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River Stone Estate Winery 2022 Malbec Rosé - 88pts

River Stone Estate Winery 2022 Malbec Rosé (Oliver) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $24.90 (including tax)
Alcohol: 12.2%
Date Tasted: June 1st, 2023

Tasting Notes: For rosé connoisseurs, you'll find this likeable Malbec blush high on both the crispness and body indexes. Dry and well balanced, this is an aromatic and textured wine with real substance and plenty of red fruit, blossoms and rhubarb characters throughout. Think refreshing and refined, rather than delicate and demure for this pink beauty. Drink now-2024.

Gold Hill Winery 2020 Charisma Malbec - 85pts

Gold Hill Winery 2020 Charisma Malbec (Oliver) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $24.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14%

Date Tasted: September 30th, 2022

Tasting Notes: Opens with a cheerful, fruit-forward nose of mixed berries and cherry aromas. This is followed by an under-ripe, medium-bodied palate of green-ish, dusty tannins and flavours of tart blueberries, tomato stock, herbs and oak chips. Pair with tomato-based stews. Drink now-2023.

Rainmaker Wines 2018 Malbec - 91pts

Rainmaker Wines 2018 Malbec (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $40 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.8%
Date Tasted: June 25th, 2022

Tasting Notes: A Malbec with something to say. At 4 years of age, the Rainmaker Malbec is both intense and elegant with a densely layered nose and an extracted, supremely well-balanced palate. Classic Malbec, blackened berries are supported by savoury notes of earth, sweet tar and plenty of spice. Intensely flavourful and tannic on the ripe palate with plenty of refreshing, berry acidity on the long finish. Ready to go now or hold for the potential of further development. Drink 2022-2027.

Moon Curser Vineyards 2020 Malbec - 88-90pts

Moon Curser Vineyards 2020 Malbec (Osoyoos East Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here
Cost: $34.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.5%
Production: 513 cases
Date Tasted: June 24th, 2022

Tasting Notes: Big, bold and boisterous, though, perhaps not with a lot to say, yet. In its youth this Osoyoos East Bench Malbec satisfies the red wine lover's quench for robustness and intensity with a charred nose of blackened berries, toasted oak, tar, black cherry, molasses and kerosene tea which is followed by an equally intense and dense palate with similar flavours, added spice and a tart finish of black fruit puree and tannins.

There's lots to like, but no additional depth or refined, elegant elements, yet. With more time in the bottle, the depth should come and the raw intensity should mellow nicely. Drink 2024-2026.

Cassini Cellars 2018 Malbec - 91pts

Cassini Cellars 2018 Malbec (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from the winery here upon release
Cost: $40
Alcohol: 14.8%
Production: 200 cases
Date Tasted: November 20th, 2021

Tasting Notes: An impressive, textured Malbec with a nice blend of ripe, dark berry fruit and meaty, savoury notes of spicy tobacco, sweet tar and leather. Look for flavours of menthol and pencil shavings on the kirsch-kissed, uber-long finish where robust, refined tannins linger to the next sip.

Best to let this beautiful beast sit for another year prior to opening. Drink early-2022-2026.

La Frenz Winery 2018 Malbec - 88-89pts

La Frenz Winery 2018 Malbec (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $26 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.8%
Date Tasted: May 20th, 2021

Tasting Notes: This Malbec (blended with 12% Syrah) is a full-bodied, juicy feast of lovely spice, black plum, sun-ripe blackberry and sweet earth characters on both the approachable nose and well-balanced palate whose ratio of fruit-to-savoury notes is spot on. Give this one a rest until the Summer of 2022, if you can wait, to allow for further integration. Drink 2022-2024.

Pascual Toso 2019 Toso Estate Malbec - 87pts

Pascual Toso 2019 Toso Estate Malbec (Mendoza) Argentina

Availability: Widely available at BCLDB store
Cost: $11.99-14.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13%
Date Tasted: October 30th, 2020

Tasting Notes: An extremely well-price, rustic Malbec with pruny berries, licorice, subtle oak and light savoury notes. Full-ish in body with lingering barrel smoke and joyful spices on the moderate-plus finish. Ready to go now. Drink 2020-2022.

