2010 The Culprit Red Wine, North Coast Sonoma, California

Indicative blend: 32% Syrah, 28% Zinfandel, 13% Petite Sirah, 9% Sangiovese, 7% Grenache, 5% Barbera, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Primitivo and 1% Merlot.

Interesting blend – you guess the syrah, then the zinfandel creeps in and the rest just mystifies you.  Moderate berry nose, with some confusing mid palate flavors. Drinking nicely, no tannins to indicate a much longer life, but well made enough to hold up to nice meat dishes, or as a sipper.  One of those “what do we do with the remaining amounts of wine” blends that actually works.  The gargoyle completes the effect, great buy in my $100 case of wine.

2013 Dona Paula Los Cardos Malbec, Mendoza Argentina

Here is a review by GIL LEMPERT-SCHWARZ LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

In the glass: Los Cardos Malbec is an opaque dense purplish color with a pitch-black core going out into a deep violet rim definition with high viscosity.

On the nose: Many pungent notes jump out of the glass, but predominantly black fruit character with crushed black cherries, bramble, warm blueberry pie, spices, licorice, pepper and hints of coffee grounds, mocha and dark chocolate over soft minerals.

On the palate: This wine makes an entrance with a massive concentration of black peppered fruit, cherry crush, sloe fruit and loads of licorice-laden berries. The acidity is striking. It creates a great melange with the fruit and the tannins through the midpalate, thereby giving the wine a powerful backbone and a good sense of balance. It carries through to the finish that lingers for a good 20-plus seconds with hints of toast, coffee and anise.

This is a good description – I was amazed at the depth of flavor for a cheap wine. I think you could cellar for a couple years and still be fine – although at about 7 -10 dollars, you could by it by the case. Needs a big chunk of meat or heavy red sauce, will overpower anything that isn’t big.