The 2006 Alfa Crux Malbec spent 20 months in new French and American oak prior to bottling without filtration. A glass-staining opaque purple, it exhibits an alluring bouquet of spice box, pain grille, pencil lead, incense, and black cherry. Dense, concentrated, and structured on the palate, it has layers of succulent fruit, spicy flavors, and enough structure to evolve for 4-6 years. This impeccably balanced wine will offer a drinking window extending from 2014 to 2026. Importer: Jorge Ordonez, Fine Estates From Spain, Dedham, MA; tel. (781) 461-5767

Shows floral and blueberry notes up front, before giving way to raspberry ganache, graphite and fig sauce notes. The toasty finish shows a prominent bittersweet cocoa note, leaving a slightly heavy feel for now, but the stuffing is there to round into form. Drink now through 2012. 1,000 cases made, 500 cases imported.??–JM??Region: Argentina / Mendoza / Uco Valley Select to Add

Brilliantly colored, with dynamite concentration and lovely black fruit and earthy aromas. Precise on the palate but also big and muscular, with silky tannins, grip and a late rush of deftly applied French oak. Delicious and a fine reflection of the Uco Valley, Argentina’s top Malbec region.——M.S.(2/1/2010)—— 93