La Frenz Winery 2017 Malbec - 88-89pts

La Frenz Winery 2017 Malbec (Golden Mile Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $24.26 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.4%
Date Tasted: May 7th, 2020

Tasting Notes: Blended with 14% Syrah, this is a full bodied Malbec with a lovely run of spice through the black plum, sun-ripe blackberry and sweet earth scented nose and the similarly flavoured palate. Finish is a touch hot and short, but the overall balance of fruit-to-savoury characters is spot on. Give this one a rest until the Summer of 2021 to allow for further integration. Drink 2021-2024.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

River Stone Estate Winery 2018 Malbec Rosé - 88pts

River Stone Estate Winery 2018 Malbec Rosé (Oliver) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Direct from winery here
Cost: $22.90 (including tax)
Alcohol: 12.8%
Date Tasted: July 24th, 2019

Tasting Notes: This 100% Malbec rosé, the colour of watermelon Jolly Rangers, opens with a subtle, aromatic nose of white blossoms and delicate red fruit aromas. Extended skin contact adds a nice kick of tannin, enhancing the complexity of the wonderfully textured, (mostly) off-dry and pleasantly mouth-watering palate. Grapefruit zest and light spice notes show on the long finish. Ready to go now. Drink 2019-2021.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

Tinto Negro 2017 Malbec - 87pts

Tinto Negro 2017 Malbec (Lujan de Cuyo) Mendoza - Argentina

Availability: Private wine stores
Cost: $14.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: May 7th, 2019

Tasting Notes: A well-priced, entry-level Malbec, (mostly) dry with a rich and round demeanor, both 'juicy' and 'dark' with some pleasant red and black fruit notes, savoury spices and a touch of chocolate-vanilla. A little sharp on the concentrated, tannin-free, mouth-watering finish. Pair with BBQ sauce-drenched chicken wings. Ready to go now. Drink 2019-2020.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

Kaiken 2015 Ultra Malbec - 91pts

Kaiken 2015 Ultra Malbec (Lujan de Cuyo) Mendoza - Argentina

Availability: Private wine stores like Everything Wine
Cost: $30-32 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: May 6th, 2019

Tasting Notes: A dense and dark Malbec, very 'broody' on both the licorice'n'cassis scented nose and the ultra-concentrated palate where flavours of black plums, blackberries, wild herbs and plenty of spice are supported nicely by dusty, fine tannins and wild-berry acidity. Ready to go now. Drink 2019-2021.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

Trivento 2017 Reserve Malbec - 85pts

Trivento 2017 Reserve Malbec (Mendoza) Argentina

Availability: BCLDB Stores
Cost: $14.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13%
Date Tasted: May 2nd, 2019

Tasting Notes: Has a touch of candied fruit and fruit cake notes, a la Beaujolais, on the otherwise, perfume-y, spiced nose. More feminine in style for the 2017 vintage and, overall, better balanced between its spice, blue fruit and lightly smoked tannin characters. Ready to go now. Drink now-2020.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

Bodega Norton 2018 Barrel Select Malbec - 86pts

Bodega Norton 2018 Barrel Select Malbec (Luján de Cuyo) Mendoza - Argentina

Availability: BCLDB Stores
Cost: $14.49 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: May 1st, 2019

Tasting Notes: Though lacking concentration and a tad watery, this is an accessible, straight-forward and (thankfully) dry Malbec with a pleasing blend of berry fruit, sweet florals and layers of savoury spice and oak notes throughout. A touch of iron on the finish and low-ish tannins make this a nice pairing for leaner cuts of beef like filet mignon. Drink now-2022.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

Bodega Renacer 2017 Punta Final Malbec - 87pts

Bodega Renacer 2017 Punta Final Malbec (Mendoza) Argentina

Availability: Widely available
Cost: $15.99 (BCLDB Stores)
Alcohol: 13%
Date Tasted: April 24th, 2019

Tasting Notes: In the category of budget Malbecs from Argentina, the Punta Final is the bad boy of the group when compared to its fruitier, cherry-berry brothers. There's a nice edge to this wine with a profile of darker fruit and charred oak, and with supporting notes of tar, spices and vanilla. That edge is a bit rough, we're not dealing with an uber-refined Malbec here, but there is true value on offer. Pair with sweet'n'spicy, BBQ pork or chicken. Drink now-2020.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

Kaiken 2016 Reserva Malbec - 86pts

Kaiken 2016 Reserva Malbec (Lujan de Cuyo) Mendoza - Argentina

Availability: Special order, private wine stores
Cost: $14.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: April 18th, 2019

