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www.cheersonline.com 54 • March/April 2017 MIGHTY MALBEC For our latest round of reviews, we asked our national wine panel to sip malbec. As always, these selections include brief tasting notes, a rating and the wine's retail price (which can vary from store to store and market to market). Unless noted otherwise, the price refl ects a 750-ml. bottle. If you're a beverage professional with a specialty in wine and you're interest- ed in participating in the panel, please contact managing editor Kyle Swartz at kswartz@ epgmediallc.com or 203-855-8499 x2225. (95) Terrazas de los Andes Cheval des Andes (Argentina). Powerful, fi rm and polished blend of malbec, cabernet and petit verdot. More Bordeaux in style: thick and rich with dark chocolate and blackber- ry. This is a keeper, but you can still enjoy now. $95 (94) Catena Malbec 2014 (Argentina). Rich, dark and savory is the best way to describe this wine. The fl avors are married together in a bold, yet balanced structure. The hints of tobacco and berry are interwoven with blueberry and hearty fi nish. $18.99 (93) La Finca Clos D'Angel Malbec 2014 (Chile). This full-bodied malbec has elegant notes of raspberry, cranberry and a mineral element that come together very well. With Bordeaux-like texture and balance, as well as the New World fruit character of Chile, this is a real showstopper. $19 (93) Dona Paula Estate Malbec 2015 (Argentina). The Dona Paula continues to be the gold standard of Argentine malbec. Robust fruit with fi rm structure gives way with time to an elegant array of blackberry, dark cherry and an ever-so-light touch of cocoa. $15.99 (93) 2014 Clos La Coutale (France). This wine is a blend of 80% malbec and 20% merlot. It's aged in oak barrels to obtain a full balance between medium tannins and dark, black fruit. This Cahors malbec is a hearty, rustic red. $17.99 RATING SYSTEM Five stars (92-100 points) A top-fl ight wine. Superior in taste and character and providing an outstanding price/value relationship. Four stars (86-91 points) A superb wine and an excellent value. A wine for which customers will keep coming back. Three stars (80-85 points) An above-average wine at a reasonable price point, one that many consumers will enjoy.