14.5% alcohol, thin to medium-weight foil, composite cork, fast legs, dark red/black; vinturied, tasted at room temperature (23 degrees C); nose of alcohol, traces of cinnamon and cherries; tasting revealed notes of cherries, celery, earth; full bodied; the original tannins were doubtless softened by aging, the medium finish was bright with citrus and a little non-citrus sourness; pair with rare steak, like filet mignon
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consistent with previous bottles, this is a wine rich with dark fruit falavors and smokiness. Good length and medium to full body. Medium tannins that provide a good backbone.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Purple and fushia, the wine looks young. Deep aromas of cherry skin and fresh forest air. Light on the tongue yet mouth filling. Kind of rich and burning yet quite pleasant. Nice for a $10-15 Costco wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
5/14/2014 I gave this a 87, somewhat disappointing-it was way too young! This should be good into next year, but drinking perfectly now. What a difference a year and a half makes! This wine WAY over performed my expectations (thus I served with turkey leftovers). It was inky, with great depth and dark berry/earthy notes, tannins and oak. I never cared that much for Malbec, but this opened my eyes. WE DID DECANT IT, which likely helped a lot. Good wines are never a pop and pour.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A rough hewn, macho wine, with plentiful fruit and tannin. I suppose those are the chief attractions for its public. I like it well enough, as all that fruit and tannin signal an abundance of flavor, and it does go well with chili, which is what we enjoyed it with.
I get the impression that the tannin will outlast the fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark, brooding black fruits. Slightly floral nose. Chunky palate, deep core of fruit. High alcohol and rip roaring acidity. Had a distinct metallic taste which was off putting, but I've since come down with a cold so maybe that was partly to blame. Good value if you're a fan of Malbec.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
La maison Norton produit plusieurs bons vins disponibles au Nouveau-Brunswick et le Reserva est certainement un bon rapport qualité/prix . La robe rouge aux teintes violacée est une caractéristique du cépage en présence, en l’occurrence le Malbec. Un nez puissant avec ses notes de fruits noirs, des notes de prunes, de cassis et d’anis. Un Malbec sec corsé qui dégage des saveurs de réglisse, de fruits noir et de cacao. Un vin qui pourra se conserver 5 à 7 ans suivant le millésime.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tolle gehaltvolle Nase : Kirsche , dezentes Leder - ein wenig hot. Am Gaumen dann Kakao , wieder Kirsche mit milden Tanninen . Wenig Säure , gut ausbalanciert. I like it !
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
We'll structured, robust, flavorful without being overly earthy or tannic. A good match with the grilled lamb chops and broccoli slaw we enjoyed with it. A solid value for the price
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I don't care much f Malbec, but wife likes it. I "get" Grenache, but I do not get Malbec. This was definitely one that didn't live up to its wine magazine reviews. Fruit forward, a little too jammy along with earthy tastes, none of which were that well-integrated. We did let breathe, my only thought was decanting might have improved it- I have had great Malbecs and they are much better than this, thus the score. Guess if you like Malbec, this might be cost-effective.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The wine looks purple colored. The legs are fast. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like dust, sandalwood, meaty and alcohol/hot. It tastes like blackberry, fig and bark. The body is medium. The wine has satin-like texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has low acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
87-88 good but not great. looking forward to trying the '11! as stated, DECANT or let sit in the glass atleast an hour. if you like our malbec on the dark fruit side and see this at a good price. (15+ or -) it's definitely worth trying.
nose. plums, blueberries, black coffee, bandaid?
