2 | Wine | Malbec, $10 to $20

"Opaque purple and thick in the glass, this wine has inky, supercharged aromas of ripe blackberry and spice. It feels amped up but balanced, with more intensity and clarity than what most other $18 reds offer. The flavors of wild berry, mild herb and chocolate finish in a rich, toasty wrapping."

"Displays aromas of blackberry, plum and a hint of mocha. This elegant wine has dark fruit flavors framed by plush tannins. Finely integrated characteristics of black spice black pepper and maple combine to create a long, velvety finish."

"The wine has a beautiful reddish/purple color as most good Malbecs do. The aromas are a mix of freshly crushed black cherries and toasty/smoky oak—just enough to frame the exuberant fruit. On the palate, the flavors of cherries and spice are obvious, and the jammy fruit quality just keeps coming on strong, with hints of spice and sandalwood lurking in the background. This is a wine that you’ll want to buy by the case because it can be consumed at almost any occasion, whether at a fancy dinner party, or just curled up on the couch in front of a movie. Fun and delicious—what more can you ask for?"

"Intense violet color. In the nose, aromas of black fruits, violets and spices. Mineral and graphite notes. Great balance and freshness in the mouth, with good concentration and medium structure. Soft tannins and persistent finish."

"The 2011 Altos del Plata Malbec has a crisp blackberry and raspberry-scented bouquet that has impressive intensity and purity for the price point. The palate is medium-bodied with crunchy, primal black fruit and a touch of iodine on the punchy, sprightly finish. This is a great wine for the price."

"Smoke, violets, incense, and black cherry aromas set the stage for a surprisingly elegant, lengthy wine that offers superb value."

"The 2011 is a classic Malbec, but undoubtedly Layer Cake. Big, brooding, black fruit, then rich earth, truffles and dark cocoa are at the front. The Sea of Stones vineyard is at its core, always evident with the thread of minerality that the deep alluvial cobblestones lend. This wine is so elegant in the mouth with fresh-picked blackberries, simmering chocolate sauce on the stove, and somewhere someone's cooking bacon … so many layers, so little time. Drinking a bottle of this wine will certainly lead to, well, opening another. So get it fast and get a lot while you can. We can never make enough to satisfy everyone."

"A rich, inviting red, with overtones of roasted coffee bean, licorice and smoke to the juicy blackberry, cassis and plum skin fruit character, leading to a Mocha Java aftertaste."