Stateways

StateWays - March/April 2017

StateWays is the only magazine exclusively covering the control state system within the beverage alcohol industry, with annual updates from liquor control commissions and alcohol control boards and yearly fiscal reporting from control jurisdictions

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StateWays | www.stateways.com | March/April 2017 44 RETAILER WINE SELECTIONS Chewing On Malbec We asked members of our panel to taste and evaluate MALBECS. 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). If you're a beverage professional with a specialty in wine and you're interested in participating in the panel, please contact asso- ciate editor Kyle Swartz at kswartz@epgmedi- allc.com or 203-855-8499 x2225. ★★★★★ FIVE STARS (92-100) A top-flight wine. Superior in taste and character and providing an outstanding price/ value relationship. ★★★★ FOUR STARS (86-91) A very good wine and an excellent value. A wine for which customers will keep coming back. ★★★ THREE STARS (80-85) An above-average wine, at a reasonable price point, which many customers will enjoy. RANKING SYSTEM Five Stars (95) Terrazas de los Andes Cheval des Andes. Powerful, fi rm and polished blend of Malbec, Cabernet and Petit Verdot. More Bor- deaux in style: thick and rich with dark choc- olate and blackberry. This is a keeper but still can enjoy now. $95 (94) Catena Malbec (2014). 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 (Colchagua Valley, Chile). This full-bodied Mal- bec has elegant notes of raspberry, cranberry and a mineral element that come together very well. With Bordeaux-like texture and balance, but the New World fruit character of Chile, this is a real show-stopper. $19 (93) 2014 Clos La Coutale (Cahors, 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 hear ty, rustic red. $17.99 (93) Altos Las Hormigas Reserve Malbec 2014. Fresh with lots of minerality. This is for the more serious Malbec drinker. Structured (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 give way with time to an elegant array of black- berry, dark cherry and an ever-so-light touch of cocoa. $15.99

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