89 
Alamos Malbec 2016
Mendoza $15.95 (295139) 13.0% alcohol
An easily enjoyable crowd-pleaser, this wine offers notes of strawberry, blackberry, dried herbs, and smoke on the nose. It’s medium to light bodied on the palate with light tannins, balanced acidity and flavours of cherry and blackberry that fade into a vanilla finish. A great wine to pair with pepperoni pizza or spaghetti with meat sauce. It’s good value, too. (Dave Isaacs)

88  
Argento ‘Selección’ Malbec 2017
Mendoza $10.95 (591693) 13.0% alcohol
There’s good bang for the buck in this wine. It’s dark red in colour, with purple highlights, and an interesting nose of cherry, moss, mint, and pencil shavings. It has a medium to full body a gentle nip of tannin and good acid balance delivering flavours of cherry, red currant, and spice. This is a perfect wine for an everyday red, to sip or have with meaty stews. (Dave Isaacs)

89  
Argento ‘Reserva’ Malbec 2015
Mendoza $13.95 (363192) 14.0% alcohol
Deep-purple-hued liquid and fresh blueberry, purple plum and blackberry aromas introduce this vibrant offering from high-altitude vineyards. This is juicy and generous on the palate with black raspberry flavours and racy tang. Nine months of oak ageing suggest a mild vanilla note on the pleasantly dry, fruit-forward finish. This is a crowd pleaser to pour at your next barbecue. (Louise Boutin)

87  
Finca Flichman ‘Misterio’ Malbec 2017
Mendoza, Argentina $9.95 (28803) 12.5% alcohol 
This is fruit forward and nicely balanced with good weight and mouthfeel. Aromas of cherry and black plum with hints of spice introduce this delicious, exceptional-value Malbec. It rolls over the palate with dark cherry and mixed field berry flavours enhanced by lip-smacking tang. This spent a short time in oak that’s now totally integrated. It finishes with palate-flavour replays, balanced and tasty. (Vic Harradine)

90 
Rosehall Run ‘Pixie’ Rosé Sparkling Non-Vintage
VQA Ontario $19.95 (492959) 11.7% alcohol
Poured this value-packed, vidal/pinot noir, sparkling Rosé at a large-group dinner matched with a wide variety of hot and cold finger food; it was a huge hit. Salmon-pink hued, it envelops the palate with refreshing, flavour-laden mouthfuls of sugared-grilled red grapefruit and tangy red cherry. It’s crisp and refreshing with plenty of pizzazz. Serve on its own to welcome guests or with hors d’oeuvre or lighter-styled mains. (Vic Harradine)

88  
Tilia ‘Sustainably Farmed’ Malbec 2017
Mendoza, Argentina $13.25 (160945) 12.5% alcohol
You’ll be attracted to the dazzling embossed label with its shiny, multi-coloured tree and pleased to know the fruit was sourced from certified sustainably farmed vineyards. Piquant spice, red berry fruit and sprigs of thyme aromas swirl from this creamy smooth red. It’s medium bodied with good texture and plenty of ripe dark berry fruit and red plum decorated by excellent acidity and a hint of minerality on the palate. The mid-length finish is balanced on a pin. Pour with burgers, pizza, or wings. (Vic Harradine)

• Fruit for the following 2016 El Esteco ‘Don David’ ‘High Altitude - Reserve’ Malbec was hand harvested into small bins in vineyards at 1800 m a.b.s. then cold soaked in steel tanks, fermented with wild and commercial yeasts and 70% matured for 12 months in American and French oak with malolactic conversion and 30% matured in stainless tank.

91  
El Esteco ‘Don David’ ‘High Altitude - Reserve’ Malbec 2016 
Calchaqui Valley, Argentina $15.95 (483263) 14.0% alcohol
Farmed from high vineyards at 1800 m a.s.l., this leaps from the glass with aromas of herbs, spice, berry fruit and black pepper. A gusher of ripe black currant, dark plum and black raspberry adorned with excellent tangy acidity, black licorice and herbs envelops the palate, full bodied and fully textured with replays on the finish and aftertaste. This showcases complexity, exceptional value, and persistent purity of fruit throughout. There’s a pleasant dollop of soft, ripe tannin, you may want to aerate/decant for a couple of hours. (Vic Harradine)

90  
Trapiche ‘Pure’ Malbec 2016
Mendoza $15.95 (370924) 13.5% alcohol
A combination of stainless steel tank and concrete pools is used for crafting this manual- harvested red that was then aged on lees for eight months. A beautiful fresh nose—crushed raspberry, red plum, rose petal and a hint of smoke—treat the senses. A velvety-textured gusher of red fruit flavours mingle with black plum with an unexpected saline note appearing on the mid-palate adding complexity to the mouth-watering tasty tart finish. This is a great value, medium-bodied malbec to keep on hand for red-sauce pasta dishes. (Louise Boutin)

90  
Trapiche ‘Pure Black - Limited Edition’ Malbec 2017
Mendoza $15.95 (462861) 14.0% alcohol
100% malbec, hand harvested fruits from the Uco Valley are macerated for a minimum of 15 days and aged for six months in small concrete vats (no oak contact) resulting in a deep purple nectar with intense aromas — ripe blackberry, black cherry, graphite and a wisp of violet. The palate is taken over by a flood of fresh ripe black cherry, blackberry and cassis plus a mild bay leaf note bringing a balance of flavours in the lengthy warm dry finish. Medium-full bodied with mellow tannin, it calls for well-seasoned meats on the grill. (Louise Boutin)

89  
Trapiche ‘Broquel’ Malbec 2016
Mendoza $14.95 (234385) 14.0% alcohol
This wine is opaque black cherry in colour, with aromas of cherry, vanilla, tobacco, and fresh sage. It is medium bodied with smooth tannins and a tart acidity that carries flavours of cherry, pepper, and red currants. There is a long finish with lingering tannins and lip smacking acidity. Enjoy with skillet-seared steaks with mushroom gravy. (Dave Isaacs)