Cicchitti Edicion Limitada Malbec 2008, Mendoza, Argentina

Lots of sugar diamonds on this synthetic cork. Pretty nice aromatics of cherry, dark plums, ripe berry jam, vanilla, smoky and savoury. The palate is smooth with luscious fruit, fresh acidity and soft tannins. The finish is medium length, velvety and slightly sweet. What this wine lacks in finesse is made up in sheer fruit power. The wine is marketed as extra-dry, I think its more closer to medium. I think most people will like this wine's easy drinking and crowd pleasing style. Be careful as you get closer to the bottom of the bottle, this Malbec had tons of sediments. I cannot remember the last time I saw so much sediment. Score 88 Points

This wine was purchased December 10, 2011 LCBO New Release at $23.95

Cicchitti Gran Reserva Malbec 2004, Mendoza, Argentina

The aromas on this wine are pretty muted, after 12 months in French and American oak and about 5 years in bottle; blueberry, blackberry, tobacco, leather, pencil shaving and vanilla. The mouthfeel is thick, velvety and sweet with well integrated tannins. The finish is long, with concentrated fruit and earthy. All and all, enjoyable, great with BBQ meat. Only negative, I am not a fan of synthetic cork, a wine which spends this amount of time in bottle needs a real cork or quality Stelvin cap.

This wine was purchased July 9, 2011 LCBO New Release at $21.95