The 2008 Cocina Blend composed of 60% Malbec, 20% Bonarda, and 20% Syrah aged for 12 months in 20% new French and American oak before bottling without fining and filtration (as are all of these red wines). Purple-colored, it has an enticing bouquet of cinnamon, Dentyne gum, cigar box, violets, black cherry, and blueberry. Medium-bodied, round and sweetly-fruited on the palate, it has plenty of savory spice notes, enough structure to evolve for 1-2 years, and a lengthy, pure finish. Drink it from 2010 to 2016.

Wine Advocate Rating: 90

[Issue: #184 / Aug 09]

A top-notch value Cabernet with no flaws. The fruit on the nose is pretty and stylish but doesn't force the issue, while the palate is juicy and fresh with flavors of cola, cassis and wild Berry. Not a complicated wine, but one that pushes all the right buttons. Ripe and friendly to the last drop. A lot of wine for the money.

Wine Enthusiast Rating: 90

[Issue: 09/01/09]

Inky ruby. Seductively perfumed aromas of wild strawberry, raspberry, potpourri and musky underbrush. Silky in texture, with sweet red berry and candied floral flavors, smoky minerality and slow-building spiciness. Fresh and graceful wine with very good finishing clarity, sweetness and cut.

Int'l Wine Cellar Rating: 90

[Issue: March/April 2010]

Susana Balbo is very high on Mendozas 2009 vintage, calling it a fantastic year. The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon spent 5 months in seasoned French and American oak. It is purple-colored with a classy nose of cigar box, cassis, black currant, and violets. Medium-to full bodied, it has excellent depth, savory flavors, ripe tannin for balance, and a lengthy, fruit-filled finish. It will evolve for 1-2 years but can be enjoyed now and over the next 4-5 years.

Wine Advocate Rating: 90

[Issue: #184 / Aug 09]

From La Consulta, in the heights of the Uco Valley, this wine's red fruit has a nervous energy. The flavors are firm and fresh with a flavorful depth, all subtly complemented by lingering notes of black pepper.

Wine & Spirits Rating: 91

[Issue: Web Only]

Bright red-ruby. Captivating spicy nose offers blackberry, violet, pepper and dark chocolate. Penetrating, precise and firmly built, with a serious spine of acidity framing the flavors of blackberry and dark chocolate. A rather serious malbec with solid tannic structure and very good length. This is from a relatively southerly, high-altitude vineyard that offers cooler conditions than the Angel Paulucci.

Int'l Wine Cellar: 90

[Issue: Jan/Feb 10]

Very grippy, with lots of espresso- and cocoa powder-dusted grip driving the lush blueberry and plum fruit, fig sauce and linzer torte flavors. Dense but driven, with the grip moving authoritatively through the muscular finish. Needs to stretch out in the cellar. From winemaker Álvaro Espinoza and the owners of Chile's Veramonte winery. Best from 2011 through 2014. 980 cases made.

Wine Spectator Rating: 91

[Issue: Feb 28/09]

The 2008 Malbec, which contains 10% Bonarda, spent 11 months in 50% new French oak and 50% first use American oak. Purple-colored, it reveals an expressive nose of wood smoke, cinnamon, incense, and black cherry. Round, ripe, medium-bodied, and savory, this layered effort has a lengthy, fruit-filled finish. Enjoy it over the next 5 years.

Wine Advocate Rating: 90

[Issue: #184 / Aug 09]

A little damp and earthy at first, but it rounds into a full, powerful Malbec with a lot of color, size and drive. Blackberry, chocolate and spice notes control the hefty palate, and coffee precedes a bitter dryness on the finish. An improvement over the past couple of vintages.

Wine Enthusiast Rating: 90

[Issue: 12/01/09]

The 2008 Malbec received the same elevage as the Cabernet. Purple-colored, the nose offers up toasty oak, cinnamon, allspice, and black cherry. Medium- to full-bodied, it has excellent depth and grip, savory flavors, and enough fine-grained tannin to evolve for 2-3 years. It, too, can be enjoyed from 2011 to 2017.

