Wine - Silvertop Malbec 2005

We tried another new wine this weekend, Silvertop Malbec 2005. It is produced in the foothills of the Andes. This is what our local wine expert said about the wine in the local paper. "Silvertop is from a classic bodega located in the Mendoza region, which also happens to be one of the world's largest wine growing areas. The malbec vines there are on average about 30 years of age and produce good earthy and spicy wines quite typical of the varietal.

In the glass, this Silvertop Malbec is a lightish semi-opaque garnet-red color with a firm red to slightly tinged rim definition and medium viscosity. On the nose, there is an immediate whiff of freshly baked cherry pie, fruit tart and blueberry coulis, followed by phenols, red ripe fruits, red plums, some herbs and hints of tobacco and stony minerals.

In the mouth, the wine shows soft, ripe red and black cherry fruit, quite pure blackcurrant character, Morrello cherry juice and no hints of oak whatsoever, meaning it comes across really clean with the fruits through the mid-palate, showing nice tannin structure. The finish is medium-long and has hints of minerality.

Altogether a wonderfully rounded, yet fruit-forward wine that is well made and highly recommended for its tremendous value. Try it with a traditional Argentinean carne asada. Drink it now through 2008."

Wine: Silvertop Malbec 2005

Region: Mendoza, Argentina

Vintage: 2005

Price: $ 5.99

Grape: Malbec (100 percent)