Malbec

This is made from 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot and the rest Merlot and Malbec.  Insignia is one of the First Growth wines of California.  Its great just about every vintage and has been for decades.  This one is no exception.  Inky purple.  The nose has cassis, graphite, blueberries, leather and cigar box.  On the palate, this is still young.  Medium tannins.  Great balance.  Lots of cassis and some blueberries with underlying damp forest floor.  Long finish.  Delicious.  Will work great with heartier foods and certainly with meat dishes.  The price on these is up to around $250

This is a blend of Syrah, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Grenache.  It is a very drinkable wine that lists 13.5% Alc.  It retails for around $10 and this is a great value.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, cocoa and plums.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet.  Light tannins.  A nice varietal complexity.  Tart acidity. Long finish.  This probably should be drunk in the next few years.  Will work with a wide variety of foods.  Easy drinking and fun.  

76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 3% Petite Verdot, 2% Malbec.  Purple in color, slight ruby at the rim.  The nose is dusty and warm with cassis and spice.  Soft texture.  Good acidity.  Nice cassis fruit with an underlying earthiness.  Some plums on the finish.  Nicely layered, it unwinds in the glass.  It seems open but then keeps on opening more.  Still some upside here.  

70% Malbec, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Syrah, 5% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot.  From the family that owns Leoville Poyferre in Bordeaux.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose is warm and slightly musty (not in an off way).  Also has some cassis and plums.  On the palate, this drinks like a Bordeaux; fruit, tobacco and earth.  Black raspberries and plums.  Slight tannins.  It has a nice depth and seems to be closing in on maturity.  A bit soft but within reason.  Would work with roasted or grilled meats quite well.  No hurry, but won't get better and probably should be drunk in the next five years.  

Purple/ruby in color.  The nose has plums, bell pepper, celery and black raspberries.  On the palate, this is very ripe.  Plums and black raspberries.  slightly earthy.  Very delicious and easy to drink.  Not a lot of acidity or depth.  More of a cocktail wine although would work with hearty food especially meats.  

This is an interesting wine.  Apparently, they hard press the must from their Grenache based Rose wine to get more juice.  Typically, this is a tannic, more colorful juice but lacking some of the stuffing and nuances.  Then Malbec is added back to the wine presumably to give it more freshness and character.  In any event, the resulting wine is quite interesting and at $16, a very nice value.  It is made from organically grown grapes.  It has a very deep ruby color to it almost, but not quite opaque.  On the nose, this has dark cherries, a slight bubble gum note, and cherry juice.  A bit lig

This is 80% Malbec and 20% Merlot from southwest France.  Purple in color, ruby swirls.  The nose is dusty with plums.  Some cherries come out later.  On the palate, this is a bit reticent.  Some cherries.  Firm tannins.  This could use a few years of cellaring.  Good acidity. Would work well with food especially heavier dishes.  

39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 16% Merlot, 14% Malbec and 9% Petit Verdot.  This is a Bordeaux styled wine from South Africa.  It sells for under $20 making it a very nice buy.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is very nice; dusty and complex with cassis, tobacco, some bell pepper.  On the palate, this has a chewy texture.  Nice complexity.  Cassis, dark cherries with enough acid.  Good finish.  Drinking well now and won't get better but should hold for another five years at least.  

This is an inexpensive crowd pleaser made from the Malbec grape.  Available for under $15 almost everywhere.  Purple in color.  The nose has plums and slight cherries.  On the palate, this has slight tannins.  Easy drinking.  Plums that are ripe and just a hint of sweetness.  Clean finish.  Solid all the way around and a great choice for parties.  This will last a few years but its not made for long term cellaring.  Friendly with hearty foods.