palate: full bodied. the tannins have softened but the enough acidity remains to keep it from being flabby. mostly blue fruit with some vanilla, menthol, and root beer. soft evaporating tannin with a cooling finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium intensity aromas led by an earthy core and joined by purple fruit. Full bodied with a ripe core of purple/black fruits, oak spice. Balanced acid and refined tannins mesh together to a lasting finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
As I said in my last review, this is a bit slow to open but enjoyable. I gave it a day or two and it did open enough for me to upgrade my previous score of 89 to a 90. Previous notes hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Big fragrances of dark fruits, but otherwise not a typical fruit bomb but rather more balanced. Like all Malbecs it both needs aeration to show its best, and its best is a bit one-dimensional. But this is a full-bodied, delicious, pleasing wine an an excellent QPR.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep purple. Smoky, blackberry, black plum, tar, cocoa, and vanilla aromas. The palate is endowed with cardamom and coriander spice, and graphite dust on the long, firm finish. This is a serious wine. Decant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had a distinctive metalic aftertaste. I really do not like that flavor. The second day added just a bit of cherry juice to the glass. Covered up the metalic aftertaste, yet still tasted like wine. Still not really happy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A flavorful wine with velvety mouthfeel. Decent right out of the bottle, but might have been even better if aerated or decanted. (I had read the other reviews and knew that to be the recommendation, but events conspired against me and the best I could do was a "rough pour." C'est la vie.) More fruit and less terroir than most Malbecs, especially reserve vintages, but I think this wine is a great example of the payoff possible by breaking from the pack of typical reserve Malbecs. The beauty of this wine is that its complex tannin/acidic structure remains so beautifully mellow, even in its aftertaste. It demonstrates real talent to find that kind of balance in a wine that has meaningful flavors. So in the end, this wine works well with classic Malbec pairings (we had it with barbecued meats), but I think it can also hold its own as a stand-alone drinking wine (unlike many reviewers here). Too bad it was the last bottle; I'd love to have purchased a few more to cellar for awhile.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The label does not say party but the contents deliver. Lovely wine that mellows in the glass. Classic Malbec characteristics - dark, rich, intense - a little "barnyard" upon opening but becomes silky and rich with fruit after it sits for a few minutes. A fantastic value.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Open 24 hours. Black-purple, nice legs. Big time Lavender and violets in the nose. Very impressive. Lovely fruit in the mouth, with vanilla and purple fruits. Long, savory finish. Great value! 4-12-16-8: 90/100.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Somewhat one dimensional. Not unusual for a Malbec, but for a reserva, a little disappointing. Of course improves with aeration, but never developed the fullness that one comes to expect from these Nortons.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Disappointing new world structureless fruit bomb. Tasted like a cheap Aussie shiraz. I remember having a different vintage of this wine a few years ago that actually had some backbone and balance. The 2010 vintage has neither.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnVnD let air for 1hr. Purple garnet not saturated with a violet rim. Earthy plum and cassis on the nose. Medium weight with smooth tannins. Nicely ripe but not sweet with blue and red fruit flavours with a bit of mineral complexity and enough acidity to keep it balanced. Great with a grilled rib eye. Saved 3/4 of the bottle in the fridge to re-taste in a couple of days. Great value.
Held up really well when tasted three days later. Lots of flavour and well balanced with acidity. +1
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
We've been a fan of this wine for several years. But this vintage is not very approachable right out if the bottle, something we have expected from prior vintages. We opened this bottle a bit before drinking, aerated it before pouring in glasses (we'd had this vintage previously, so we knew what to expect). Needs food as an accompaniment. We didn't particularly enjoy this wine on day 1. Day 2, it was better: less tar, more fruit. Still dry. But more drinkable on its own on day 2, which is an attribute we look for in a Malbec.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The wine looks Crimson colored. The legs are Medium. Enjoyed the black pepper aroma and taste. Smooth and medium body although on the light side. Nice touch of astringency on the finish although the flavor in the finish could be a bit longer. Will definitely try future vintages, especially around this price point ($18).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The smell of this wine was overly chemical and overpowering- my family members across the room commented on it. The taste was a bit better than expected, though. I wish I let it breathe more. This was a gift, so I can't comment on value but overall I found this to be pretty average. I wouldn't seek it out- but I wouldn't turn it down at a dinner party, either.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The nose on this is bathed in sickly-sweet oak, to the exclusion of all other aromas. The palate is nondescript and dilute, finishing almost immediately with little notice. Lacking in any type of discernible personality, this could have been cheap wine from almost anywhere. Plain and undistinguished wine, I wouldn't even bother reviewing it but for the hope that it may prevent you from wasting your time and money.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Luscious and jammy boysenberry with some clove for good measure. Medium tannins with a light touch of smokiness and some spiciness. A bit slow to open but enjoyable never-the-less.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I've been a big fan of this wine in the past, but this vintage is just not up to par. This taste and smells overly manipulated. It's almost got a chemical smell to it, and it tastes as if they added a thickening agent to the finished wine to give it a better mouthfeel. It tastes oily to me, and decanting it did not help its case any at all. The fruit is there, but I think the winemakers decided to manipulate it to make it fit a certain mold that nature did not want to provide for this vintage. A shame, really.
