Rightful cabernet franc reserve, dryness. And red raspberry aroma. Yes, cool climate sort. Could be taken for a Chinon. Good acid, fine tannin. Balance. 91+/100.

2018: Wine & Spirits 91: 'This wine's delicate plum and strawberry flavors last through the toast and vanilla of its oak, which enriches the wine but also smoothes over some of its detail. Give this six months to integrate, then serve it with roast beef.

Black and deep. Has padding though. Not severe. Yeah, there's tannin, but it's not the gritty sort. Sweet essence of tannat. Fine bottle. 91+/100.

Est. 1909; latitude 39 degrees in Patagonia. Warm, suave dark fruited. The fruit is especially rich this vintage. Fine grained tannins keep it honest. 90/100.

2018: Well, this is certainly a dark hued customer. Sweet, strong, and stout hearted Argentine cabernet. Sweet and mouthfilling. Varietal aromatics still in formation. Satisfying textural presence already though. 90/100.

High density vineyard at 4000 feet. Dark red violet. No sign of 6+ years' aging. A pretty special take on cabernet. Argentine rich, high altitude cool. Nothing else like it. On of the best Argentine cabs I've nosed. Cool to the taste. Hides its alcohol well. Admirable dryness and acidity. Long on generosity. This really delivers at the special price. Gads! 92/100. This got a lot of attendee support, even among the Europhiles, for its exceptional value. List price: $30.

2019: First time in MI in decades; est. 1909; latitude 39 degrees in Patagonia; James Suckling 92/100. Dark colored, dark fruited, full fledged Argentine malbec. Sports a high latitude coolness too. Nothing Mendoza syrupy about it. Bright and full varietal character of black cherry and black pepper. Fine acidity. Well balanced. Both mealworthy and ageworthy. Popular with the group. 91+/100.

Oenologist: Hans Vinding-Diers. At 4000'. Full red black malbec color. Good and ample, while compact, malbec fruit of high altitude definition. Sweet b lack fruits. Striking malbec cherry pith and peel. Really pumps it out. Great clarity as well. Aromas reverberate on the palate. Add black and maraschino cherry flavor spread. There's form and firm core as well as plenty of fruit padding in between. Sweet, balanced, strong, modern, popular. Good acid. Right on target. No tannin issues. Good to go. 91/100.

Wine & Spirits 93 - BEST BUY: 'The partnership between Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) and Catena, launched in 1999, produces this 'second' wine with a higher proportion of malbec and less time in oak barrels than the flagship wine (also recommended here). In 2017, Amancaya is the more elegant of the two. The blend includes 33 percent cabernet sauvignon and spends a year in barrels (20 percent new): It's smoky, dark and earthy, with fine cocoa-powder tannins giving the violet-scented fruit a lithe line.'

2019: Decanter 95/100. NY Times 20 Under $20: 'The aromas of jalapenos, which I find quite attractive, along with earthy flavors of red fruits.'

Wine Enthusiast 91 - EDITORS' CHOICE: 'Berry and cassis aromas turn more subdued and crisp with airing-something that you should expect from a cool-climate Patagonian Malbec such as this. Loamy berry and plum flavors carry the palate, while it feels fleshy on the finish.'

Parker 91: 'The juicy and young 2021 Catena Malbec has a nice combination of spice, berry and herbs to make it balanced, expressive and attractive. It's round, velvety and nicely crafted in an easy to understand and highly drinkable style and a commercial profile. A champion in drinkability.'

Sweet but also elegant. Nice and modest alcohol at 13%. Full bodied. Nicely fruity and dry-ish. Well balanced, well made. Long, lightly chewy finish. 91/100.

Suckling 90: 'Blackberry, dark chocolate and some walnut character. Chewy. Savory finish. Hints of dried fruit. Spicy.'

