjoyed this wine, pronounced oak on the nose and pallets with lingering finish
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4/3/2010 - mattyboy76 wrote: 89 Points
Always a great malbec for the $. Dark purple in the glass...can't see through to the other side. Nice nose of dark fruit and glass coating legs. Licorice and plum with a nice medium finsih. Great deal at $18.
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4/2/2010 - leonardo_de_araujo wrote: 91 Points
Catena malbec 2007
Ws 91
21.30 CAD (20 USD)
Dark berries juice
On the mouth a dark chocolate mocha structure
Nice
Waiting for the steak
91 pts for me
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3/31/2010 - nightfire wrote: 88 Points
Great wine for the price and prime example of malbec. Tannic and Dry with aromatic berries and oak flavor.
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3/25/2010 - spretzer wrote: 88 Points
enjoyable.
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3/24/2010 - Bumbanian wrote: 90 Points
Smell: dark cherry, black licorice, tar
Taste: Good length, well integrated flavor profile and moderate acidity. Light on front-palate fruit (bitter cherry), oak showing on the mid-palate and transitioning to chocolate finish.
Well put together, drinking at peak now, good qpr.
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3/23/2010 - pdemaio wrote: 89 Points
easy to drink malbec. Not particularly restrained or integrated, but a fine second bottle with friends.
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3/19/2010 - psykho Likes this wine: 90 Points
Beautiful dark red color.
Nose: Dark fruit, plums, cherries, some violet notes. The oak is noticeable but integrates well.
Taste: Very good acid, youthful wine. Nice lingering aftertaste. The tannins have some bite but are not harsh at all.
Very nice to drink now, but should improve with some cellaring.
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3/18/2010 - jcbrand wrote: 91 Points
I agree with Wine Spectator (90-91) on this one: sleek, polished, mocha, dark plum, focused and driven. Great QPR.
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3/16/2010 - nogohawk wrote: 91 Points
VG malbec - have drank several vintages from Zapata - never disappoints; good QPR - dark purple color, but more medium in body; plum and berry coming thru with a nice finish; definitely will be picking up a few more bottles
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3/7/2010 - kcsteve wrote: 88 Points
More oak than I prefer....but nice balance and finish.
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3/5/2010 - richard.stevens wrote: 89 Points
Good, solid wine. Plums and chocolate. I always think I should buy a case whenever I have a bottle - must get round to it!
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3/1/2010 - sarlyb Likes this wine: 87 Points
Avery approachable Argentinian malbec that opened nicely with decanting. Could be a strong 2nd house wine.
The wine looks Garnet colored.
The legs are Medium.
It smells like Blackberry, Blueberry, Fig, Plum, Pomegranate, Forest floor, Mineral, Oak, Vanilla, and Tobacco.
It tastes like Blackberry, Black currant (cassis), Mineral, Oak, and Black Pepper.
The body is Medium/Full.
The wine is textured Juicy.
The wine finishes Medium.
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2/22/2010 - jsums wrote: 91 Points
Dark garnet color. Nose: sweet ripe blackberry and blackcurrant with fresh leather, baking spices, molasses, tobacco, and a little green nettle. Palate: intensely ripe blackberry and blackcurrant with some licorice, mocha, and chalky/flinty stone. Moderate, very finely grained mouth-coating tannins. Excellent juicy acidity adds lift. Long dry finish accented by damp earth. Finess, power, balance...superb wine.
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2/20/2010 - aroby wrote: 89 Points
Fantastic wine for the price. Quite tannic, but still drinkable. Cherries, black fruit in abundance. I Went out and bought some more.
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2/20/2010 - mbermingham wrote: 89 Points
Great for the price. Good fruit and balanced tannins. Long finish .
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2/19/2010 - pjaines wrote:
Always a consistent performer year on year - this is the ultra-reliable £10 wine with good balance, reasonable complexity and good for up-front drinking. Nose has a touch of dry herbs and cherries about it - less rich than previous vintages, but still quite a full wine. The fruit has a nice sweet touch to it, some morello cherries with a slight brawny finish. Good tannins and structure make for a very good wine - treads a nice line between simple, pleasurable quaffing wine but also with a bit of complexity.
Edit: left in the bottle for 1.5 days - re-opened and the wine was a lot fuller, more plummy and "furry". Certainly didn't improve, and in fact deteriorated.
Not sure if this wine is much of a keeper - probably best within 1-2 years
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2/16/2010 - ColinR wrote: 89 Points
Crimson-black; sweet cherries, boysenberries, blackberries; plummy, cherry, herbal, elegant, medium-full body, tangy acidity, good structue, firm ripe tannins, nice finish.
Ripe cherry/plummy fruit with vegetal note, youthful acidity and tannins. Argentine malbec with old world style.