Lots of alcohol on the nose with black fruits. The most noticeable aspect is the texture. This a very soft, silky wine. The palate is not fruit forward. A bitter tar-like, smoky dark chocolate hits you first, then hints of vanilla and a brambly mid-palate. Not much finish. If there is fruit, perhaps black currant. Good acidity, with a minimum of tannins. A little disjointed. More tannins would add some balance and the virtual lack of fruit is a bit disconcerting. Drinkable and interesting, but not my preference for a daily drinker.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fun to revisit this wine that I enjoyed about 10yrs ago when I first got into wine. Reminds me a bit of a Zin with brabley fruits and briar patch. More plum, figs with a touch of smoke and vegital notes. Decent value at $10.99
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep,opaque reddish purple. Nose showed spice and current. Nice palate of tart black fruit, current and spice. Nice finish. Score lowered due to nose. Great bargain. I think I can forgo the nose for the rest of the experience. Should improve over next couple of years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark purple with medium dark fruit. Nose was nothing special but had a decent finish. Was better the second day and I'll definitely give the other bottles some time. Fairly decent for the price point but nothing to rave about at this point.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A nose of dark fruit and spice, dark purple in color. A medium to full bodied Malbec, with black cherry, plum, blackberry, finishes with smoke and spice, a good value. www.winelx.com
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The second glass was better than the first... the light fruit flavors of a Malbec not evident due to a possible overoaking as some suspect. We aerated the pour but it may need to sit out for awhile or be shelved for a year or two. Do not agree with the professional rating of 90... more like an 85 or 86... then again, it was only $12 per bottle..
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful crimson color, medium to full body wine. Amazing value for such a high quality Malbec. Hints of chocolate, black pepper, coffee, and raspberry; meaty. Nice round texture. Great with steaks, red-sauce pastas, and strong cheeses and charcuterrie.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I've had mixed results with this vintage. First bottle sampled had noticeable smoke and complexity, and finished with a strong chocolate note. The second bottle (sampled over three nights) displayed far less complexity and developed a noteworthy cherry-vanilla finish by night three. No hint of chocolate this time around. Think I will give my next bottle a few more months before opening.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
color: bright purple velvet; nose: oak and cherry vanilla; taste: medium-bodied mouth feel, jammy cherry fruit taste, syrupy medium-length smoky plum finish filled with tasty, gum-sucking tannins; overall: happy and easy-to-like pour. This wine's style -- which almost (but not quite) qualifies as a fruit bomb -- appeals to me. It also serves up an excellent QPR ($10 at Costco) which, in my book, will warrant additional purchases.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This one needs serious decanting. Be patient because it will open up. Classic Malbec aroma of smoke and spice. Flavors of plums and a hint of chocolate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
8/3/2020 - Jen P-W wrote:
Went bad in cellar
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/14/2019 - maxima wrote: 86 Points
Simple et charnu, long et un
peu capiteux. Pour le prix c'est OK.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/29/2018 - Glenn Gilbert Likes this wine: 87 Points
14.5% alcohol, thin to medium-weight foil, composite cork, fast legs, dark red/black; vinturied, tasted at room temperature (23 degrees C); nose of alcohol, traces of cinnamon and cherries; tasting revealed notes of cherries, celery, earth; full bodied; the original tannins were doubtless softened by aging, the medium finish was bright with citrus and a little non-citrus sourness; pair with rare steak, like filet mignon
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/16/2018 - RichardZula Likes this wine:
Dark, ripe, plum, resolved tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/4/2018 - Winiac wrote: 85 Points
Over oaked and pruney with acid deficit. Not much to talk about except ripe fruit which was not focused or fresh.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/10/2018 - kreuter wrote:
Excellent
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/14/2017 - guzmana Likes this wine: 90 Points
Pretty concentrated and with earthy and smoky notes. Very nice with red meat. Robust tannins and dark fruits.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/4/2017 - hunter4us Likes this wine:
