Malbec, the once obscure grape variety that was only used as a minor blending partner in red Bordeaux wines, is still one of the hottest selling red wines on the market. Over the past several years this grape variety has found incredible notoriety as a stand alone varietal, and it has found a great home in the wine region of Mendoza, Argentina. The Malbec wines coming out of Argentina are wonderful, and are both good in quality and are  affordable.
In sampling the 2010 Alamos Selección Malbec, the color of this wine in the glass is a deep, dark purple. On the nose the aromas are of dried dark fruit, dark cherries, dark berries, and wood. The flavor profile follows the aromas with luscious black currants, black raisins, dark cherries, black raspberries, tobacco leaf, and a slight hint of oak. My first impression in drinking this wine is the fruit-forwardness, and the jammy mouth-feel. The initial heavy jamminess gives way to a wine that is full-bodied, with medium to heavy tannins, and a nice lingering finish.

Jon

Malbec, the once obscure grape variety that was only used as a minor blending partner in red Bordeaux wines, is still one of the hottest selling red wines on the market. Over the past several years this grape variety has found incredible notoriety as a stand alone varietal, and it has found a great home in the wine region of Mendoza, Argentina. The Malbec wines coming out of Argentina are wonderful, and are both good in quality and are  affordable.
In sampling the 2010 Bodega Elena Malbec, this wine has aromas of dark berries, cherries, plums, and a hint of earthiness. The flavor profile is of blackberries, black plums, dark cherries, earthiness, and tobacco leaves at the back of the palate. This is a medium-bodied Malbec, with well rounded tannins, and a nice finish. For a wine under $10, this is a good buy.

Jon

I recently sampled the 2011 Red Diamond Malbec form Mendoza, Argentina. This is an inexpensive Malbec that retails for under $10. This Malbec is a fruit-forward wine, and on the nose it displayed aromas of cherries, dark berries, and a bit of earthiness. The flavor profile was of cherries, blackberries, spice, and some minerality as well. The wine was medium to full-bodied, with firm tannins, and easy to drink. For a wine under $10, the Red Diamond Malbec is good, and worth coming back to in the future.

Jon

The Catena family has been hand-harvesting grapes from the eastern slopes of the Andes Mountains in Argentina for well over 100 years. The wines of Alamos Winery are produced at their state of the art facilities located at Bodega Alamos in Vistaflores, Mendoza, Argentina.
The 2010 Alamos Red Blend is made primarily from the Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Verdot, Syrah, Bonarda, and Tempranillo grape varieties. The aromas and flavors associated with this red blend are of blackberries, dark cherries, black plums, spice, and wood. This is an easy drinking red wine, with good balance, a nice lingering finish, and the tannins are soft. This red blend would pair well with burgers coming hot off of the grill.

Jon