Tasting Notes: Tonally, a cooler edition of this well-priced Malbec from the Montes family, the 2016 offers a profile of dark and red berry fruit with charred oak and spice on the masculine, developing nose and on the green-ish, spice-driven palate. Finish is moderate with lively wild berry acidity and a hint of mint and tar. Drink now-2020.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

Doña Paula 2016 Estate Malbec - 88pts

Doña Paula 2016 Estate Malbec (Valle De Uco) Mendoza - Argentina

Availability: Private stores like Everything Wine
Cost: $15.99-18.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: October 26th, 2018
Date Re-tasted: April 14th, 2019

Tasting Notes: A typical, fruity/juicy/fresh Malbec from the Valle De Uco in the Mendoza, but happily, with some smokey goodness on appealing, blackberry and violet infused nose and with beautifully integrated spice on the lively, black fruit dominant palate. A drink now Malbec, lacking the tannin structure for a long life, but a well balanced, food-friendly wine that would pair nicely with spicy, grilled meats. Drink now-2020.

Re-tasting Notes: Tasted 6 months later as part of the lead up to the 2019 World Malbec day (April 17th). Still believe this is a drink-now Malbec with a tasty, juicy-smoky profile and light tannins. Crazy good value for this quality-to-price ratio.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

Finca Decero 2016 Remolinos Vineyard Malbec - 89pts

Finca Decero 2016 Remolinos Vineyard Malbec (Agrelo) Mendoza - Argentina

Availability: Special order, private wine stores
Cost: $23.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: August 2nd, 2018
Re-tasted: April 3rd, 2019

Tasting Notes: Sourced from a single, high altitude vineyard in the Agrelo appellation of Mendoza and distinguished by a sweet'n'earthy, flower bed note on the feminine, red berry scented nose. Offers good concentration and balance between fruit, savoury, oak and acid components on the full-ish, rounded palate. A lengthy, spice-laced finish lingers pleasantly. Drink now-2020.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca

Re-tasting Notes: This uber-smooth Malbec is ageing nicely with an opulent, lushness to the palate that is instantly enjoyable. The alcohol is starting to be noticeable, just a touch, but enough to think the original drinking window is probably still right. Enjoy this beauty over the next year and a half.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

Bodegas Escorihuela 2017 '1884' Malbec - 87pts

Bodegas Escorihuela 2017 '1884' Malbec (Mendoza) Argentina

Availability: BCLDB Stores
Cost: $17.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13%
Date Tasted: July 23rd, 2018
Date Re-Tasted: March 31st, 2019

Tasting Notes: Keeps to the house style of a feminine and spicy Malbec with concentrated, blue fruit and sweet pipe tobacco characters and smoky tannins, yet the mouthfeel is slightly watered-down for the 2017 vintage which tends to heighten the spiciness without enough body to fully even the overall balance. Still, for the price, we're nitpicking here and this Malbec offers excellent value. Drink now-2021.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

Achaval Ferrer Winery 2017 Malbec - 92pts

Achaval Ferrer Winery 2017 Malbec (Mendoza) Argentina

Availability: Private wine stores like Everything Wine
Cost: $34.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: March 23rd, 2019

Tasting Notes: This is an uber extracted, smokey, seductress of a Malbec with an intense, aromatic, black fruit'n'incense scented nose and an equally intense, chewy palate with rounded tannins, dense, dark fruit, smokey spices and bright, fresh blackberry acidity. A fantastic wine for BBQ meats or dark chocolate. Drink 2019-2025.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2019 IconWines.ca

Dominio Del Plata 2016 BenMarco Malbec - 89pts

Dominio Del Plata 2016 BenMarco Malbec (Valle De Uco) Mendoza - Argentina

Availability: BCLDB Stores
Cost: $18.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: October 26th, 2018

Tasting Notes: A very intense and concentrated Malbec from the Valle De Uco in the Mendoza. Fruit forward, though, with a decidedly acidic direction from the balsamic vinegar notes on the, otherwise, fruity/floral nose, through to the bright blackberry and apple cider flavours on the, otherwise, pepper'n'spice palate. Tannins are light and dominated by the fluidity created by the tangy texture and long-ish finish where nice, savoury spice notes linger. Ready to go now. Drink 2018-2020.
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca

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