The 2008 Monteviejo is a blend of 70% Malbec, 20% Syrah, and 10% Merlot aged for 16 months in new French oak. Deep purple in color, it exhibits an inviting nose of balsam wood, spice box, violets, rose petal, black cherry, and blueberry. This is followed by a medium- to full-bodied wine with excellent density and volume, layered, spicy black fruit, enough structure for several years of development, and a lengthy seamless finish. This tasty effort will provide peak drinking from 2013 to 2023. Importer: Bob Bofman Selections; Glenview, IL; tel. (512) 919-9463; fax (512) 727-2453

A wonderful wine from the Uco Valley of Mendoza that opens with fine fruit, richness and molten earth. The palate is big as they come but not hard and out of whack, and the flavors are an amalgam of rich black plum, berry fruit, fig paste and chocolate. Smoky and sultry on the back end, with mocha and coffee for finishing notes. Drink now through 2014.——M.S.(8/1/2010)—— 93

The 2005 Monteviejo is a blend of 60% Malbec, 20% Syrah, 10% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. It was aged for 16 months in new French oak. Inky purple, it offers aromas of toasty oak, espresso, mocha, black cherry and blueberry. On the palate it exhibits a smooth texture, layers of spicy blue and black fruit flavors, light tannin, excellent balance, and a 45-second finish. It will evolve for several years in the bottle but can be enjoyed now with a charcoal grilled Argentinian rib-eye.Bodega Monteviejo, owned by Catherine Pere-Verge (also the proprietor of Pomerol’s Le Gay), is located at the foothills of the Andes, next to Vista Flores, south of Mendoza. The globe-trotting Michel Rolland is in charge of winemaking.Importer: Bob Bofman Selections, Austin, TX; tel. (512) 919-9463