What is your favorite red varietal?

Monday, January 6, 2014

La Finca Argentina 2013 ($4) - Malbec

The La Finca is a 2013 oak aged Malbec from the Argentina Andes. $4 so the price is right to say the least. The back of the bottle states on the palate one will find soft and succulent rich fruits. OK - let's get right into this! My wife laughed as she saw me pucker up on the first sip of the wine. I'm not sure I've used the word pungent before to describe a wine but not sure what else to call it. Maybe a rotten lemon taste? I suppose that wouldn't sell a lot of wine on the back the label. Expecting to find some rich black fruit, maybe some vanilla and spice as the label says - but I'm sorry, I'm not getting any of it. The tannins do linger a bit - but unfortunately with this wine, any lingering is not a good thing. Spend another $4 and make it an even $8 and you can find some decent mainstream Malbecs elsewhere that while maybe uncomplicated, are sure to please. At least please much more than the La Finca. Maybe this one needed more time in the barrel. Maybe more time in the bottle. I honesty don't know and won't find out. VERDICT: First and last bottle.