Cupcake Vineyards Malbec San Luis Obispo County 2011

Very good. Had with steak/shrimp kabobs, Asian salad, brussels sprouts.

Not great. Used for cooking.

Dry, heavy red wine. Pepper and tar on the nose. Not my favorite.

I want to like this. We have been drinking a lot of Malbecs and Cupcake is a nice cheap wine variety. First bottle of three and nothing to write home about. It is drinkable, just not going to convince anyone to try a Malbec based on experiencing this.

A subtle sweetness with a finish like bitter chocolate.

2010 vintage. Really well-made in the Australian style, you can taste that these grapes were allowed to ripen a bit more. A unique Malbec because I never had one that was this sweet, reminiscent of a good Australian Shiraz more than a Malbec. Blackberry jam and red fruits with a touch of oak and tobacco. Smooth finish with a definite sweetness. Very rich and full bodied, the only con of this wine is that after one and a half glasses I was done drinking and ready for bed. I heard a lot about this one and now I see why, the sweet edge appeals to the masses. Great wine for the price. On the second day some of the sweetness is gone and I taste more licorice. I'm bumping this to my first 5 glass rating. Outstanding. 91 points / 100 Nominate for one of the best of the year.

A solid Malbec with a light, sweet nose. The initial flavor is a little bit sour, although not offputting or terribly vinegary. There is a hint of spiciness along with the full-bodied, smooth fruitiness, reminiscent of a chianti. Finish is strong, silky and has hints of oak or chocolate, almost smokey.