Wine Advocate Rating: 91

[Issue: #184 / Aug 09]

Full ruby. Blackberry, violet, licorice and bitter chocolate on the nose, with hints of fresh herbs. Sweet, suave and more pliant than the maiden 2007 offering, but with plenty of energy to the dark fruit and peppery spice flavors. Very good vinosity here-and a lot of syrah for the price.

Int'l Wine Cellar Rating: 90

[Issue: Jan/Feb 2010]

The 2008 Patriota is composed of 60% Bonarda and 40% Malbec aged in French (40% new) and American (seasoned) oak. Purple/black in color, it has a splendid bouquet of cigar box, Asian spices, lavender, black cherry, and plum. Full-bodied, dense, rich, and powerful, this loaded effort has gobs of flavor, succulence, and great length. Only hedonists need apply. Drink it over the next six years while it retains its fleshy character.

Wine Advocate Rating: 92

[Issue: #184 / Aug 09]

Mendel’s 2007 Malbec was sourced from a 45-acre parcel of 80-year-old vines in Lujan de Cuyo and aged for 12 months in French oak. Purple-colored, it displays an alluring bouquet of cedar, spice box, violets, and black cherry. Medium-bodied and elegant on the palate, it has plenty of savory fruit, cinnamon and allspice notes, excellent depth and concentration, and a fruit-filled finish. This stylish effort will evolve for 2-3 years and deliver prime drinking from 2011 to 2019.

Wine Advocate Rating: 90

[Issue: #184 / Aug 09]

Good full red-ruby. Complex, aromatic nose melds blueberry, plum, mocha, graphite and tobacco, complicated by mint, menthol and fresh herbs. Sweet on entry, then juicy, tight and fine-grained, with lively harmonious acidity giving the dense fruit a youthfully clenched quality. But with its fresh acidity and ripe tannic spine, this wine is sexy already.

Int'l Wine Cellar Rating: 90

[Issue: Jan/Feb 09]

A lush, flattering style, with alluring blueberry, plum and boysenberry fruit flavors carried by creamy-textured tannins, flowing through a spice-infused finish. Drink now through 2011.

Wine Spectator Rating: 92

[Issue: Feb 28/10]

The fruit for the 2008 Pinot Noir was sourced from a 15-acre parcel from the Adriana Vineyard made famous by Catena Zapata and aged in 30% new French oak. It displays lovely aromatics of raspberry and cherry, plenty of body, sweet, succulent flavors, a silky texture, and outstanding depth. It should drink well for another 8 years.

Wine Advocate Rating: 92

[Issue: #184 / Aug 09]

The 2008 Amorio is 100% Malbec which spent 12 months in 60% new French oak. A glass-staining opaque purple, it offers up a splendid bouquet of sandalwood, Asian spices, incense, black cherry, and blackberry. Dense, layered, and long, this packed effort has enough structure to evolve for another 4-6 years.

Wine Advocate Rating: 93

[Issue: #184 / Aug 09]

The 2008 Malbec spent 12 months in 60% new French oak. It is a glass-staining opaque purple color with an enthralling perfume of sandalwood, Asian spices, lavender, black cherry, and plum. On the palate this concentrated effort admirably combines power and elegance. Smooth-textured, spicy, and rich, it will evolve for 2-3 years and offer prime drinking from 2011 to 2023.

Wine Advocate Rating: 92

[Issue: #184 / Aug 09]

The limited production (600 6-packs) 2006 Brioso is composed of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, 8% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot. It was sourced from ungrafted vines with an average age of 27 years and aged for 14 months in 100% new French oak. Purple-colored, it has a fragrant nose of pain grille, mineral, earth notes, black currant, and blackberry liqueur. Surprisingly elegant for its size, on the palate it reveals notes of chocolate, tobacco, and leather in addition to layers of rich black fruits. It should evolve effortlessly for several years and be at its best from 2012 to 2026.

