BUYINGGUIDE
146 | WINE ENTHUSIAST | OCTOBER 2019ness on the finish. Drink through 2028. Paul Hobbs
Selections. —M.S.
abv: 14.9% Price: $30093
Salentein 2015 El Tomillo Estate Plot N°1
Single Vineyard Malbec (Paraje Altamira).
For full review see page 129.
abv: 14% Price: $5093
Salentein 2015 Single Vineyard La Pampa
Estate Malbec (Uco Valley). Blackberry,
cassis and plum aromas are muscled up and choco-
laty. A flush palate with depth is balanced, while
this tastes of blackberry and cassis. A hint of rai-
sin works its way onto the finish, which is ripe and
seemingly not fortified by tartaric acidity, hence this
loses some steam towards the end. Drink through- Palm Bay International. —M.S.
abv: 14% Price: $50
93
Salentein 2015 Single Vineyard San Pablo
Estate Malbec (Mendoza). Deep, lush black-
berry and baked plum aromas announce a ripe
Malbec from high elevation. Saturated on the pal-
ate with tartaric acid boost, this tastes of fig, prune,
blackberry and chocolate. On the finish, these fla-
vors settle nicely and fade out with ease. Drink
through 2026. Palm Bay International. —M.S.
abv: 14% Price: $5093
Trapiche 2014 Terroir Series Finca Ambrosia
Single Vineyard Gualtallary Malbec (Uco
Valley). A smooth-smelling nose is packed with
heavy black-fruit aromas as well as with spice
notes. A strong bolt of tartaric acidity is prop-
ping up this Malbec, such that it’s showing none
of its five years of age. Screechy blackberry, cassis
and cherry flavors come with chocolaty oak notes,
while on the finish this is sizzling due to its acid
level. Drink through 2040. The Wine Group. Cellar
Selection. —M.S.
abv: 14.5% Price: $5092
Bodega Catena Zapata 2015 Argentino Mal-
bec (Argentina). A black-fruit aroma melds
with notes of campfire, chocolate, vanilla and oyster
shell. In the mouth, this is decidedly creamy and
weighty. A fully oaked flavor profile revolves around
milk chocolate and vanilla, while this Malbec is soft
on the finish due to light acidity and mild tannins.
Drink through 2024. MundoVino–Winebow. —M.S.
abv: 14% Price: $14092
Chakana 2017 Estate Selection Malbec (Men-
doza). Pure blackberry and black-cherry
aromas are elevated by a note of exotic Middle East-
ern spice. In the mouth, this is firm and tight, with a
touch to tartaric bite. Common top-line Malbec fla-
vors of blackberry, cassis, raisin, baking spices and
chocolate finish under control. Drink through 2025.
Kysela Père et Fils. —M.S.
abv: 13.5% Price: $2792
Lamadrid 2017 Single Vineyard Reserva Mal-
bec (Agrelo). For full review see page 130.
Editors’ Choice.
abv: 13.6% Price: $2092
Luna De Esperanza 2014 Barrel Fermented
Malbec (Uco Valley). A black color and
superrich aromas reminiscent of vintage Port
announce an ultraripe Malbec that pushes the limits
of how ripe is still good. Cheek-to-cheek tannins and
pulpy black fruit pump up the palate, which holds
blackened and charred cassis, blackberry and mocha
flavors. A chocolaty palate remains more rich than
complex. Drink through 2028. MHW, Ltd. —M.S.
abv: 15% Price: $9092
SignoSeis 2015 The Angel Oak Limited Edi-
tion Barrel Fermented Malbec (Uco Valley).
Grapy aromas of blueberry, cardamom and exotic
spices are unusual but appealing and interesting.
A heavy grabby palate is tannic and almost seems
collapsed, while this tastes of blackberry, coffee and
mocha. A rich finish rumbles to its finale with heat
and scratchy tannins. Drink through 2025. Argen-
tinean Wines, LLC. —M.S.
abv: 14.6% Price: $7592
Trapiche 2014 Terroir Series Finca Orellana
Single Vineyard Malbec (La Consulta). Rich,
ripe aromas show more prune than freshness. In
the mouth, this single-vineyard Malbec is tannic
and clampy. Dry, spicy plum and berry flavors settle
closer to raisin, while spicy oak props up a long fin-
ish with sappy dark-fruit flavors. Drink through- The Wine Group. —M.S.
