2009 Maipe Malbec

On July 25, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2009 Maipe Malbec from Proviva S.R.L. in Mendoza, Argentina. This 100% Malbec wine was purchased for under $9 and is partially aged (10%) in oak for 3 months. I previously have tasted the 2008 Maipe Malbec and I really liked the complexity on the palate.

Color

In the glass this wine is an attractive dark purple in color.

Aroma

I love the strong nose of this wine. It has some funky earthy notes when first opened. After breathing there are notes of raspberry and mint showing. Solid nose of a Malbec.

Flavor

The palate starts with a sweet attack of raspberry and blackberry. This is followed by black cherry on the mid-palate with a great cherry note in the 3rd quarter. It finishes just a tad hot with some red fruit. I don’t find this wine to be oaky and I enjoyed the finish. The tannins are mild, but the fruit doesn’t come across as a heavy syrup style. I found it to be a medium bodied wine. Although it doesn’t strike me as being a complete fruit bomb, this wine is certainly New World.

Rating

I enjoyed this wine and recommend it as an easy to drink red wine with some complexity. I rate it 89 points.

Have you tried it? What flavors and aromas did you detect? Interestingly, I didn’t enjoy the 2009 as much as when I tried the 2008 in the past. I don’t believe the vintages differed that much, so I suspect my palate is changing. Have you noted any change in your palate through the years?

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2008 Conquista Malbec

On February 12, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2008 Conquista Malbec from the Mendoza region of Argentina. This Malbec based wine was acquired for under $9. I believe it is a blend of 88% Malbec, 6% Bonardo, 3% Shiraz and 3% Merlot. Anybody got the details? One interesting note is that Bonardo is produced more than Malbec in Mendoza. It is also known as Bonarda or Charbono.

Color

In the glass this wine is a dark garnet red.

Aroma

Blackberry and strawberry mix together on the nose of this wine. I also get a refreshing peppermint component. There are also earthy, clay notes showing as well.

Flavor

On the attack there is a sweet plum flavor with blackberry and black cherry in the mid-palate. The tannins on the finish are big and last for a good length. The alcohol is kept in check and there is some vanilla too. This is a good wine to drink on its own or pair with grilled vegetables and meats.

Rating

My only complaint about this wine was that seems a bit muted and lacks acidity. But for the price I can’t complain too much. I bet it will match many readers palates well. I rate it 86 points. Have you had it?

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2007 Viu Manent Reserva Malbec

On January 7, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2007 Reserva Malbec by Viu Manent from the Valle de Colchagua region of Chile. This bottle from 100% Malbec was acquired for under $15. Malbec is an interesting grape varietal having arrived in Chile before landing in Argentina where it is so prominent. This wine is produced from old vines on the San Carlos estate and is aged in oak for 10 months. I do have one complaint about the Viu Manent wines. They need to revisit their closure system. I have consistent found their corks do be trouble. So, be careful when opening them.

Color

In the glass it is a dark purple.

Aroma

The aromas begin to jump out of the glass as soon as it is poured. It is not aromatically shy. There are blackberry and cedar components. In addition there is a hint of earthiness. It reminds me of humid, rotten leaves on the forest floor in the summer.

Flavor

The attack is showing cherry notes and plum. The mid-palate begins with some more cherry and a cola component. It finishes with a little heat and dry tannins. The oak is a little strong on the mid-palate. Overall it is pretty dry with only a bit of sweetness on the attack. This is definite more controlled than some of the Argentinian Malbecs which are more extracted and fruity. However it isn’t as easy drinking as most people might expect from a Malbec. It will pair well with milk chocolate. Also with spaghetti.

Rating

For me this wine is a bit bland for the price. It is also got too much oak showing. I rate it 83 points.

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2008 Montes Malbec

On December 20, 2009, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2008 Montes Malbec from the Colchagua Valley in Chile. The Malbec grape varietal in South America is usually associated with Argentina’s Mendoza region, but it came to Argentina via Chile. Thus it will be interesting to taste a Chilean effort with Malbec from Montesicon (affiliate link). This bottle was purchased for under $11.

Color

In the glass it is a dark ruby red in color.

Aroma

Dark and red fruits are mixed on the nose of this wine. Blackberry and red raspberry are showing. There is also a mint component in it and some oak. It definitely has a fruit forward style.

Flavor

The fruit is present on the attack. Again I get a mix of dark and red fruit, though the red fruit is more prominent. It isn’t too sweet. There are cherries and raspberries showing nicely. The mint is still there on the mid-palate and there are quite dry tannins on the finish with some oak. The 14% alcohol is a little hot on the finish. Overall it is a easy wine to drink and will pair well with pasta and meat sauce.

Rating

This isn’t an offensive wine, but for my palate it is quite plain. And I think I can find something similar or better at a lower price point. I rate it 84 points.

Have you tried this wine? Do you think it will be better in a few years since it is so young?

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2008 Tilia Malbec

On November 9, 2009, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2008 Tilia Malbec from the Mendoza region of Argentina. This 100% Malbec varietal is detailed at the Billington Wines site and I found it for under $8. This vineyard touts its product as being sustainably farmed. Another plus is that it has a screw cap. It has been aged for 6 months in oak.

Color

The color is the glass is a dark purple.

Aroma

Blackberries, black currants, and black pepper dominate the nose. This wine is aromatic and full of dark fruits.

