Elliott Bogue

8.5

Bought a 2022 bottle for $17.99 the local. Color is a pleasant light red with a slight salmon tone. On the nose I get caraway seed, fruit leather, and a faint hit of pinewood. I taste anise and cranberry, with a nice dollop of some kind of funky wild berry jam. Nice tannins and mild acidity. Medium finish. A bottle a little off the beaten path but worth a pick up if you find it. — 2 months ago

Elliott Bogue

7.5

Bought this bottle for $12.99 at a local liquor store. It was the last bottle, and I immediately noticed the year and thought why not give it a shot. My guess is the package store forgot they had a case of this in the back. The color has the typical brick tone for a red with some age. It also has a pleasant coppery appearance. It smells like aged, ripe fruit; figgy, and I’d guess it was a port if I was blindfolded. The taste is sweet, but thin and missing body from tannins and acid. Maybe it never had them to begin with? Or maybe it was the years that did away with those essential elements. Either way—it’s sweet, and not much else. For the money, it was a worthwhile trek off the beaten path. — 2 months ago

Elliott Bogue

8.5

Picked up a 2022 for $21 bucks at a boutique wine shop. Color reminds me of a ripe strawberry. The nose brings to mind a cheesecake with lots of fruit, cedar, and hint of cinnamon. The taste reminds me of the sweetness and tartness of cranberries; I also get plum and dark cherry. Mild tannins, and pleasant acidity. I’d buy 2 bottles—one to drink now and another to sit on for a few years just to see what happens. A nice bottle to be sure. — 2 months ago

Elliott Bogue

7.0

My wife picked up a 2023 bottle at the local for $15. The color’s a dark ruby red, and the nose offers a bit of vanilla, ripe raspberries and fruit jam. I do detect a whiff of booze that almost seems sulfuric. Very little in the way of structure; weak tannins, noticeable acidity, and fruit leather sweetness. Short finish. Could probably buy a better bottle for $15, but that’s just my 2¢! — 2 months ago

Elliott Bogue

8.0

Bought a 2020 bottle for $19.99 at the local. Color reminds me of dark red licorice. Alcohol is present on the nose, but it’s accompanied by vanilla, black cherry, star anise, and damp pine needles. Booze upfront on the taste, along with near-ripe strawberry, anise, and baking chocolate. Low acidity, and a short, slightly tannic finish. A nice example of a Argentinian Malbec for the money, though perhaps a little light on typical fruit. — 3 months ago