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2/13/2010 - ikkaariainen wrote: 89 Points
Very impressed with this wine, what a great QPR at under $20/bottle, highly recommend this, definitely need to get a case of this and get this on the regular daily drinker rotation. Opened and breathing for 2-3 hours prior to consumption, not sure this needs a formal decant, paired beautifully with stuffed chicken sausages and spicy gourmet lamb burgers. Dark, soft, complex, polished and mature, well balanced and beautiful long lingering aftertaste. Floral and aromatic nose of allspice, cola and blueberries, primary flavors of earth, smoke and grilled meat, hint of black pepper, oak and dark stone fruit. Really looking forward to the remaining bottle.
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2/10/2010 - Mig22 wrote: 89 Points
Very nice Malbec without that persistent funky flavor of some. Dark fruit nose, a bit of coffee too. Soft spiciness and a nice full fruit flavor throughout the mouth. Hung around for a while too.
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2/7/2010 - thomas667 wrote: 90 Points
Very deep purple color with a thick fruity taste. Beautiful in the glass. Hints of cherry, chocolate and dark berries only slightly subdued by some tannins. Nice drink though I was bit overwhelmed by the fruits. Recommended.
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2/7/2010 - lubetenson wrote: 65 Points
Bom vinho para o dia-a-dia.
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2/6/2010 - jeffal66 wrote: 88 Points
No notes. Drank solo in FLA w/ mon oncle. Smooth tannins for a young wine, very likeable, good value.
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2/5/2010 - WannabeRenaissanceMan wrote: 90 Points
Nose was sweet berry, taste was strawberry jam with an earth undertone. Wine really started to open up during the hour or so we had it open (and it tasted great in the first place) - think it could benefit from a few more years of cellaring.
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1/31/2010 - wbaccus wrote: 90 Points
Got even better as it decanted.
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1/31/2010 - mwhitmoe wrote: 79 Points
I do not know what the hype about this particular wine is all about. Not much of a nose. Does have a nice purple/red color. On the palate it is very thin, and a bit sugary. Unbalanced with no structure. Has all the attributes of a poor right bank Bordeaux. Possibly a bad bottle?
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1/30/2010 - Corgoson wrote: 89 Points
Very aromatic and fruity nose with blueberry and sour cherry gummies. Also a bit of campfire. Taste: oaky and dry with lots of acid and tannin in the back palate. Rich flavours with lingering tea leaf finish. Medium body with lots of sour cherry, raspberry and again, sour candy gummies (the sour cherry drop is very noticeable on the back palate). The fruit came through better after 12 hours to breath but still a rich red. Lots of depth which goes well with food. A hint of olive oil too.
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1/30/2010 - CdP in NYC wrote: 88 Points
Not crazy about the nose at first (consistent in two bottles from different lots) - a little artificial...blows off after a lonngggg decant, and a rich, focused palate makes up for it. Great structure suggests it'll be better with another year of cellaring.
Drink now or hold. 88 -JRS
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1/29/2010 - thirsty_cat wrote: 90 Points
Colour: Dark purple. Nose: Very fruity, dark fruits, plum, raspberry jam, hint of smokey cedarwood. Taste: dry, light to medium body. Nice tannin on the finish. Very fruity: cassis, raspberry jam, plum, pomegranate, blueberry pie. Smokey cedar in the finish. Could be left to breathe a little more. A warm, dry, fruity wine. Very pleasant on its own, but would go well with food. Very smooth and great long finish.
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1/29/2010 - Deputy wrote: 91 Points
Really, really enjoyed this. Full bodied, deep, and well-balanced.
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1/27/2010 - duggarm@outlook.com wrote: 90 Points
Nice wine for the money. i liked the fact that it was not over the top. had a wonderful floatiness to it which I find in high altitude wines. Got chocolate on the palette, but it was not unctuous. was well matched with acidity. length was medium and body was light. great wine to open now and enjoy with friends.
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1/24/2010 - winepups wrote:
hot with a burnt/smoky feel, not a lot to offer. Surprised to see this make WS top 100, hoping it mellows on the second night and maybe with time
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1/24/2010 - DirkAnnie wrote: 89 Points
slight fruit smell on the nose. decanted for an hour. Easy on the front, a little strong on the back
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1/24/2010 - wahoo70 wrote: 90 Points
Damson plums, blackcurrants and peppery spice on the nose, following through into the dark fruit and peppery flavors; dark, dark midpalate, with mocha, lovely tannins, and a lingering finish. Delicious.
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1/23/2010 - wineismylife wrote: 90 Points
WIML90-91?
Tasted January 23, 2010 at a retail tasting. Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of smoke, currants and plums. Flavors of black berries, black cherries and a hint of blueberry on the medium finish. medium acidity, somewhat firm tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink now with some air or continue to hold over the short to medium term.