abv: 14.5% Price: $50
91
Bodega Rolland 2013 Val de Flores Malbec
(Mendoza). An ultraripe nose is chocolaty
and smells of raisin and prune. A bone-dry palate
with sucking tannins tastes of prune, coffee and
chocolate cake prior to a toasty finish. While you
may love (or hate) the richness of this Malbec, its
balance and style are questionable. Deutsch Family
Wine and Spirits. —M.S.
abv: 16% Price: $8091
Domaine Bousquet 2017 Cameleon Signature
Made With Organic Grapes Malbec (Tupun-
gato). Grainy oak and earthy notes are key parts of
a nose that revolves around inky berry aromas. A
solid palate balances ripeness, weight and acidity,
while flavors of dark plum, prune and black cur-
rant are steady on a finish that doesn’t stray. Drink
through 2027. WISD LLC. —M.S.
abv: 14.5% Price: $2091
Enrique Foster 2013 Edición Limitada Malbec
(Luján de Cuyo). Oak is the protagonist in this
ripe and woody Malbec that six years after harvest
still feels raw, pulling, fiery and acidic. Wild, gamy
plum and berry flavors are spicy and hard, with a
barrel-based flavor component that expands on a
searingly dry finish. Drink through 2035. Dreyfus,
Ashby & Co. —M.S.
abv: 14% Price: $5091
Finca Decero 2017 Malbec (Agrelo). Jammy
blackberry and cassis aromas are ripe and
include an exotic note of cardamom. A healthy pal-
ate is structured in layers, while the acidity on this
Malbec registers on the low side, which brings rich-ness to the fore. Flavors of blackberry, dark plum,
baking spices and chocolate are steady on a focused
finish. Drink through 2026. Vintus LLC. —M.S.
abv: 14.5% Price: $2291
Verum 2017 Malbec (Alto Valle del Río Negro).
For full review see page 134. Editors’ Choice.
abv: 13.5% Price: $1791
Wapisa 2017 San Javier Malbec (Río Negro Val-
ley). For full review see page 134.
abv: 13.9% Price: $2291
Wild Iris 2013 Reserve Malbec (Mendoza).
Aromas of grilled meat, blackened plum and
gritty berry fruits are steady while leading to a solid
and balanced palate. Berry and plum flavors come
with caramel and chocolate notes, while this feels
fresh and smacking on a finish topped with chocolaty
accents. Drink through 2025. RLD Imports & Distri-
bution. —M.S.
abv: 14% Price: $2090
Alta Vista 2017 Estate Malbec (Argentina).
A big chunky nose is loaded with earthy
black-fruit scents. In the mouth, tartaric acidity
offsets core ripeness and results in some roughness
and scrubbing. In terms of flavor, this Malbec plays
up chocolaty berry and cassis prior to a finish with
residual tannins and acidic burn. Kobrand. —M.S.
abv: 14% Price: $2090
François Lurton 2017 Pierda Negra Reserve
Malbec (Uco Valley). An opaque black-fruit
color and concentrated aromas of blackberry, cassis
and prune set up a huge, tannic and biting palate,
with heat. Black-fruit and burnt toast flavors fin-
ish dry, crusty and tannic, with lasting burn. Atlas
Imports. —M.S.
abv: 14.5% Price: $2090
Viña Cobos 2017 Felino Malbec (Mendoza).
Aromas of black coffee, lemony oak, black-
berry and baking spices amount to a dark and toasty
whole. This Malbec from a concentrated small-crop
vintage is rambling and rough on the palate, but full
of lusty fruit. Black-plum, raspberry and cocoa fla-
vors finish with lushness on a full but scratchy fin-
ish. Drink through 2025. Paul Hobbs Wines. —M.S.
abv: 14% Price: $2290
Weinert 2013 Carrascal Malbec (Luján de
Cuyo). Although this Malbec smells a bit
stalky and mulchy on the nose, with no overt sense
of ripeness, the palate is in good but linear shape.
This long-aged red (36 months in barrel) tastes of
baked earthy plum and currant, while the finish
is steady but not that deep. Drink through 2022.
Broadbent Selections, Inc. —M.S.
abv: 13.5% Price: $1789
Angulo Innocenti 2017 Estate Grown Malbec
(La Consulta). A concentrated black color
introduces an inky, narrow nose that’s tarry and
smells of campfire. A saturated palate is a bit heavy
and collapsed, while this Malbec tastes jammy and
ripe, with blackberry flavors and toasty blackness.