(2 Glasses for the price AND for being drinkable)
I had high hopes for this one. A Malbec Reserva from Mendoza? Sounds fancy. $7.99 instead of the usual $20? Sounds like a steal. But as I cracked it open, ready for a bold, delicious red, I was immediately hit with… nothing. No big aroma, no rich, enticing scent—just an empty void where my expectations once lived. Not a great start.
First sip? Fairly dry, which I usually like. But then came this weird little tangy sweetness at the end, like it couldn’t decide if it wanted to be serious or fun. Spoiler alert: it should’ve picked serious. That tangy finish kind of lingered, like an awkward party guest who doesn’t realize everyone else has gone home.
Originally, I planned to pair this with tacos because, well, tacos make everything better. But then tragedy struck—my tortillas were moldy. So instead of tacos, I had a bowl of seasoned taco meat like some kind of survivalist eating rations in the apocalypse. And guess what? The taco meat had more flavor than the wine. That’s right. I was sipping this Malbec between bites of ground beef and thinking, “Man, this wine could really use some seasoning.”
The body was decent, but it just didn’t have that umph I want in a Malbec. Nothing particularly bold or memorable, just… fine. Drinkable, sure, but for something labeled Reserva, I expected a bit more. A little depth, a little attitude—something that made me want to keep sipping. Instead, I just kept sipping because, well, I already poured it.
I’ve had some good wines from this company before, so I won’t hold this one against them. But would I buy it again? Probably not. For $7.99, it’s not the worst thing I’ve put in a glass, but it’s also not something I’ll be running back to. If I’m drinking Malbec, I want bold, smooth, and a little intense—like a tango dancer, not a wallflower. This one? Meh. Let’s just say if I see it on sale again, I’ll keep walking… probably toward the tortilla aisle to avoid another taco tragedy.
Types of Grapes: 100% Malbec
Fun Juice Level: 13%
Origin: Mendoza, Argentina
Grocery Outlet Price: $7.99, normally around $20
