CheapWineRatings.com » Malbec

Ricardo Santos Malbec

Tim — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:22:51 +0000

Ricardo Santos is the former owner of the Norton Winery and thirty-some years ago he was the first wine producer in Argentina to export Malbec. Unless you’re new to wine or have been living under a rock you know that now Argentine wine is almost synonymous with Malbec.

Given Santos’ history with Malbec, I was really excited to taste this wine. What I found was not a typical Argentine Malbec. It was much more earthy and not as “big” as a lot of other Malbec. We usually taste blind, so in full disclosure I’ll have to say that I didn’t taste this one blind.

There is not as much intensity on the nose as I was hoping for, but it opens up after a while. I am surprised at how strong the alcohol fumes are, given that it’s just 13.9% abv. That’s not really a low alcohol level, but the fumes would suggest a higher level. Fruit is not dominant on the nose, giving way instead to coffee, smoky cedar and soy sauce. There’s a little fruit, but it’s restrained. On the palate, the fruit comes to life a bit more with blackberry and black currant flavors. There’s a touch of chocolate on the mid palate and sour cherry on the finish. In a way, it tastes under ripe to me. It’s a decent Malbec, but not a big-juicy-ripe-fruit one.

Wine: Ricardo Santos
Variety: Malbec
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol: 13.9%
Rating: 84
Price: $19.00

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Disclosure: This wine was received as a sample.

Redwood Creek Malbec

Tim — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:32:34 +0000

I was actually a little surprised when I saw that Redwood Creek had a Malbec. I typically think of them as producers of Californian wine. After all, the brand name “Redwood” makes you think of northern California. But Redwood Creek is ultimately part of E&J Gallo, who distribute wines from all over the world. You’ll see Frei Brothers referenced on Redwood Creek wines too, and they are also part of E&J Gallo.

It turns out that Redwood Creek has been producing Malbec for a few years, I just never noticed. Most Malbec that I come across I expect to come from either Argentina or Cahors, France — not that other regions couldn’t grow it — and this one is from Argentina.

This Malbec has big ol’ juicy blackberry aromas with an undercurrent of licorice, salami and tobacco. The palate is filled with bountiful dark fruit flavors. Blackberry jam, currant and plum fill your mouth. The tannins are slightly silky, however I would have liked them a touch heavier. It’s a little bit tart on the finish, but still has plenty of fruit flavors. I don’t find this to be an incredibly elegant Malbec, but it is still yummy. And and extreme bargain!!!!!

Wine: Redwood Creek
Variety: Malbec
Vintage: 2009
Alcohol: 13.5%
Rating: 85
Price: $7.00

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Here’s what some others thought of the 2009 Redwood Creek Malbec:

Disclosure: This wine was received as a sample.

Doña Paula Estate Malbec – Lujan de Cuyo

Tim — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:09:13 +0000

In winery years, Doña Paula is still relatively young, with it’s roots going back to just 1997. It was actually founded by Grupo Claro from Chile, owners of Viña Santa Rita, as they diversified operations into Argentina. You could say it was a good investment, as demand for Doña Paula wines has driven the winery to acquire additional vineyards and expand operations over their relatively young lifespan.

After tasting the 2007 Malbec, I’m not surprised that they’ve been so successful. I should note that Doña Paula released a few different Malbecs in the 2007 vintage, this one is from the Lujan de Cuyo vineyard.

This is a very nice Malbec. The nose has plum and currant fruit aromas with cloves and vanilla adding complexity. The palate is lush and fruity with lots of plum and cherry flavors. The finish adds a touch of spice to the experience. It’s a well structured and very enjoyable wine.

Wine: Doña Paula
Variety: Malbec
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol: 14%
Rating: 87
Price: $13.49

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Layer Cake Malbec

Tim — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:01:22 +0000

Being as into wine as I am, I get into a lot of conversations about wine and I’ve noticed that there are a few names that come up time and time again. One of those names is Layer Cake, and that’s particularly related to their Shiraz. I meet people everywhere who are nuts about Layer Cake Shiraz. And ironically, I have yet to taste it.

In addition to Shiraz, Layer Cake also produce Cabernet, Primitivo, Cotes du Rhone, and Malbec, all from different regions of the world. Jayson Woodbridge is the force behind Layer Cake. He’s also the owner of Hundred Acre wines, a high-end wine label based in Napa that sells wines starting at about $250 a bottle (that’s not a typo). Layer Cake is much more affordable at $15 a bottle, and it’s still good wine. It’s actually produced by same team that makes the Hundred Acre wines.

Each Layer Cake wine is grown, made, bottled and labeled in its country of origin before being shipped to the US. So, this Malbec was produced in the Mendoza region of Argentina, just like every other Malbec I’ve reviewed.

