2009 Andeluna Malbec, Mendoza

Michel Rolland, one of the industry's most controversial winemaking consultants, collaborated on the production of this Andeluna bottling with Silvio Alberto.   Malbecs can be difficult to distinguish from one another -- it's the predominant red varietal in Argentina but is a minor player (a "blending" grape) that is only used in Bordeaux blends in small proportions (typically less than 5%).  

The wine shows hot alcohol on the nose and is pretty difficult to distinguish from other low-end Malbecs from Mendoza (or the west of France for that matter) -- but it's appropriately priced at $10.   86 points