Trapiche, Astica, Malbec 2015, Lujuan de Cuyo, Argentina

Tasting Note: A personal favorite that reliably punches above its weight offering tremendous value for the price point.

Ruby in color this aromatic malbec has a nose of red and purple fruit including black plum, red cherry, black raspberry and prune along with vanilla baking spice.

The dry, medium-plus bodied wine is medium in acidity.

On the attack fruit suggested on the nose continues to the palate followed by medium-plus grippy tannin that kicks in on the finish.

The wine has some elements of mid-palate complexity even in its straightforwardness.

My house wine for the last two years, I open this malbec without thinking and enjoy with simple dinners throughout the week.

Pairs well with a number of Trader Joe’s dishes (though you can’t get it at Trader Joes).

This wine will never foment notoriety, but for Monday night dinner, it’s hard to beat a solid malbec for $5 that is wonderfully aromatic and is like red and black fruit perfume in your glass.

Astica recently jazzed up their labels for the 2015 vintage but luckily the wine remains just as fine (even with the $1 increase over last year and the fancier label).

Tastes even better the second night after some exposure to air in the bottle.

Bottle Note: Astica means flower in our native Indian language and this wine made in their honor. Malbec is the flagship red varietal from Argentina, and our Astica malbec has all the tipicity of the variety: red color with violet hues and very sweet in the mouth. It pairs very well with grilled meats, but also with pasta and mild to spicy cuisine.