Nicely mature fairly simple Malbec. Good fruit, nice balance and tannins. No nuance here, just pop n pour and enjoy for what it is
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/31/2017 - guzmana Likes this wine: 90 Points
Consistent with previous bottles, this is a wine rich with dark fruit falavors and smokiness. Good length and medium to full body. Medium tannins that provide a good backbone.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/10/2017 - guzmana Likes this wine: 90 Points
Concentrated and medium to full bodied. Earthy and smoky with nice concentrated fruitiness. A great wine for a steak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/13/2017 - DbertCellar wrote: 89 Points
Cherry, plum, and spice aromas. Dry with peppery spice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/30/2016 - lelandinmichigan Likes this wine: 90 Points
Purple and fushia, the wine looks young. Deep aromas of cherry skin and fresh forest air. Light on the tongue yet mouth filling. Kind of rich and burning yet quite pleasant. Nice for a $10-15 Costco wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/20/2016 - WineJunkieWest Likes this wine: 88 Points
Pleasantly surprised. Great QPR!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/18/2016 - DbertCellar wrote: 89 Points
Aromas of plum, blackberry, coffee, and black current. Soft balanced slight pepper taste. Tannin gone, ready to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2016 - Kottosen@att.net wrote: 89 Points
Smooth, easy. Perfect for curling up with a book.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2016 - wino from way back Likes this wine:
Notably better in 2016 verses 2014.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2015 - aecklund Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark red almost purple, full bodied with a strong finish. Was well balanced and went well with Christmas dinner.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2015 - Z1nnfull Likes this wine: 91 Points
5/14/2014 I gave this a 87, somewhat disappointing-it was way too young! This should be good into next year, but drinking perfectly now.
What a difference a year and a half makes! This wine WAY over performed my expectations (thus I served with turkey leftovers). It was inky, with great depth and dark berry/earthy notes, tannins and oak.
I never cared that much for Malbec, but this opened my eyes.
WE DID DECANT IT, which likely helped a lot. Good wines are never a pop and pour.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/9/2015 - wilypod Likes this wine: 86 Points
A rough hewn, macho wine, with plentiful fruit and tannin. I suppose those are the chief attractions for its public. I like it well enough, as all that fruit and tannin signal an abundance of flavor, and it does go well with chili, which is what we enjoyed it with.
I get the impression that the tannin will outlast the fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/16/2015 - moods wrote: 84 Points
Dark, brooding black fruits. Slightly floral nose. Chunky palate, deep core of fruit. High alcohol and rip roaring acidity. Had a distinct metallic taste which was off putting, but I've since come down with a cold so maybe that was partly to blame. Good value if you're a fan of Malbec.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2015 - gew71walsh wrote: 86 Points
High alcoholic content supported by the acidity. Medium finish. Plum and berries. Nice pairing with a ribeye.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/27/2015 - Zed57 Likes this wine: 89 Points
coming together nicely
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/18/2015 - GGinSF wrote: 86 Points
Middle of the road Malbec.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/5/2015 - joet626 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very nice. Tasty
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/14/2015 - Davetroup wrote: 78 Points
Surprisingly unimpressive given other reviews. Rather thin tasting and with a slight metallic taste. I was disappointed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/5/2015 - Tire-bouchon Griffin Likes this wine: 90 Points
La maison Norton produit plusieurs bons vins disponibles au Nouveau-Brunswick et le Reserva est certainement un bon rapport qualité/prix . La robe rouge aux teintes violacée est une caractéristique du cépage en présence, en l’occurrence le Malbec. Un nez puissant avec ses notes de fruits noirs, des notes de prunes, de cassis et d’anis. Un Malbec sec corsé qui dégage des saveurs de réglisse, de fruits noir et de cacao. Un vin qui pourra se conserver 5 à 7 ans suivant le millésime.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2015 - scheune Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tolle gehaltvolle Nase : Kirsche , dezentes Leder - ein wenig hot. Am Gaumen dann Kakao , wieder Kirsche mit milden Tanninen . Wenig Säure , gut ausbalanciert. I like it !