One of the things I look for in a wine is intensity in the aromas. I would say that this Malbec has moderate intensity. While I’d like it to have a touch more intensity, it’s still interesting. It has a bit of a spicy nose, with black pepper, cedar and soy sauce. The fruit is there too, mostly cherry, but it’s not very powerful. However, the fruit comes to life on the palate, where it is downright jammy! Heavy cherry and blackberry flavors coat your tongue and stay there for a long, syrupy finish. At 14.9% ABV, the Layer Cake Malbec has the highest alcohol level of any of those we tasted for this series. It also may be the jammiest, so if jammy is your thing you’ll want to check this one out.

Wine: Layer Cake
Variety: Malbec
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol: 14.9%
Rating: 85
Price: $15.00

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Disclosure: This wine was received as a sample. Another Irrelevant Disclosure: Long John Silvers is a guilty pleasure of mine.

Gascón Malbec

Tim — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:09:45 +0000

It seems that in all the wine shops I visit, Don Miguel Gascón is the Malbec that I see everywhere. Perhaps that’s because it’s distributed by wine powerhouse, EJ Gallo. It’s named after the original founder of the winery, who moved from Spain to Argentina in 1880 and began building the winery in 1884. The winery was run by descendants of Gascón for over a century until it was purchased by a group of inventors in 1993, led by the Catena family—the same folks who make the Alamos Malbec, previously reviewed here.

There is only one type of wine that you’ll see with the Gascón name, and that is Malbec. In fact, unlike a number of other producers, they make only one version of their Malbec.

There isn’t much intensity on the nose of this wine. I gave it a while to open up and it’s still tight. Although it lacks intensity, the aromas are pleasant with jammy blackberry and a soft, dusty earthiness. On the palate it has much more concentration to the flavors than the nose would indicate. This is a big wine that gives loads of blackberry and plum flavors up front, leading into cocoa that carries into a fairly long finish. Fine tannins and sufficient acidity give this wine reasonable structure.

In the grand scheme, it’s a decent Malbec. But for the price, it’s very good.

Wine: Don Miguel Gascón
Variety: Malbec
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol: 14.2%
Rating: 85
Suggested retail price: $12.00 (But I found it for about $8.00)

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Disclosure: I bought a bottle of this wine to do the review and then received another a sample before I got this posted. Sometimes the new FTC disclosure rules get confusing.

Tercos Malbec

Tim — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:26:34 +0000

Tercos is a relatively young wine brand, but the men behind it have a long family history in the wine business. The winery is owned and operated by Pedro and Patricio Santos, sons of Argentine winemaker Ricardo Santos. Ricardo founded the Norton winery in the 1970′s and in more recent years has been producing wine under his own name brand, Ricardo Santos. He was the first to export Malbec to the US and for years only focused on Malbec—although he now also produces a Semillon.

Ricardo’s sons have worked with him at his winery, and now they have their own label. Patricio Santos is the winemaker for Tercos, while his brother Pedro manages sales and marketing.

The name, “Tercos” means “stubborn” in Spanish and is meant to represent Pedro and Patricio’s stubborn commitment to quality. The labels feature a burro, known for their stubbornness.

The 2007 vintage marks the second Malbec vintage for Tercos. And it’s a nice Malbec for the price. Cherry, coffee and oak aromas give it a pleasant nose. While the palate is filled with luscious black raspberry and cherry flavors. The fruit is slightly jammy, which isn’t my personal preference, but some consumers like it that way. There’s a hint of strawberry on the finish. And speaking of the finish, I’m surprised by how long the finish is on this wine. This is not the most refined or elegant Malbec, but it’s tasty.

Wine: Tercos
Variety: Malbec
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol: 14%
Rating: 84
Price: $12.00

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Disclosure: This wine was received as a sample.

Trapiche Broquel Malbec

Tim — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:59:28 +0000

As I continue this series on Malbec I’m struck by the fact that it seems like it’s just been within the past ten years that most of us in the US started to notice Argentine wines, and the rise of Malbec seems to be at the crux of that. But wine has being produced in Argentina for ages. In fact, Trapiche has a 120 year history in Argentina.

I’m starting to sound like a broken record with this comment, but Trapiche has several different labels of wine that they produce, at different price points. Broquel is one of their most affordable brands.

The grapes in the Trapiche Broquel Malbec come from several different vineyards around Mendoza. Trapiche owns over 2,500 acres of vineyards, so they have plenty to choose from for this wine.

The nose on this Malbec has a nice aroma, although the intensity is slightly shy. Black cherry, blackberry, coffee and leather make up the bouquet. I love the complexity, I just wish it had a touch more intensity. The palate is big and juicy—loaded with ripe blackberry flavors and a splash of tart cherry. Rich, silky tannins give it a big mouth feel. It’s a little bit spicy mid-palate and the finish is lingering and fruity.

This is a very good Malbec, well worth the 14 bucks.

