The 2006 Malbec Pepper Bridge Vineyard was raised in 100% new oak. Purple-colored, it offers up an expressive perfume of pain grille, pepper, mineral, underbrush, and black cherry. This is followed by an elegant, concentrated, incipiently complex, spicy wine that has several years of aging potential. Its drinking window extends from 2012 to 2021. It can compete with the best from Argentina.Reininger Winery opened its doors in 1997. The wines are made by Chuck Reininger with lots of family help with winery operations. The Reininger label is reserved for wines produced with Walla Walla grown grapes while the Helix label, reviewed separately, is used for Columbia Valley fruit.Tel. (509) 522-1994; www.reiningerwinery.com

Pure Malbec, with a tight, tart Bordeaux grape structure amplified with blueberry and black raspberry fruit, then softened with some chocolaty barrel time. This is seductive, assertive, firm and ageworthy; a lovely rendition of the grape with a Washington (high acid) spin.——P.G.(3/1/2007)—— 90