Wine Advocate Rating: 92

[Issue: #180 / Dec 08]

The 2007 Jubilo is a 50-50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec aged for 12 months in 70% new French oak. A saturated purple color, the nose displays aromas of pain grille, pencil lead, espresso, black currant, and blackberry. Packed and stacked, this densely fruited effort is layered, spicy, and succulent. Give it 2-3 years of additional bottle age and drink it from 2011 to 2022.

Wine Advocate Rating: 93

[Issue: #184 / Aug 09]

The 2006 Unus, a blend of 70% Malbec and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, was sourced from the same 78-year-old estate vineyard and aged for 16 months in 100% new French oak. Deep crimson-colored, it offers up a complex bouquet of pain grille, pencil lead, violets, black cherry, and black currant. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it reveals an elegant personality with layered fruit, succulent flavors, silky tannins, and a lengthy finish. Give it 2-3 years in the cellar to unwind and drink it from 2010 to 2018.

Wine Advocate Rating: 93

[Issue: #180 / Dec 08]

The 2006 Alfa Crux Malbec spent 20 months in new French and American oak prior to bottling without filtration. A glass-staining opaque purple, it exhibits an alluring bouquet of spice box, pain grille, pencil lead, incense, and black cherry. Dense, concentrated, and structured on the palate, it has layers of succulent fruit, spicy flavors, and enough structure to evolve for 4-6 years. This impeccably balanced wine will offer a drinking window extending from 2014 to 2026.

Wine Advocate Rating: 91

[Issue: #184 / Aug 09]

The 2007 Beso de Dante is a blend of 55% Malbec and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 12 months in 70% new French oak before bottling without fining or filtration. It emits an alluring bouquet of pain grille, pencil lead, violets, black currant, and black cherry. Dense, spicy, and concentrated on the palate, this full-bodied effort has layers of savory fruit, enough structure to evolve for 2-3 years, and a lengthy finish. Drink it from 2011 to 2022.

Wine Advocate Rating: 92

[Issue: #184 / Dec 09]

Vistalba’s 2006 Corte A is composed of 90% Malbec and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 18 months in new French oak. A glass-staining opaque purple color, it offers up an expressive bouquet of toasty new oak, pencil lead, spice box, black cherry, and a hint of chocolate. Full-bodied, dense, and packed, it has layers of flavor, sweet fruit, and full tannin. Give it 3-4 years of additional cellaring and drink it from 2013 to 2026.

Wine Advocate Rating: 91

[Issue: #184 / Aug 09]

The 100% Malbec 2005 Nico by Luca was aged for 12 months in 100% new French oak. Dense purple-colored, it offers a splendid nose of pain grille, mineral, spice box, black cherry, and blackberry liqueur. This leads to a full-bodied, opulent wine with gobs of savory fruit, outstanding balance, and serious aging potential. Give it 4-6 years in the cellar and drink it from 2012 to 2030. There are only 400 3-packs of this phenomenal effort.

Wine Advocate Rating: 95

[Issue: #180 / Dec 08]

According to Hobbs, 2006 was one of the great vintages of his 20 year career in Argentina. The near perfect 2006 Cobos Malbec Marchiori Vineyard is my favorite of this remarkable collection. A glass-coating, saturated opaque purple/black in color, the wine offers up a sexy/kinky bouquet of pain grille, Asian spices, pencil lead, mineral, lavender, blueberry, and black cherry. On the palate there is layer upon layer of savory fruit, spice notes, espresso, and chocolate as well as exquisite balance. The wine’s finish lasts for more than a minute. Try a bottle, bury the rest in your cellar for ten years, and then drink them from 2018 to 2040.

Wine Advocate Rating: 99

[Issue: #180 / Dec 08]