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2014 - gew71walsh wrote: 87 Points
Berries, plum with some spiciness. Medium finish. Some acidity with tannins not too forceful
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/27/2014 - joet626 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Dark and closed for a bit. Much better with food
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/20/2014 - al441152 wrote: 80 Points
a lot more to mature
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/3/2014 - Zed57 wrote: 87 Points
My sense is that we drink these Norton's too young. Huge blackberry and tar with an iron finish that hopefully will soften with time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/24/2014 - df1962 wrote: 91 Points
Consistent with previous notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/16/2014 - VinZen Likes this wine: 90 Points
We'll structured, robust, flavorful without being overly earthy or tannic. A good match with the grilled lamb chops and broccoli slaw we enjoyed with it. A solid value for the price
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/14/2014 - Z1nnfull wrote: 87 Points
I don't care much f Malbec, but wife likes it. I "get" Grenache, but I do not get Malbec. This was definitely one that didn't live up to its wine magazine reviews. Fruit forward, a little too jammy along with earthy tastes, none of which were that well-integrated. We did let breathe, my only thought was decanting might have improved it- I have had great Malbecs and they are much better than this, thus the score. Guess if you like Malbec, this might be cost-effective.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2014 - Scubableu wrote: 91 Points
The wine looks purple colored. The legs are fast. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like dust, sandalwood, meaty and alcohol/hot. It tastes like blackberry, fig and bark. The body is medium. The wine has satin-like texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has low acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/20/2014 - Merky_Waters wrote: 87 Points
87-88 good but not great. looking forward to trying the '11! as stated, DECANT or let sit in the glass atleast an hour. if you like our malbec on the dark fruit side and see this at a good price. (15+ or -) it's definitely worth trying.
nose. plums, blueberries, black coffee, bandaid?
palate: full bodied. the tannins have softened but the enough acidity remains to keep it from being flabby. mostly blue fruit with some vanilla, menthol, and root beer. soft evaporating tannin with a cooling finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/20/2014 - df1962 Likes this wine: 91 Points
PnD let air for 1hr. Consistent with previous note. Really gains depth with air and loses some of the overly fruit forwardness.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/19/2014 - Levinsb wrote:
Dark rich fruit bomb
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/15/2014 - cono_sur Likes this wine: 89 Points
Medium intensity aromas led by an earthy core and joined by purple fruit. Full bodied with a ripe core of purple/black fruits, oak spice. Balanced acid and refined tannins mesh together to a lasting finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2014 - K&J Likes this wine: 90 Points
As I said in my last review, this is a bit slow to open but enjoyable. I gave it a day or two and it did open enough for me to upgrade my previous score of 89 to a 90. Previous notes hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2014 - Vinnoisseur Does not like this wine: 88 Points
Good dark fruit. Tinge of green, peppery spice. Not my thing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/23/2014 - corkscrews Likes this wine: 89 Points
A consistent value. www.winelx.com
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/22/2014 - PaulusLoZebra Likes this wine: 91 Points
Big fragrances of dark fruits, but otherwise not a typical fruit bomb but rather more balanced. Like all Malbecs it both needs aeration to show its best, and its best is a bit one-dimensional. But this is a full-bodied, delicious, pleasing wine an an excellent QPR.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2014 - Baron Slick wrote: 90 Points
Deep purple. Smoky, blackberry, black plum, tar, cocoa, and vanilla aromas. The palate is endowed with cardamom and coriander spice, and graphite dust on the long, firm finish. This is a serious wine. Decant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2014 - Wineio Does not like this wine: 75 Points
Had a distinctive metalic aftertaste. I really do not like that flavor. The second day added just a bit of cherry juice to the glass. Covered up the metalic aftertaste, yet still tasted like wine. Still not really happy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/9/2014 - ellars wrote:
A flavorful wine with velvety mouthfeel. Decent right out of the bottle, but might have been even better if aerated or decanted. (I had read the other reviews and knew that to be the recommendation, but events conspired against me and the best I could do was a "rough pour." C'est la vie.) More fruit and less terroir than most Malbecs, especially reserve vintages, but I think this wine is a great example of the payoff possible by breaking from the pack of typical reserve Malbecs. The beauty of this wine is that its complex tannin/acidic structure remains so beautifully mellow, even in its aftertaste. It demonstrates real talent to find that kind of balance in a wine that has meaningful flavors. So in the end, this wine works well with classic Malbec pairings (we had it with barbecued meats), but I think it can also hold its own as a stand-alone drinking wine (unlike many reviewers here). Too bad it was the last bottle; I'd love to have purchased a few more to cellar for awhile.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2014 - bizallyson Likes this wine: 90 Points
The label does not say party but the contents deliver. Lovely wine that mellows in the glass. Classic Malbec characteristics - dark, rich, intense - a little "barnyard" upon opening but becomes silky and rich with fruit after it sits for a few minutes. A fantastic value.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/20/2014 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 90 Points
Open 24 hours. Black-purple, nice legs. Big time
Lavender and violets in the nose. Very impressive. Lovely fruit in the mouth, with vanilla and purple fruits. Long, savory finish. Great value! 4-12-16-8: 90/100.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2014 - vesuvius Likes this wine: 87 Points
Somewhat one dimensional. Not unusual for a Malbec, but for a reserva, a little disappointing. Of course improves with aeration, but never developed the fullness that one comes to expect from these Nortons.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/18/2014 - wineracquet Does not like this wine: 84 Points
Disappointing new world structureless fruit bomb. Tasted like a cheap Aussie shiraz. I remember having a different vintage of this wine a few years ago that actually had some backbone and balance. The 2010 vintage has neither.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2014 - Hectorgarzac wrote: 89 Points
Uno de los mejoras malbec por su precio, excelente valor
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/27/2014 - wtianseter wrote: 87 Points
Well made and easy drinking Malbec. Lots of fruit up front with definite oak. The finish is smooth and fruity along with a touch of dry tannin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/26/2014 - elevation02 Likes this wine: 88 Points
A nice, every day Malbec from the famous Norton family.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/22/2014 - df1962 Likes this wine: 91 Points
PnVnD let air for 1hr. Purple garnet not saturated with a violet rim. Earthy plum and cassis on the nose. Medium weight with smooth tannins. Nicely ripe but not sweet with blue and red fruit flavours with a bit of mineral complexity and enough acidity to keep it balanced. Great with a grilled rib eye. Saved 3/4 of the bottle in the fridge to re-taste in a couple of days. Great value.
Held up really well when tasted three days later. Lots of flavour and well balanced with acidity. +1
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2014 - Kahnru12 wrote: 84 Points
We've been a fan of this wine for several years. But this vintage is not very approachable right out if the bottle, something we have expected from prior vintages. We opened this bottle a bit before drinking, aerated it before pouring in glasses (we'd had this vintage previously, so we knew what to expect). Needs food as an accompaniment. We didn't particularly enjoy this wine on day 1. Day 2, it was better: less tar, more fruit. Still dry. But more drinkable on its own on day 2, which is an attribute we look for in a Malbec.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/6/2014 - DrWal Likes this wine: 89 Points
The wine looks Crimson colored. The legs are Medium. Enjoyed the black pepper aroma and taste. Smooth and medium body although on the light side. Nice touch of astringency on the finish although the flavor in the finish could be a bit longer. Will definitely try future vintages, especially around this price point ($18).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/3/2014 - wtb375 wrote: 89 Points
Would buy again
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2013 - VinLancaster wrote:
This was a sweet hot mess. Did not improve over the course of the night.
