Affordable Malbec for the Holidays

Focusing for the moment on Argentine Malbec, there seem to be two developments that are a bit troubling to me. First and foremost is the price, which continues to creep up. These prices rely on the popular appreciation of these wines, but perhaps are getting close to their limits. And the second idea directly affects the first, these affordable Malbec wines seem to be for the most part, turning jammier, fruitier and sweeter with the passage of time. I think I have seen this before, in Australia, and the results are well known. It's neither difficult nor expensive to make a fruit bomb of a wine. Maintaining market price and share, on the other hand, can be an insurmountable problem.

Having said that, I will say that these wines continue to offer good value, and even the fruitier versions remain relatively well balanced. 

Photo courtesy FangFangMM via Flickr/CC

Tight on the nose with some cedar cigar box notes early on,  joined by notes of juniper, licorice and cocoa powder. This is rather seamless in the mouth, with fine balance between the tender tannins, juicy acids, and ripe black fruits that remain restrained and a bit closed. There's sweetness here from ripeness, not sugar, and really nice tension as the palate transitions to the dry, taut, blackberry toned finish. This is rather elegant and sophisticated, with a core of bright fruit that's really wrapped up on itself at the moment. I can see this improving. This will disappoint many Malbec drinkers looking for power and sweet fruit. 88pts

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Organic

Light, dusty and low on the nose with a bit of gummy bear grape and black cherry type fruit on the nose and some candied black licorice adding complexity. This is a bit soft on entry, but there's plenty of acid to help perk up the mid-palate. Rather red fruited and both restrained and medium bodied, with a soft core of fruit gently accented by some toasty oak notes and hints of astringent soil elements. This is austere, surprisingly so for Malbec, and offering a nice combination of jammy fruit flavors and soil notes on that lean frame. Eminently drinkable and engaging. 88pts

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This is quite fragrant with wild raspberry and vaguely grapey fruit on the nose, which is showing very youthfully. Very fruit-driven but nice and fresh.  A touch sweet on entry, this quickly finds it balance and offers a rather focused, pure, fruit-driven palate impression. Some fuzzy tannins add breadth and good supporting acidity that really helps the fruit pop on the palate. This is very drinkable and, while a touch simple, is really all about the fruit in a rather fresh way. Some late arriving oak nuances offer non-distracting complexity. Good blackberry seed finish too, though it could be a little longer. Fun 87pts

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This is rather perfumed with notes of vanilla, mocha, rosemary and brown sugar topping the black cherry coulis at its core. A hint of sweetness up front is quickly covered by ripe fruit, firm tannins and good supporting acids that bring out the wild cherry and sour plum fruit to the mid-palate. This is a big wine with intense flavors but not much complexity. Mouthfilling and fresh, this really gains some nice red fruit tones with air. A bit slutty but sure to be appreciated. 87pts

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A little screw-cap reduction here. Nicely balanced nose with an earthy cast to the licorice and tar scented black currant fruit. This is smooth, moderately rich and very well behaved on the palate, with a nice set of accents. Mineral, herbal and wood spice help to frame the slightly small if very well proportioned core of liquory, brambly black currant and black berry fruit. The wood spice is a touch assertive today, helping to drive the moderately long finish, though the mineral touched fruit hangs in there for the ride. A grown-up Malbec. 87pts

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Black looking wine. A bit inky and tarry on the nose, but this has some nice wild berry spice as well as fine rosemary herbal tones accenting the fruit and lightly oak underlay. Rather thick with an entry of sweet, lightly spiced black fruit, followed by some nice herbal top notes and good oak framing elements. The tannins here are a little dusty but pretty well absorbed by the fruit, which has just enough acid to stay fresh. The flavors are very true to Malbec. This explodes on the finish with cocoa dusted black cherry fruit that leads to a modest, slightly oaky finish. People are going to love this.  87pts

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Organic

This smells earthy and a bit funky, with dried herb and dried leaf edges to the core of dusty dried leather and faintly black fruit, topped with a hint of vanilla. Very smooth in the mouth with ripe, soft tannins and nice bright acidity. The flavors here are decidedly less fruity than with most Malbec. This is a bit more savory, with floral notes and some blueberry tones helping to frame a core of vanilla tossed persimmon and raspberry fruit. The tannins are a bit drying on the back end, but there's something balanced and appealing about them. An unusual Malbec, but one that is fairly complex and interesting.  87pts

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2010 Don Miguel Gascon Malbec Mendoza Argentina 13.9% $12

2009 Masi Paso Doble Malbec-Corvina Uco Valley Mendoza Argentina 13.5% $13

2010 Bodega Elena de Mendoza Malbec  13.6% $9

2009 Red Rock Reserve Malbec California 13.6% $12

2010 Santa Julia Malbec Mendoza Argentina,  13% $12

2010 Trapiche Varietales Malbec Mendoza Argentina 13% $8

2009 Falling Star Malbec, Cuyo Argentina 13% $6

2008 Sawbuck Malbec Yolo County California 13.9% $10

Photo courtesy agelakis via Flickr/CC