Variety: Malbec
Region: Central Valley, Chile
Cost: $12 (SRP)
Winemaker’s Notes: A robust Malbec with intense, dark fruits, black pepper, and vanilla. Full-bodied, fresh and fruity it has a long, mouth-watering finish. Great with grilled meats and roasted vegetables.
My Review: I’ve had a lot of wines from Casillero del Diablo over the years – they’re affordable and readily available, which makes them easy to pick up at the local store. I have to admit though – I’m not sure I’ve ever actually had their Malbec (Editor’s Note: After writing this I went and checked my reviews and I was right…I’ve never written about their Malbec, which makes me think I’ve never had it). Well, there’s always time to change things.
In the glass the 2016 Malbec was a brickish red with slashes of purple. On the nose I picked up dried cherry and spice, while in the mouth the tart cherry continued and was joined by a bit of vanilla on the finish to balance out the tartness of the fruit.
Paired with some steak salads the wine was enjoyable. I’ll admit that it’s not the best Malbec that I’ve ever had, but on a Tuesday night after work when I was ready for a glass of wine with my dinner, it’s hard to argue with an easy to find, budget-friendly red that’s easy to pair with food.
Editor’s Note: I received this wine as a free sample for review.