Flavor

The blackberries on the nose show up on the palate at the start along with some black cherries. The mid-palate shows more cherries and some vanilla. The finish is long with a little oak but dark fruit. This is not a complex wine, but it is very smooth and the fruit is consistent. I think this will pair great with beef and tomato-based pasta sauce dishes.

Rating

If you enjoy red wine and love fruit bombs, then I think you will be pleased with this Malbec. It is not too exciting but brings good value to the table. I rate it 88 points.

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2008 Natura Cabernet Sauvignon

On November 8, 2009, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2008 Natura Cabernet Sauvignon by Emiliana Vineyards from the Valle Central in Chile. The Natura line is their organic line and I found this bottle for under $10. So if it rates well, it will come on strong as a great value for an organic wine. This wine is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Carmenere, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Malbec. I’ve previously enjoyed the 2008 Natura Carmenere.

Color

In the glass this wine is very dark purple.

Aroma

On the nose there is some oak. Overall the aromas are pretty mild, but there is some blackberry. There is a chemical pine aroma.

Flavor

There is some black cherry on the attack. A small presence of blackberry on the attack and mid-palate is also discernible. The finish is tannic and a bit hot. One other notable character is smooth dark chocolate at the start. Considering all the different varietals in this blend, I thought it would be more complex. Unfortunately all of the flavors are too mild. This will pair with red meat and dark chocolate.

Rating

I am not excited by this wine on its own. It may fare better with red meat. I rate it 85 points.

Have you tried this wine? Did you get any chocolate?

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2008 Natura Carmenere

On November 8, 2009, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2008 Natura Carmenere by Emiliana Vineyards from Chile. The Natura line is their organic line and I found this bottle for under $10. So if it rates well, it will come on strong as a great value for an organic wine. This wine is a blend of 87% Carmenere, 4% Syrah, 4% Petit Verdot, 4% Tempranillo, and 1% Malbec. I’ve previously discussed this maker and tried their 2007 Walnut Crest Chardonnay, 2007 Walnut Crest Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2007 Walnut Crest Merlot.

Color

The color in the glass is very dark with a slight purple edge.

Aroma

This wine took over the room from the moment I poured it. It has a great aroma with strong blackberry and green pepper components. There is also a hint of oak.

Flavor

Great fruit on the attack. Blackberries, black cherries, and black currant are dominate. The mid-palate features some sour red cherries and vanilla. The oak shows up a little on the finish, but it isn’t over powering. This is a smooth wine which shows some good complexity. I think it would pair well with strong flavored meats and other foods.

Rating

This is a good Carmenere and I recommend it. The fact that it is organic is even better. I rate it 89 points.

Have you tried any of the other Natura wines? If so, what is your opinion?

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2008 Mendoza Station Reserva Malbec

On November 5, 2009, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2008 Reserva Malbec by Mendoza Station in Argentina. I found this 100% Malbec varietal for under $6. Although Malbec has a long history as one of the six grape varietals used in Bordeaux, it is now frequently thought of as the Argentine varietal.

Color

The color is a appealing dark purple but a little thinner than other Malbecs in my glass.

Aroma

This wine is not the most aromatic. It does show some plum and blackberries on the nose. There is also a little smoke at the end.

Flavor

Sweet fruit greets you on the attack. Plum and cherry is present. The finish is nice with some hint of spice. Overall it is basically a smooth, fruit-driven wine which won’t last long on the palate. It is very easy to drink but lacking in any complex flavor. Given the price, it is not bad. I recommend pairing it with pasta and sausage.

Rating

This wine is very drinkable. It would be a good pizza wine. I rate it 86 points.

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2008 Maipe Malbec

On October 28, 2009, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2008 Maipe Malbec from Proviva S.R.L. in Mendoza, Argentina. I found this wine on sale for under $9 and have been told it is good.

Color

The color is a nice dark purple. Completely opaque.

Aroma

Nice dark fruit on the nose. I detect blackberries, black cherries and just a hint of bell pepper.

Flavor

This is definitely not a shy wine. It has a immediate upfront fruit flavor of strawberry and plum. The middle is characterized by cherries and the finish is very long with excellent tannins and spice. This is a surprisingly complex wine. In fact your own palate may pick out many other flavors and I’d love to know what you find. Please leave comments if you get the chance to try it. I think it is pretty widely available. This would pair very well with pasta dishes.

Rating

I highly recommend giving this a try. It is a strong effort for the price. I rate it 90 points.

Have you tried it yet?

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2005 Sebastiani Cabernet Sauvignon

On October 25, 2009, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2005 Sebastiani Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon from California which I found for under $13. The 2001 vintage was one of the best wines I have ever had with an incredible velvety flavor. This Bordeaux blend is 84.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec, 4.5% Merlot, 2.7% Petite Sirah, 2.2% Petite Verdot, and 1.4% Cabernet Franc. It is aged for 10 months in American Oak.

Color

This wine is a dark red color, not very black.

Aroma

This wine is quite aromatic. The oak/cedar box is present along with lots of dark fruit. I can smell some dark fruit and even black tea, but the oak is a bit too overpowering. I am disappointed by it.

Flavor

Dark fruit such as currant and blackberry are present on the attack. I get some plum in the mid-palate and the finish has some very nice tannins and spice. I really like the ending. It is long and shows pepper and even tobacco notes. Really nice. It will pair well with steak.

Rating

If you are comfortable with quite a bit of oakiness, then I definitely recommend you try this wine. It has quite a bit of complexity on the palate. I rate it at 89 points.

Have you tried any other Sebastiani Cabs?

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