Another value bottle that was on sale at my local big box store. As my options are limited around these parts and my goal for 2023 is to consume at least one bottle of Malbec a week, I'm going to have to take what I can get until finally biting the bullet for that wine.com free shipping membership deal. Watching Criterion Channel right now, more specifically "Ikiru", and was just informed that a remake was released last month. Pass. Anyways, on with the show.
Nose: Beef. More specifically, well-charred beef which was probably due to exposure to overdone oak in the barrel. Some herbs as it sits, but they sort of just sit in the background. It's so off that I am tempted to reach for a few drops of water, single malt style, to see if diluting slightly helps.
Palate: Choppy and indecisive. Some dark fruit (blackberry, prune) comes in to settle the oak down. Burnt bacon and grilled meat notes push forward on subsequent sips.
Finish: Medium. Pretty much as advertised on the nose and palate.
Not exactly something I would get up and dance to. I would absolutely expect to see this in a hotel bar somewhere in Ohio or West Virginia during my upcoming spring travel itinerary. I've had their Reserve and Grand Reserve editions before, and would wholly endorse reaching for those before this.