butkus' Wines

This wine for $12.99 in Vancouver,BC is a steal; given our LDB markup on wines of !70 %...there isn't much for under $13. Air for a couple of hours, refrigerate for 1 and 1/2 hrs.(to bring it back down to cellar temp). A bit chunky, ripe spicy flavors with a medium finish, a good everyday pour. It has more character than a Cotes-du-Rhone Villages which is similar in price.

A fine reserva at this $12.99 price, after airing for 4 hours and lowering temperature back to 55 to 58 degrees, the wine has a silky texture, fresh fruit and moderate finish. It is lighter than some reds but heavier than a cheap Pinot.It's a consistent (never had a bad bottle) everyday sipper and definitely shows more character than flacid Chilean reds and over ripe Australians at this price point. Perhaps the finest value on the market. 3 and 1/2 stars for the wine and 4 for value. Finca Flischman Malbec at $9.99 is the best cheap tipple but this Almansa Reserva has more breeding.

Las Moras Tannat 2007 A powerful, intense wine with a ripe nose, dense on the palate,smells of mint, chocolate and pencil shavings. Using the Martin Gersh method of airing(1 hour eqals 1 year in the bottle) and drinking at cellar temperature(55 to 60 degrees Farenheit), after airing for 4 to 5 hours, the wine showed plenty of fruit, less tannic in the mouth and a moderate finish.Pretty good for the price(Canadians pay much more for wine due to heavy taxation)...it and the Catena Los Alamos malbec are on the list of my house wines. I give it 3 1/2 stars for taste and 4 stars for value.