With 5% each merlot, syrah, cab sauv. Aged 10 months in French oak. The fresh, high altitude house style. Seems some whole bunch fermentation too. Sweet black cherry malbec with lift. Surprising sweetness and density. This will appeal to a wide audience. 91/100.

Tasting Panel 91: 'Highly expressive aromas are reminiscent of red fruit like cherry and strawberry with a touch of spice. This is a smooth juicy, crisp, full-bodied wine with a pleasant mouthfeel, great varietal character, and a delightful finish.'

Full red black malbec color. And black cherry nose. I smell a value. Full and flavorful. Nothing fancy. An ample, straight forward Mendoza malbec for the money. 91/100.

By ace Napa Valley winemaker Paul Hobbs. Dark red violet. Thick, deep, thoroughly saturated Mendoza malbec. Some oak seasoning too. Best vintage of this I've nosed. The palate is equally concentrated, lavish. Essence of malbec; there are so many underwhelming ones out there. Deal! 93/100.

Impressive red black malbec color. The relative sweetness of a lower altitude take. Plenty of fruit to give here. Yes, almost candied sweetness. No edges. Well enough balanced. Broad market appeal. 91/100.

2019: Good freshness, lift. Flavor, buoyancy, varietal ID, balance of acid, tannin, strength at 13.5%. Not al all pandering. Suits my tastes all around. 91/100.

Parker 91: 'The varietal 2021 Fazzio Malbec has an extra degree of freshness, depth and complexity, reflecting a cooler year in a cooler place, with violet and raspberry aromas and a medium-bodied palate with balance, freshness and very good acidity. It's a pure and direct high-altitude Malbec.'

Parker 90: 'The floral 2020 Paulucci Malbec matured for 12 months before being bottled. It shows the textbook Malbec notes of red and black berries and violets. The palate is juicy, with fleshy fruit and fine tannins.'

Est. 2007; former apprentice of Michel Rolland; oenologist at Bodega Monteviejo and Chateau Le Gay Pomerol; aged a year in French oak barriques; James Suckling 94/100. Big and bold and black malbec. Barrel aging adds a good measure of sophistication as well as significant framework. Very solid; not Rolland overblown. Sweet black fruits and oak spices. I guess the palate has more Rolland leanings. Large and generous wine, a cut above the norm so earning its higher price. Mineral salt on finish. 91+/100.

Wine Enthusiast 90: 'A combination of black and red fruit, with hints of thyme and oak, enhance the aromatic bouquet of this wine. Supple tannins provide a good structure to bright fruit flavors. Light notes of dried herb add complexity to this vibrant, good-value wine. $20.'

Wine & Spirits 91: 'Rich and juicy, bursting with blueberry and blackberry flavors, this blend of equal parts tannat and malbec manages to present both varieties without overpowering either. Tense in its structure, it captures the syrupy-violet richness of malbec without losing the tannins of tannat, though those tannins take a few days to coalesce.'

Pungent golden and green apple aromas of a cool climate, high altitude chardonnay. One of the best unwooded Argentine chardonmays I've nosed. And look at the price!/ This is racy. Little or malo undertaken. Full flavor and refreshing acidity. 91/100.

2020: Proper cold cream aroma of gewurz-leaning torrontes. Flavor confirms. Good acid. More citrus the second evening, giving additional vitality. Dry but not austerely so. Improves with aeration. 90+/100.

2020: Parker 91: 'They have a parral vineyard rented in Cafayate to produce the 2020 Torrontes Serie A, a wine that aims to show the typical style of Torrontes. It was fermented and bottled early with short maceration to look for finesse and subtler aromas, pressing the clusters directly. The result is citrus and floral and without the bitterness the grape can deliver. It has a dry and fresh finish without rusticity.'

Good, clear, medium ripeness level of a Colchagua cabernet. New World fruit ripeness but Euro weight. Good. 90/100.

Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Best Buys 90/100 - #82: 'Intense aromas of blackberries mixed with a dash of nutmeg on the nose of this structured Cabernet. Well-defined blackberry and cherry flavors meet light notes of bay leaf and dark chocolate on the flavorful palate. The finish is long and offers dried herbs.'

Tasting Panel 91/100. My notes: Sweet and intense black fruit of Maipo cabernet. Even some black currant snap. Palate confirms. The relative sweetness will appeal to critics and young tastes alike. Cleverly crafted..and well done. 91/100.

35% cabernet franc, 30% malbec, 20% petit verdot, 15% syrah. Quite dry. Harmonious melange of the varieties creates an attractive package. The palate is deliciously fruity and vital. Well crafted wine. Kudos to the winemaker. Wide applications. 91/100.

Est. 1851. Rich and ripe, black carmenere fruit aroma. Yes, sweetly fruity and fully charged 'merlot on steroids'. 89/100.

All carmenere. 60 year old vines. Sweet and smooth, uncomplicated ripe carmenere. All to the positive. Full fruit cremes balanced by berry juice acidity. Good overall. 91/100.

2015: 60 year old vines; 10% cabernet sauvignon. Clear, elegant oak and carmenere berry-plum confit. Sweet and spicy, penetrating aromas. Great oak embellishments. Balanced, fresh, upscale, delicious presentation of carmenere. Fine tannins. 92/100.

Est. 1892. Rich and full of material, with marked oak complexity to boot. Wow. Size and force and delivery. Yes, rich, ripe, well framed and sooo generously filled out. Ideal. 92/100.

2015: By Jacques and Francois Lurton. They nailed it. Super carmenere cassis intensity. So pure, clear, and ripe. Spot on. Nothing over the top. No earth, leather. Yes, varietal clarity, levity of French craftsmen. Works. 92/100.

Fresh and juicy. Always is. Flavorful. All the positive aspects of carmenere. Ready to serve. 90/100.

Near the mouth of the valley, the coolest zone; aged a year on lees in French oak cooperage. Dark red black. Ripe black cherry. Varietal richness and give. No drawbacks. All fruit; no herb; no earth. Rich and round fruit absorbs the high alcohol, which supplies body but no heat. This source know what to do with carmenere; always has. 92/100. In addition to cherry, attendees noted dark chocolate and dark-roast coffee beans. Some bell pepper also emerged with aeration, not uncommon in carmenere's aromatic profile.

14.5%. Heavy Bottle Award. Deep, sweet, rustic carmenere. Earthy but not funky. Good acid, flavor, balance. Accurate varietal character. Good. 91/100.

Wine Enthusiast 91 - TOP 100: 'Spicy berry aromas are accented by black tea and leafy scents that create an ideal Carmenere nose. A tightly concentrated palate offers mixed berry flavors touched up by the right level of oak and spice. A steady finish brings juicy acidity and toasty notes.'

2017: Unique. Really an illuminating take on the humble pais. Exceptional fresh, fruity, floral. Kudos to the winemaker. Fruit juicy good. Vigorous. Wild. Pushes VA without crossing the border. 91/100.

Ricardo Baettig makes this wine from three estate vineyards in Lo Ovalle, a valley in the coastal range of northwestern Casablanca. A crisp, lightly citrusy, lightly tropical nose. Tighter laced than NZ sauvignons. Haunting array of ruby red grapefruit and soft tropical fruits. Delightful for both gustatory appeal and the thought provoked aspect thanks to the uniqueness of its aromatic set. On Valentine's Day, truly a heart throb. 92/100.

All sauvignon gris; cuttings brought from Graves early last century. This one's understated to start too. I don't get an SUS issue. Wow, that's about the briskest, brightest fruit acidity I'm ever found in this cuvee. Exceptionally flavorful too. Those nutty gris aspects as well as innate sauvignon citricity. Worth the pursuit to catch one like this at the right stage. 91/100. Attendees appreciated its uniqueness and quality.