Diseno Malbec

Grape: Malbec

Region: Mendoza, Argentina

Vintage: 2006

Price: $9.99

In the glass: Diseno Malbec is a deeply opaque purplish-red with a dense red core going out into a dark violet-red rim definition and medium-high viscosity.

On the nose: There are concentrated black cherries and licorice root, graphite, melted black licorice, spicy notes of bramble, blueberry crumble and hints of vanilla, musk, oak and earthy minerals.

On the palate: In the mouth, Diseno Malbec has dark berry fruit medley, melted English licorice, bittersweet dark chocolate and almost minty bursts of blackberry jam. The midpalate features a ripe tannin backbone and nice balance, finishing with a juicy kick of cherries and minerals.

Odds and ends: The Argentinean malbec wines from South America are by and large well-made and reasonable in price, almost always less than $10.

Diseno Malbec is a superb wine to consider for a summer dinner with tenderloin on the grill and a baked potato. It should drink well for another two to three years, and can be opened about a half-hour before consumption.

Gil Lempert-Schwarz’s wine column appears Wednesdays. Write him at P.O. Box 50749, Henderson, NV 89016-0749, or e-mail him at gil@winevegas.com.