Sip Notes: Luigi Bosca Malbec Riserva 2009

Luigi Bosca Malbec Riserva 2009

  It is difficult to find a Malbec that is not - even at it's most minimal - an enjoyable sipping wine.

  However, take 100 years of experience with the Argentinian winescape, add in a devoted family that still owns and runs its operations and you'll come away with Malbecs that are consistently remarkable, true to varietal and without a doubt among the finest values for South American Malbec in the marketplace. This is the Malbec that other Argentinian winemakers drink.

  Those are my words, but the thoughts echo customers of whom I've sampled Luigi Bosca Malbec over the past several weeks. I've converted devout Cabernet Sauvignon drinkers, wine lovers whose tastes run toward tart whites and BTG drinkers who have now made the jump from house brands to a slightly higher priced option - because it's just that good.

  This 100 percent Malbec begins life as grapes hanging from 50 year-old vies - in three choice bodega vineyards: Finca "La Linda," Vistalba and Mendoza.

  Inhale. Yes, that's spices, lush red fruit and pleasant undertones of oak. Swirl, smell again and gently pour the wine over your palate. The fruit presents gently and the oak, while present, is a part of the story - not a blockbuster scene.
   This is Malbec that is balanced, silky and well made. My Cab drinkers like it because of the structure and balance - no astringent tannins to cloud the taste buds. My white wine drinkers like it because of the spice and the fruit. It finishes bright and clean - leaving you longing for that next sip. MSRP 22.99.

93 points: "There is so much to like about this highly accessible Argentinian Malbec: Family heritage, careful winemaking and a truly balanced and perfectly structured wine."

Read the definitions of my scoring standards here.