The 2008 Felipe Rutini Apartado is 100% Malbec aged for 20 months in new French oak. Purple/black in color, it exhibits a pleasing perfume of sandalwood, exotic spices, lavender, licorice, dark chocolate, black cherry, and black raspberry. Muscular and full-bodied on the palate, this is a large-scaled, dense, full-throttle effort that will benefit from 5-7 years of additional cellaring to become a bit more civilized. Its drinking window will extend from 2015 to 2028. The above three wines are made on a consulting basis by Paul Hobbs, an American who has been making wine in South America for over 20 years. Importer: Paul Hobbs Imports, Sebastopol, CA; tel. (707) 824-9879

A ripe, polished red, showing a deep core of blackberry, cassis and fig paste notes framed by fine tannins. The finish turns a touch green and dry, with a lingering olive pit note. The better of two bottles tasted. Drink now. 100 cases imported.??–NW??Region: Argentina / Mendoza Select to Add

The 2008 harvest was a typical one in Mendoza and the Uco Valley, where this Malbec is from. Aged for 18 months as part of an original approach to ripeness, today the pleasant bouquet presents dry flowers and notes of pencil box, truffle and thyme. Intense on the palate; the tannins are still active and supported by the moderate freshness, while the overall profile is still developing.