Santa Alicia Malbec Reserve

Grape: Malbec

Region: Maipo Valley, Chile

Vintage: 2007

Price: $7.99

In the glass: Santa Alicia Malbec is a deep crimson purple-red color with a semi-opaque core going out into a fine violet-pinkish rim definition with medium-high viscosity.

On the nose: The wine has very forward crushed black and red cherry fruit with underlying slightly minty cassis laced with earthy notes of minerals. It is a pungent nose that also seems to exude warm berry compote with hints of grape juice.

On the palate: The wine is well-rounded, yet with quite a powerful attack of blended red and black fruit medley dominated by black currants, blackberry sorbet and red fruit cobbler, along with warm, slightly phenolic notes of ripe cherries and sun-kissed plums. The midpalate shows good balance. There also are nicely ripe tannins coming through to the finish, which is a combination of cranberry and black currant juices, showing references of oak barrels, a touch of smoke and earth-driven minerality.

Odds and ends: Chile is an amazing source for all sorts of bargain wines, this Santa Alicia Malbec being one of them. While the Maipo Valley is most famous for cabernet sauvignon, this malbec is a prime example of how tasty those wines can get when coming from properly ripened fruit. This can be enjoyed right out of the bottle, and should drink well through 2011. Try it with a veal chop or other “lighter” red meat.

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.