Norton Malbec 2010 - $8

David: Magenta in color. Nice nose of fresh raspberry, pepper, a little earth and a little smoke. A hint of fox fur is interesting. Medium bodied with nice boysenberry fruit, moderate acidity. Good clean finish. A great value.
Score: 4.0/5

Catena Malbec 2008 - $20

David: Dark purple in color. Nose of blueberry and plum, cedar and pencil lead. Full bodied, medium acidity with concentrated, dark fruits. Pure and delicious with decent tannins a long finish.
Score: 4.1/5

Michel Torino Don David Malbec Reserve 2008 -$14

David: Pretty dark red, purple in color. Nose of red currant,blackberry and sour cranberry. A little damp earth and maybe tobacco leaf. Medium bodied. Very sour cranberry fruit dominates and overpowers every other characteristic. Some tannins. Was a little better on the second night but I think the tartness is too overwhelming. Still it is quite well made and interesting.
Score: 3.7/5

Urban Uco Malbec 2008 - $12

Malbec from Mendoza

David: Dark purple. Fresh blackberry nose with a little sweet oak. Slightly floral. Medium to full bodied. Decent acidity with a little sweetness. Big blackberry, cherry fruit dominates the attack with big round tannins making an appearance followed by a hint of black pepper. A likable fruit driven wine if not terribly complex.
Score: 3.9/5

Jessica: Full bodied. High alcohol. Big dark fruit. Medium finish; seems to lack complexity. Tannins present but do not stand up to the powerful fruit which dominates.
Score: 3:8

Finca El Portillo Malbec 2008 - $9

A Malbec From Mendoza

David: Dark purple in color. Expressive nose with black and red currant, loamy soil, tobacco leaf and (perhaps a bit too much) sweat oak. Full bodied, medium acidity. Good fruit but not a fruit bomb. A little spice. Overall, nice and balanced. Soft tannins. Finishes more with earth, a little bitterness but less overall taste. Seemed to get a little better with air/time. Doesn't knock your socks off but a pretty solid wine and a good value.

Score: 3.9/5

Croix du Mayne Cahors - 2007 - $11

David: 85% malbec, 15% merlot. Purple in color, typical of malbec. Lovely nose of dark fruit, loamy soil, smoke, violets and spice box. Even a little barnyard mulchiness. Chewy, full bodied sour cherry (sourness lessens with air) on the palate with good acidity. Moderate tannins. Good structure. A fine malbec from Cohors.
Score 4.3/5

Clos la Coutale Cohors 2007 - $15

80% Malbec and 20% Merlot from the Cohors region of France.

David: Lovely dark purple color. Gorgeous big nose (its best feature) of dark fruit, plums, berries, spice box, sage, soil, leather and some floral notes. Medium bodied, moderate acidity. Velvety texture with a little spice kick. Not quite as fruity or expressive on the mid-palate as the nose would suggest but tasty enough. Moderate tannins. A little heat but OK. Ends on blueberries but finish is a little quick. Overall, quite nice.
Score 4.1/5

Altos Las Hormigas 2009 - $9

David: A malbec from Mendoza. Deep purple in color. Big fruity nose of red raspberry and blackberry, violets, herbs, sweet vanilla and a little menthol. Full bodied. Low acidity, layered fruits with some spice. No real tannins. High alcohol is evident throughout and is a little distracting. Finish is quite hot, not exactly pleasant.
Score: 3.5/5

Jessica: Mild overall. Fruits were blueberry and blackberry with a subtle caramel finish. Overall impression was underwhelming, uninspired.
Score: 3.6/5

Layer Cake Malbec 2008 - $14

David: Color is purple like most Malbecs. Big nose of plum, tobacco, smoked meats. Very full bodied. Fruitiness and acidity is subdued. Dominant flavors are blackberry liquor, smoked meat. Abundant spiciness. Extremely chewy and meaty. Tannins are evident but not over-powering.
Score: 4.0/5

Jessica: Dark purple. Strong essence of dark fruits; big tannins. Smokey and spicy palate. Complex and has a long finish. Well balanced. A very distinct and dominating wine.
Score: 4.3/5

Maipe Malbec 2009 - Mendoza, Argentina - $9

David:
Maipe was the ancient Andean Indian lord of the winds. These wind swept vineyards of Mendoza, in the foothills of the Andes, are among the worlds highest in altitude (over 3000 feet).

Purple in color, not too dark. Nose had a hint of earthiness, maybe leather, at first but seemed to get more fragrant, flowery (violets?) and fruity as it breathed. Lovely black cherry and raspberry fruit fill the mouth. Stays tart and fruity, almost like gamay, not earthy or spicy like many Malbecs. Round tannins stay mild with some oak and integrate well with the fruit. A great value.
Score: 4.0/5

Jessica: Nose includes vanilla and dark fruits. This wine was really enjoyable because it was not too bitter but seemed well balanced. The tannins are not overbearing. There is some earthiness, a note of a sodden forest.
Score: 4.1/5

Crios de Susana Balbo Malbec 2008 - $13

David: Purple in color. Nose of cherry, cedar, toasted herbs and vanilla. Light and smooth on the palatte. Cherry and black current dominate with some mild residual spiciness. Medium to low acidity, mild tannins. Not terribly long or complex but pleasant.
Score: 3.7/5

Punto Final Malbec Classico 2008 - $12

A Malbec from Argentina. Deep-purple in color. 97% Malbec with 3% Cabernet Franc.

David: A bold red wine with a deeper layered taste. Dark fruits, raspberries, black cherry dominate at the beginning combined with a nose of leather and earthy notes giving way to some smokiness and sharp peppery tastes and tannins which linger to a very long ending. We had it with a very nice chicken parm and fettuccini dish (made by wife) and it went fairly well.
Score: 4.3/5

Jessica: initially sharp dark...evolves to have a lingering sweetness...dry...purples the mouth
Score: 4/5