Bodega Chakana Estate Selection Malbec 2010 (Argentina)

This wine hails from the Mendoza region of Argentina, where some of the best Argentine wines come from.
100% Malbec, aged in new and 1 year old French oak Barrels for 18 months.

In the glass this wine is very dark purple, almost black. Not unlike most Malbec wines. Floral nose with hints of violets and white pepper. On the palate prominent vanilla oak, black cherry, liquorice, redcurrant and violet perfume. A powerful wine with remarkably good integration of judicious oak and dark cherry fruit. Very juicy and lifted by acidity, this shows a classic New World style.
 
It's seems you either are or are not a Malbec fan, either way you will remember this wine.

 

Chakana winery was founded by Juan Pelizzatti on May 2nd, 2002. Juan was driven to enter the wine industry first and foremost by his passion for wine, and also by the desire to invest his time and money on a product of agriculture. Although Juan did not know it at the time, the company was founded on the same day the Chakana was celebrated on the Andes highlands: on that same day, the Southern Cross (the Chakana for the Inca people) becomes vertical in the night Andean sky.

L de Lyeth Merlot (California)

A Merlot with good enough character, elegance and balance for the price; honestly I did not expect to find such elevated qualities in this wine. It has definitely aged well, but at its peak, right now!
Proof of that is its brownish color and mature fruity taste, but showing an acceptable balance in terms of its bold and approachable tannins, acidity and its not-to-high alcohol level, with a nice oaky and lengthy aftertaste. A good effort here, for a below $10 bottle of wine from CA, after about 5 years of age; that proves how a great vintage the 2007 was, particularly in California.