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1/23/2010 - mmurry wrote: 91 Points
South America (Farpointe Cellar): The nose had pencil lead and fish sauce, raspberry and mocha, and a good plum finish. The palate was soft and rich, with plum, mocha, graphite, and a soy sauce finish.
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1/18/2010 - wineshaman wrote: 87 Points
Popped and poured, inky dark as expected, dark fruits, pepper and a touch of eartrh in the nose. Black currants, chocolate and touch of pepper on the palate. Initially a little harsh on the finish, which smooth out a touch after 30min of being opened. Simple and flavorable.
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1/16/2010 - Yagil wrote: 86 Points
young fruity flavor, crispy taste, ideal for a meat lunch. a simple good daily wine.
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1/10/2010 - jshufelt wrote: 90 Points
Overall, very similar to the 2006, but more primary. In the glass, dark red fading rapidly to black. On the nose, a touch of dusty Malbec funk. On the palate, dark fruit with moderate tannins; this surely needs a couple more years, but I couldn't resist opening one now.
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1/9/2010 - VinoGalore wrote: 92 Points
A delicious mouthful of berries. Wine is still young but drinkable now and with good structure and a very nice finish. Becomes more polished as it opens up. Made with grapes cultivated at high altitude.
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1/8/2010 - matt2brad wrote: 88 Points
Enjoyed with bbq pork, roasted bell peppers chutney - dark, fruity,smooth
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1/7/2010 - noofie2 wrote: 90 Points
Very good bottle. Full bodied, deep plummy tannic taste, almost a bit chewy. Not as smooth as some might like but has good balance with just the right amount of acid for me.
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1/3/2010 - ThMeyer wrote: 89 Points
Powerful nose, full of dark fruits, on the palate quite condensed, very pleasant. Very good.
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1/2/2010 - jwells wrote: 87 Points
Dark red with purple hue. Medium body. Not much on the nose. Floral notes and vanilla. Tannins present in a medium finish.
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12/30/2009 - denisontb wrote: 89 Points
Nice Malbec. Muted but pleasant nose. Strong tannins when first opened, but softened in the glass after 20 minutes. 2nd glass was much more pleasant, so give it some air. Soft mouthfeel, cherries, plums. We enjoyed it, and will buy again. Picked up for $19. Good QPR.
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12/27/2009 - rmalloy wrote: 88 Points
Juicy blackberries, blueberries, cassis, bing cherries. Light Asian spices, white pepper. Good flavor, light body. Similar to the other highly rated malbecs I've tried--very tasty but lacks power.
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12/27/2009 - CkenS wrote: 88 Points
Decent Malbec. Not real big. Mild nose. Needed some time to air out and to soften the tanin and bring out some fruit.
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12/24/2009 - geppetto wrote: 90 Points
Holy Hanna, what a nose this monster has. I tasted it at a retail tasting and was amazed at how vinrant the nose was. On the palate there was dark berries and a hint of spice. Full bodied with mouth coating tannins. This is a real bargain! I bought three to see if my opinion at home matches the tasting. If it does, this could become a new daily drinker for me.
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12/21/2009 - Tarrant wrote: 90 Points
Lovely, always a good bet for a solid Argy Malbec, not quite reaching the 'WS 91' in my opinion, but excellent nonetheless - Black, well concentrated with a nose of plum, cherry, spice, chocolate and vanilla, well made, balanced, smooth on the palate with very good length, a 'buy by the case' wine for sure! (90 Points).
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12/20/2009 - SMG wrote: 90 Points
A nice wine with plum and cherry. A more elegant style than the 2008 Achaval-Ferrer Malbec. This is more elegant and restrained but I would not call this elegant if drinking by itself. I nice wine and a nice QPR.
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12/20/2009 - tzelmer wrote: 89 Points
Not big aroma, cherry, smoke, a little dusty. Decent mid palate, cherry, some earthy minerality, but not much. Light to medium body. Could use more acidity on the finish and more tannin, very soft finish. Drink now (end 2009).
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12/17/2009 - hiker_guy wrote:
Had this at a restaurant tonight. We did a taste off between France and Argentina. France came out on top. This wine was lighter, fruitier and had a stronger vanilla oak component. Well made but the comparison between 2 90 pointers left me in the French camp by quite a bit. On it's own I'd buy it again though. It is a well made wine at a very good price.
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12/16/2009 - marinelli wrote: 86 Points
spicy with heavy oak. seemed to be a brief hole in the acids. paired decently with lasagna
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12/13/2009 - Flashman wrote: 86 Points
Can't say anything special about it. Pretty good for the price.
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12/9/2009 - tednaples wrote: 90 Points
only medium body; RP 91
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12/6/2009 - oeno1 wrote: 89 Points
fruit bomb, 1 dimension, ribena and not much else. Typical tesco new world.
