La Finca - Malbec - 2013

From Mendoza, Argentina

From the bottle:
The vineyards of Finca La Celia lie in the foothills of the Argentine Andes. Stunning purple color. Its bouquet is intense, rich in blackcurrant, vanilla and spices. On the palate the soft and succulent ripe fruits follow through with a surprising delicacy. The tannins are silky, coming subtly from the forefront and giving a lingering finish. This wine has been ages in oak barrels for 3 months.

Colin: While uncorking this wine, I could already smell the fresh, fruity aroma of this Malbec. It's surprisingly well-balanced for the price. There's a rich flavor with a smooth finish. The bite is easily countered with a great meal, especially spicy food.
Rating: 8 out of 10 glasses

Rachel: This is one of those wines that pairs amazingly well with food. It tastes great on the first glass, but once dinner is done and you continue to sip it, you start to experience more of those sour notes. But with dinner, it's smooth, fruity, and very easy to drink. Definitely one of the better wines we've had for the price.
Rating: 8 out of 10 glasses (with food)

Where can I find it? We got it from Trader Joe's for $4.49.

Diseno - Malbec - 2011

An old vine Malbec from Mendoza Argentina

From the bottle:

"Diseño Malbec is a rich wine with an inviting bouquet of stone fruit. A hint of coffee complements the blueberry, spice, and chocolate flavors."

Colin: I recommend having this wine with food. Without food, I got a little too much of that sour, vinegar flavor. Otherwise, it has a nice rustic fruitiness. It does have a lasting finish. 

Rating: 7 out of 10 glasses 

Rachel: This is a really rich wine with a smooth finish. The chocolate notes make it an easy sipping wine with or without food. I love how long the finish is and how all the notes continue to linger long after the wine is gone. 

Rating: 8 out of 10 glasses

Where can I find this?  We got this bottle at our local grocery store.  You can find it online for a bunch of different prices, but getwineonline.com had the cheapest bottle.

Espuela Del Gaucho

Malbec
Argentina
2009

It us a full-bodied, plum colored wine. We've had a bunch of Malbecs lately - and I think this is the first we both say "No" to.

Colin: The initial taste is deceptive, because you think this is going to be a strong wine. Once you fully taste it, you realize that this wine is very transparent and gives way to alcoholic emptiness. With food, this wine mildly redeems itself, but still isn't worthy of calling itself a Malbec.
Rating: 1 out of 10 glasses

Rachel: It's too sour, too harsh on the palette and all you can taste is alcohol. It smells as harsh as it tastes. If you like wine to kick you awake... It id really just not worth the money.
Rating: 2 out of 10 glasses

Aerate: Colin - No // Rachel - half aerated, half not made this a slightly better wine

Where can I find it?
Ralphs, or your local grocer

Cost: $5.66 on sale, originally $10.99

Aconga

Malbec & Cabernet Sauvignon
Argentina
2010

80% Malbec and 20% Cabernet makes a rich purple and dark wine.  There's ample notes of plum, black fruit, and all the good flavors that you want out of a red wine.  It's soft and supple that goes with pasta or beef.  We had it with roasted garlic and rosemary potatoes and portobello stuffed mushrooms with almond meal and Italian dressing.  This was a completely vegan and gluten free meal -- and came out quite nicely.  Paired great with the wine - though we believe this could go with just about anything.  And under $10!

Colin:  Surprisingly good.  The price had me skeptical, but on the first sip, I was delightfully surprised at how smooth and fruity it was.  A little smoother than most Malbec - probably because of the amount of Cabernet in it.  The only thing that lowered the rating was the slightly poor finish - it was a little too citrus-y.  Great for $3.00
Rating:  7 out of 10 glasses

Rachel:  This is a very smooth red, rich and fruity.  I was amazed that, for such a cheap wine, it was as great as it is.  It smells very smooth.  I don't really know what to say, because I really enjoyed this wine.  It's fruity, easy to drink for non-red wine lovers, but also holds up on bold flavors for the wine drinker.  And for the price - this is unbeatable.
Rating: 8 out of 10 glasses

Jennie's Birthday Review:  Surprisingly even, in both color and notes throughout.  This wine gives a clean finish, but after a few sips, the fruitier notes become more clear.  A little acidic for my taste, but overall a beautiful find for a great price!  I think I may be a fan of Malbec!

Rating:  8 out of 10 glasses

Where can I find it?
We bought it at Ralph's - our local grocery store.
Aconga's website

Cost:  On sale for $2.99!  If you live in Los Angeles, get this bottle at Ralph's!  Originally 8.99.  For white lovers, Aconga also makes Chardonnay - we bought a bottle, but have yet to try it.  We think the Malbec is worth the non-sale price too, but saving is always great.

Rutherford Hill

Malbec
Napa Valley, California
2007

A deep, dark, and rich red - this wine is beautiful in more ways than one. It has the initial smoothness of a merlot, but a nice bite to the finish. Less on the fruity side, but still really great for people that like a nice, rich red.

Colin: Hadn't heard of this wine grape until we visited Napa. It's hardy where it counts and pairs really well with garlic heavy meals. However, it is juicy enough to drink by itself. I only wish that the initial taste of the wine be a little less fruity, for me to give it a higher score.
Rating: 8 out of 10 glasses

Rachel: I love this wine. It was the first red we tried in Napa, and probably one of the best ones we had. I love how smooth it is, but still containing the rich, bold flavors of a red. It doesn't have a long finish, but I think that's part of the charm of this wine. All the brilliant flavors and none of the aftertaste.
Rating: 9 out of 10 glasses

Where can I find it?
Rutherford Hill Malbec - Unfortunately, it is exclusive to their winery - though, they do distribute some of their other wines. You can't really go wrong with Rutherford Hill.

Cost: $36.00