1 | Wine | $10 to $20, 86 or higher, 2006

"Offers black cherry and blackberry notes, with lilac. Medium- to full-bodied, with silky tannins and a lovely finish of dark chocolate, smoky wood and berry."

"Black cherry, licorice, mineral and light game flavors have a dark, rather austere character in this firm red, which has a lithe, dense texture, with plenty of backbone. Needs food, but has depth and some intensity."

"It displays an aromatic array of cedar, tobacco, spice box, and black cherry. This is followed by a smooth-textured, savory, elegant offering that can be approached now but will last for another 5-7 years. It, too, is a solid value."

"Opaque purple-colored, the wine coats the glass. It gives up an alluring aromatic array of wood smoke, mineral, scorched earth, black cherry, black raspberry, and violets. This leads to a medium to full-bodied, layered wine with loads of sweet, spicy dark fruit flavors, ripe tannin, good balance, and a long, pure finish."

"Fresh red berries and a hint of smoke on the nose, with a sexy floral quality coming up with air. Juicy, gently sweet raspberry and cherry flavors display a pinot-like delicacy. Very fruity and almost shockingly polished for a wine at this price point, finishing with admirable clarity and lingering sweetness. This wine is always an excellent value and this year's release is $5 cheaper than last year's bottling."

"The 2006 Malbec spent three years in cask. It has an expressive bouquet of blackberry, dark plum and fig, although it remains a very tertiary-driven aromatics profile. The palate is medium-bodied with an almost Graves-like entry. It feels a little hollow on the mid-palate, while the finish offers light blueberry and spice flavors, but trails off on the aftertaste."