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12/5/2009 - jad1964 wrote: 91 Points
had this with lamb shank after 2 hr decant & following a bottle of '05 coho as a starter. really was impressive for the $20 cost. not a huge finish but respectable. held together nicely....& packed more of a punch than i expected....oak & fruit.
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11/28/2009 - ezsobre wrote: 84 Points
Weak nose, not much there, but palate is tart, sugary dark cherry and consistency is too thin to hide that with balance. Second time disappointed with this (1st was 2006). With all the names from this label that this winery brings up, I'm thinking this is the entry level bottle.
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11/26/2009 - Ann&Wayne wrote: 84 Points
We drank this as part of the Appetizer affair before Thanksgiving Dinner. I remember a lot of talking, a lot of eating, and 3 bottles disappearing. We agree; we didn't hate it.
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11/25/2009 - arass wrote: 84 Points
A decent malbec, but a little hot. Fruity and kind of sweet. But not too interesting.
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11/24/2009 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 88 Points
Argentina $20 to $40 (Ray's Home): Purple in color with some ruby at the rim. This wine was aromatically challenged. Some dust and hints of plum. On the palate, it is much better with sweet black cherries. Slightly thin, but a lively acidity. Long finish. This improved as the night wore on. This was the group's WOTN.
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11/24/2009 - mreinitz wrote: 88 Points
Slightly sweet plum, cherry, and dark berry flavors. A bit intense and bordering on raisiny at first but gets better with time in the air.
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11/15/2009 - mpricher wrote: 90 Points
Very Nice color. Deep rich purple velvet. Nose of oak, but not excessive. There is some good dark berry and cherry fruit, which is a fair balance. You can taste the obvious quality here. Just a well made Malbec, and I think a great consistent table RED for Grilled fair, but flexible enough to pair with Goat Cheese and sausage lasagna.
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11/12/2009 - nietzschephilosopher wrote: 89 Points
Lots of oak on the nose. With pretty, bright fruit. Really nicely balanced. Lots of creamy oak and dark fruit. Good tannins, enough acid to keep it lively. I like this quite a bit. Needs an hour of air or so to really moderate the significant tannins
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10/31/2009 - rbfleming wrote: 88 Points
Everything from wine experts all the way up to novices suggests balance and smoothness. Very nice modest wine with fruit and character. "Nimble" and "supple"in other comments -- I concur.
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10/26/2009 - Macki wrote:
Cherry on both nose & palate along with a distinctive earthiness; great acidity - quite old world in style. Not much of a finish, but for $20, this is a nice malbec.
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10/9/2009 - skoch wrote: 88 Points
Deep purple; beautiful full nose of cherry and a touch of smoke; palate brought some vanilla to the cherries; full body balanced with nice acidity; finish a bit short.
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10/4/2009 - dkoontz wrote: 90 Points
Rich purple color. Nose mostly black cherry with a smidge of vanilla. Full bodied and smooth. Everything I read about this wine from amateur on up mentioned the nice balance, and that was my first impression as well. Smooth yet powerful with dark fruit, a little oak, and minimal spice. Ate with filet mignon. I loved it for the 19.99 I paid for it. Love to try it in a couple years.
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10/1/2009 - markandsusanw wrote: 86 Points
Great everyday wine; food neutral, easy to drink and satisfies many different palates.
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9/23/2009 - The New Alcoholic wrote: 89 Points
Had a glass of this at a bar with olives and nuts (not ideal I know). Bottle was just oppened and needed to wait a bit. Full body, smooth and silky with beautifull cherry taste. Slight heat at the end. If only I had a steak
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9/21/2009 - swanson.art wrote: 90 Points
Really nice Malbec. Good fruit, balanced and supple.
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9/14/2009 - hutch wrote: 89 Points
Walker Trade Show (Providence): Solid, stylized malbec. Very good, but it seems like the competition has been catching up on it.
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9/13/2009 - KevinS wrote: 88 Points
I agree with the "nice steakhouse wine" descriptor, but this doesn't impress me much. Yes it's well-made and full of fruit, but there's just not a lot of class or character there for me. It's a quaffer and fairly priced, but not the obvious QPR I was hoping for.
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9/5/2009 - EMichels wrote: 90 Points
Wine Exchange - Over 90/Under $30: Nice balance; Good fruit; Medium short finish; Nimble
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8/3/2009 - DTWOB Likes this wine: 89 Points
This bottle when over very well between a Buccella Merlot and a Chappellet Cab.
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8/3/2009 - DTWOB Likes this wine: 89 Points
This bottle when over very well between a Bucella Merlot and a Chappellet Cab.
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7/22/2009 - WineMillers wrote: 92 Points
Smooth. Shallow start. Nice finish. Had this at the library.
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