2005 Monteviejo "Monteviejo" Mendoza (Was $29.99)

90+ points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2005 Monteviejo is a blend of 60% Malbec, 20% Syrah, 10% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. It was aged for 16 months in new French oak. Inky purple, it offers aromas of toasty oak, espresso, mocha, black cherry and blueberry. On the palate it exhibits a smooth texture, layers of spicy blue and black fruit flavors, light tannin, excellent balance, and a 45-second finish. It will evolve for several years in the bottle but can be enjoyed now with a charcoal grilled Argentinian rib-eye. Bodega Monteviejo, owned by Catherine Pere-Verge (also the proprietor of Pomerol’s Le Gay), is located at the foothills of the Andes, next to Vista Flores, south of Mendoza. The globe-trotting Michel Rolland is in charge of winemaking." (Dec. 2007) 90 (+?) points from Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Saturated medium ruby. Complex, inviting aromas of blackberry, cassis, licorice, graphite, minerals, violet, chocolate and nutty oak. Dense, large-scaled and very ripe; a seriously stuffed if youthfully brooding wine with flavors of dark berries, bitter chocolate and underbrush. Suaver than the Lindaflor Petite Fleur, with brighter acidity and good peppery lift. Here the tannins are smoother and finer, and the persistent finish displays very good energy and freshness. This broad, mouthcoating wine is compellingly sweet from start to finish." (Jan/Feb '08)