Bottle variation?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/29/2013 - mms919 wrote: 88 Points
By all means decant it. Then you have luscious berry with a nice finish. Good value.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2013 - BostonChick wrote: 79 Points
The smell of this wine was overly chemical and overpowering- my family members across the room commented on it. The taste was a bit better than expected, though. I wish I let it breathe more. This was a gift, so I can't comment on value but overall I found this to be pretty average. I wouldn't seek it out- but I wouldn't turn it down at a dinner party, either.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/21/2013 - gaboose wrote: 79 Points
Bitter, unctuous, and murky. The tar notes others mentioned are prominent. I can see some finding it appealing, but not me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/14/2013 - ddgd Likes this wine: 87 Points
Smooth for a Malbec, ripe for drinking now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/13/2013 - Wine_in_HD wrote: 86 Points
had a distinct leather taste or perhaps barnyard. I was ok the first day and got a little better the second.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2013 - gf2182 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Poor execution as we had this same night as couple nice cabs and silky zin...so didn't show well. But fine pizza/snack/burger daily drinker.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2013 - byron31 wrote: 92 Points
smooth - buy more
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/3/2013 - NineteenEightyTwo Does not like this wine: 75 Points
The nose on this is bathed in sickly-sweet oak, to the exclusion of all other aromas. The palate is nondescript and dilute, finishing almost immediately with little notice. Lacking in any type of discernible personality, this could have been cheap wine from almost anywhere. Plain and undistinguished wine, I wouldn't even bother reviewing it but for the hope that it may prevent you from wasting your time and money.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2013 - AlderWine wrote:
- Crimsom color and aromas of black pepper and has flavours of black pepper - Good. Would buy again. Drank it with pizza but it also good on its own.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/21/2013 - Jayarr wrote: 87 Points
Consistent with prior notes
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2013 - K&J Likes this wine: 89 Points
Luscious and jammy boysenberry with some clove for good measure. Medium tannins with a light touch of smokiness and some spiciness. A bit slow to open but enjoyable never-the-less.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/8/2013 - devman wrote: 84 Points
I've been a big fan of this wine in the past, but this vintage is just not up to par. This taste and smells overly manipulated. It's almost got a chemical smell to it, and it tastes as if they added a thickening agent to the finished wine to give it a better mouthfeel. It tastes oily to me, and decanting it did not help its case any at all. The fruit is there, but I think the winemakers decided to manipulate it to make it fit a certain mold that nature did not want to provide for this vintage. A shame, really.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
11/7/2013 - djlevin wrote: 86 Points
Lots of alcohol on the nose with black fruits. The most noticeable aspect is the texture. This a very soft, silky wine. The palate is not fruit forward. A bitter tar-like, smoky dark chocolate hits you first, then hints of vanilla and a brambly mid-palate. Not much finish. If there is fruit, perhaps black currant. Good acidity, with a minimum of tannins. A little disjointed. More tannins would add some balance and the virtual lack of fruit is a bit disconcerting. Drinkable and interesting, but not my preference for a daily drinker.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2013 - corkscrews Likes this wine: 89 Points
Similiar note, good value. www.winelx.com
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/12/2013 - blort wrote: flawed
Corked, undrinkable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/3/2013 - bajayngo wrote:
Fun to revisit this wine that I enjoyed about 10yrs ago when I first got into wine. Reminds me a bit of a Zin with brabley fruits and briar patch. More plum, figs with a touch of smoke and vegital notes. Decent value at $10.99
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2013 - jmcmchi wrote: 88 Points
Light ruby color. Nose of smoke. Smooth pleasant tannins and layers of fruit. Extremely well priced
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/25/2013 - Rezy13 wrote:
Floral, decent fruit, but no acid.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/25/2013 - guchl wrote: 86 Points
nothing wrong here... just not that interesting to me
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/22/2013 - kcsteve Likes this wine: 89 Points
Deep,opaque reddish purple. Nose showed spice and current. Nice palate of tart black fruit, current and spice. Nice finish. Score lowered due to nose. Great bargain. I think I can forgo the nose for the rest of the experience. Should improve over next couple of years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/17/2013 - Mauest wrote: 85 Points
Way too young!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/15/2013 - Jayarr wrote: 86 Points
Dark purple with medium dark fruit. Nose was nothing special but had a decent finish. Was better the second day and I'll definitely give the other bottles some time. Fairly decent for the price point but nothing to rave about at this point.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/6/2013 - corkscrews Likes this wine: 88 Points
A nose of dark fruit and spice, dark purple in color. A medium to full bodied Malbec, with black cherry, plum, blackberry, finishes with smoke and spice, a good value. www.winelx.com
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/24/2013 - bkwurm61 wrote:
The second glass was better than the first... the light fruit flavors of a Malbec not evident due to a possible overoaking as some suspect. We aerated the pour but it may need to sit out for awhile or be shelved for a year or two. Do not agree with the professional rating of 90... more like an 85 or 86... then again, it was only $12 per bottle..
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/8/2013 - Pennymead wrote: 84 Points
Pleasant bouquet. Gentle tannins. Reasonable value for money but unexceptional.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/4/2013 - MsDee Likes this wine: 88 Points
Brick red. Nose dusty, not very fruity. Good acidity, a very good match for strong cheeses.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/6/2013 - ATL G wrote: 90 Points
Beautiful crimson color, medium to full body wine. Amazing value for such a high quality Malbec. Hints of chocolate, black pepper, coffee, and raspberry; meaty. Nice round texture. Great with steaks, red-sauce pastas, and strong cheeses and charcuterrie.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/5/2013 - Brydain wrote: 82 Points
Very dark color. Oak nose and taste. Very peppery as well. Very nice and inexpensive bottle of wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/20/2013 - Nesto wrote: 74 Points
Not appealing at all. Garbage and plastic flavors overwhelm the wine. Not a bad bottle. Just a poorly crafted wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/17/2013 - GlassHalfFull wrote: 85 Points
Overoaked
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2013 - wineotim Likes this wine: 87 Points
Dark violet with smokey blueberries on the palate. Medium bodied, jammy, finishes with sweet tannins. Good value. Better than the '09.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/16/2013 - urban_dk wrote: 89 Points
I've had mixed results with this vintage. First bottle sampled had noticeable smoke and complexity, and finished with a strong chocolate note. The second bottle (sampled over three nights) displayed far less complexity and developed a noteworthy cherry-vanilla finish by night three. No hint of chocolate this time around. Think I will give my next bottle a few more months before opening.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/3/2013 - Epic Tale Likes this wine: 88 Points
color: bright purple velvet; nose: oak and cherry vanilla; taste: medium-bodied mouth feel, jammy cherry fruit taste, syrupy medium-length smoky plum finish filled with tasty, gum-sucking tannins; overall: happy and easy-to-like pour. This wine's style -- which almost (but not quite) qualifies as a fruit bomb -- appeals to me. It also serves up an excellent QPR ($10 at Costco) which, in my book, will warrant additional purchases.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/9/2013 - smorris291 wrote: 86 Points
Jammy and pretty big, but itf that's what you're looking for this is a good value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/24/2013 - maxmanx Does not like this wine:
Drank over 2 days, and neither day worked for me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/14/2013 - Diablo Blanco wrote: 90 Points
Very nice
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2012 - Euell Gophar wrote: 88 Points
This one needs serious decanting. Be patient because it will open up. Classic Malbec aroma of smoke and spice. Flavors of plums and a hint of chocolate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment