
Proof that Mendoza turns out more than just delicious, good value Malbec wines, this moderately priced Merlot wine from the excellent 2003 Mendoza vintage has a dark ruby-violet red color, lively nose of red fruit, coffee and spices and nicely concentrated flavors of dark fruit and plums with a smooth tannic finish; the overall quality of the wine and its lasting finish is impressive; match with a wide variety of meat and cheese dishes including pastas, roasts and stews; Dona Paula is the Argentinean estate of Ricardo Ciaro, director of the large Chilean producer Santa Rita; the firm is less than a decade old but has already built an excellent reputation for dense, well-structured Malbec wines.

John H. Isacs