Bodega El Portillo Malbec 2012

Deep ruby red with shades of violet. Rich with fruit, the nose is reminiscent of plums and blackberries. Tannins as soft as velvet set the stage for an enviably round finish. Enjoy with grilled steaks, roasts and pasta in richly-flavored sauces.

Medium-weight, with a slightly jammy core of red cherry, plum and rhubarb notes backed by spice and sweet toast on the rounded finish. Drink now.

The Mendoza appellation's ecological conditions have allowed this wine to develop all its characteristics optimally, demonstrating what an Argentine Malbec can yield. The end product is a velvety red endowed with sweet ripe plums, rich cocoa and toasty vanilla nuances.

A winery to watch is Salentein, the maker of this densely colored wine that features inky blackberry aromas along with hints of spice and tobacco. Lush but firm, with moderate tannins that make themselves felt. A streak of toasty oak creates coffee and pepper on the back palate.

Nose is almost rustic, with good earthy character, ripe black fruits, and black pepper. On the palate you get muted blackberry, black raspberry, black pepper,and earth. Acidity and tannins are both appropriately medium intensity, providing good backbone. Can a wine be clean and dirty? Yes it can, as this wine proves it. It has that dirty earth character yet is well-made, well-balanced, and the fruit comes through cleanly. The finish is more old world, mostly earth, black pepper, and some black fruit. It reminds me more of Cot and traditional Argentine Malbec than the over-saturated, Jammy Malbecs that have been flooding the market recently ,(which to me is a breath of fresh air). Not everything has to taste like Australian Shiraz or over-the-top California Zin.

This purplish red wine boasts aromas of plums and ripe red fruits. Soft and velvety on the palate with lush fruit flavors. Best enjoyed with chesses, spicy dishes and red meats.