Wine: Trapiche Broquel
Variety: Malbec
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol: 14%
Rating: 88
Price: $13.98

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Santa Julia Organica Malbec

Tim — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:25:07 +0000

While there are several characteristics to wine that I enjoy discussing and writing about in reviews, my quest ultimately boils down to two critical measures: 1) Is it good? And 2) Is it affordable? The sweet spot is when a wine does well in both measures. But when it comes to wines I’ll recommend, it’s a bit of a sliding scale. If a wine is really affordable and pretty good, I’ll recommend it. Or if a wine is really good and a little more expensive (but still under $20), I’ll recommend that one too. I should note that the ratings I give wines are not on the sliding scale, only recommendations… ratings are purely qualitative, regardless of price.

This particular wine is one that is really affordable and good, but not exceptionally good. However, given the awesome price, this is a wine I can recommend.

Another factor that can influence recommendations is the producer. Sometimes I’ll find a very good and very affordable wine from a bulk producer, but I’ll be reluctant to recommend it due to concerns about consistency. I get more excited when I find a great, affordable wine from a smaller producer who not only produces the wine, but also grows the grapes that go into it.

Santa Julia Organica is one of the brands produced by Familia Zuccardi, a family-owned vineyard and winery in Mendoza, Argentina. The winery was founded in 1963 by Alberto V. Zuccardi, and is now run by his son, José Alberto Zuccardi.

Familia Zuccardi produces a few different labels of Malbec (as well as other varieties) and from what I’ve seen, the Santa Julia line is the most affordable. But even within the Santa Julia label, there are a few different product lines with different price points. The Santa Julia Organica wines I’ve seen priced at about $10 or less, and I found this one for about $8.00. That’s right, an organic wine for $8.00!

I assume that this wine has not touched oak. I didn’t see anything in the production notes about oak and I didn’t taste or smell anything that was indicative of oak. This is probably part of the reason this wine is so affordable, as oaking wine adds to the production costs.

Chocolate covered cherries is the best way to describe the nose on this wine. There is a slight floral aroma too. The palate is relatively fruity, but not jammy, and not a fruit bomb. It’s mostly cherry and blackberry on the palate, with a hint of cocoa. It’s not quite as big as I expect of a Malbec, but it’s good. The finish is rather short, but at 8 bucks I’m not complaining. This is definitely a good wine for the price.

Wine: Santa Julia Organica
Variety: Malbec
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol: 13.5%
Rating: 85
Price: $7.98

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Silvertop Malbec

Tim — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:23:36 +0000

I was a little suspicious from the get go with this wine. I didn’t know anything about the producer (and still don’t) and the price seemed too good to be true. The website listing on the label, silvertopwine.com doesn’t appear to exist anymore. And the importer, Prestige Wine Group, doesn’t list this wine on their website. At least both of those facts are true at the time I’m writing this, who knows if it will change.

While I had my suspicions, I still bought a bottle. While I wasn’t as turned off by this wine as I thought I would be, it still wasn’t great.

There’s nothing objectionable about this wine, there’s just nothing special about it. If I were blind tasting and trying to guess the variety, it would take me a lot of guesses before I would get to Malbec. It’s not very characteristic of a Malbec… maybe a Cotes du Rhone blend, and a mediocre one at that. I guess it’s mostly just not as big as I expect from a Malbec. The nose is tight (i.e. the aromas are faint), but it has some subtle cherry and tobacco aromas. The palate is also very light and with little more than plum and berry flavors, lacks complexity. It’s a pleasant and drinkable wine, but not very complex, intense or interesting.

Wine: Silvertop
Variety: Malbec
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol: 13%
Rating: 81
Price: $7.99

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High Note Elevated Malbec

Tim — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:51:41 +0000

High Note was created through a partnership between Click Wine Group, a Seattle-based importer, and Vista del Sur winery in Argentina.

The name of this wine caught my eye because I often think about the aromas and flavors in wine like musical notes. But I don’t think that’s how they came up with the name, rather I suspect it has something to do with the terrain where the grapes in this Malbec are grown. With altitudes ranging from 3,000-5,000 feet above sea level, the Vista del Sur vineyards are way up there.

Another thing that’s interesting about this wine is that while most wineries are designed to create several different varieties of wine, Vista del Sur was created with nothing but Malbec in mind. And Malbec is the only wine you’ll find under the High Note brand.

When I first poured this wine it has a touch of green in it, like a green bean aroma, but that blew off fairly quickly and it opened up to be a very fruity malbec. And the longer I let it open up, the better it became. The nose shows blueberry, cherry and blackberry aromas, but the intensity is only moderate. On the palate it’s fresh berries galore, with blueberry, blackberry, a touch of strawberry and some plum flavors. The tannins are gentle and there is not much spice. If you prefer your Malbec be fruit-forward, then this may be the one for you.

I was able to find this wine for just under $10, and at that price this is a very good Malbec.

Wine: High Note
Variety: Malbec
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol: 13.7%
Rating: 87
Price: $9.98

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