Full Review

Exquisite Collection

Exquisite Collection
2020 Malbec, Mendoza

Pair this wine with:
Beef Cheese Pasta Pork

Category: Malbec

Date Tasted:
Country: Argentina
Alcohol: 13.5%
88 Points
Silver Medal
Highly Recommended
$7.99
Best Buy

Exquisite Collection
2020 Malbec, Mendoza

Pair this wine with:
Beef Cheese Pasta Pork

Category: Malbec

Date Tasted:
Country: Argentina
Alcohol: 13.5%
Deep purple color. Aromas of chocolate dipped prunes, blackberry coulis, and black tea with vanilla cream with a satiny, vibrant, dry-yet-fruity light-to-medium body and an even, medium-length pickled berries and pie crusts finish with no oak flavor. A food friendly Malbec with great juicy acidity.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Fruity & Juicy & Smooth
Aroma Aroma: chocolate dipped prunes, blackberry coulis, and black tea with vanilla cream
Taste Flavor: pickled berries and pie crusts
Sweetness Sweetness: Dry-yet-Fruity
Enjoy Enjoy: Now with food and on its own
Recipes Pairing: Baked Ham, Meat Loaf, Lasagna
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A food friendly Malbec with great juicy acidity.

The Retailer

Aldi Inc.

The Retailer
1200 North Kirk Road
Batavia, IL 60510
USA
1 630-425-7394

Their Portfolio

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90 30 Miles 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 15% (USA) $14.99.
88 30 Miles 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 14.1% (USA) $14.99.
87 Bear Bros 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, California 13.5% (USA) $8.99.
88 Bear Bros 2021 Rosé, Sonoma Coast 13% (USA) $7.99.
87 Bear Bros 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, California 13.5% (USA) $8.99.
90 Belletti NV Prosecco, Veneto DOC 11% (Italy) $8.99.
85 Big Brother Hard Root Beer 5.8% (USA)
88 Brecken Bock 4.5% (USA)
89 Brens German Style Lager 5% (Belgium)
88 Connellys NV Original Country Cream 13.9% (Ireland) $8.99.
90 Corte Bella Rosso 5.5% (Italy) $6.99.
90 Crestwood 2019 Barrel, Riesling, Columbia Valley 13% (USA) $5.99.
88 Crestwood 2018 Barrel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 13.5% (USA) $9.99.
88 Don’t Mind If I Do 2019 Pinot Noir, California 9% (USA) $7.99.
87 Don’t Mind If I Do 2020 Sauvignon Blanc, California 9% (USA) $7.99.
90 Elementalist 2019 Pinot Grigio, California 12% (USA) $6.99.
87 Elementalist 2020 Pinot Grigio, California 12% (USA) $6.99.
90 Elementalist 2021 Pinot Grigio, Mendocino County 12% (USA) $6.99.
90 Evanta 2021 Malbec, Argentina 13% (Argentina) $4.49.
88 Exquisite Collection 2019 Chardonnay, California 13.7% (USA) $7.99.
88 Exquisite Collection 2020 Malbec, Mendoza 13.5% (Argentina) $7.99.
89 Exquisite Collection 2020 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough 12.5% (New Zealand) $8.99.
88 Exquisite Collection 2020 Rosé, Côtes de Provence 12.5% (France) $9.99.
87 Exquisite Collection 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough 12.5% (New Zealand) $8.99.
88 Fancy Flock 2019 Red Blend, Valdepenas 13% (Spain) $3.99.
88 Flora & Stone 2021 Merlot, Mendocino County 13.5% (USA) $6.99.
92 Giambellino Peach Bellini, Germany 8% (Germany) $5.99.
86 Holland Lager 5% (Holland)
93 Holland Lager 1839 5.0% (Netherlands)
88 Hopping Nomad Session IPA 4.5% (USA)
92 Independence Harbor Amber Ale 5.5% (USA)
91 Maguires Draught Stout 4.2% (USA)
87 Merchants Keep IPA 6% (USA)
88 Outlander 2018 Meritage, Paso Robles 13.9% (USA) $7.99.
89 Outlander 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles 13.9% (USA) $8.99.
89 Outlander 2019 Meritage, Paso Robles 13.9% (USA) $7.99.
92 Peaks & Tides 2018 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 13.9% (USA) $12.99.
89 Peaks & Tides 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County 13.9% (USA) $11.99.
88 Peaks & Tides 2019 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 13.9% (USA) $12.99.
87 Quarter Cut 2020 Bourbon-Barrel Aged, Cabernet Sauvignon, California 14.5% (USA) $9.99.
87 Quarter Cut 2020 Bourbon Barrel Aged Red Blend, California 14.5% (USA) $9.99.
87 Quarter Cut 2021 Bourbon Barrel-Aged, Cabernet Sauvignon, California 13.9% (USA) $9.99.
87 Quarter Cut 2021 Bourbon Barrel-Aged Red Blend, California 13.9% (USA) $9.99.
88 Sargent Canyon 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast 13.5% (USA) $6.99.
90 Scarlet Path 2019 Zinfandel, Lodi 13.5% (USA) $8.99.
87 Scarlet Path 2020 Zinfandel, Lodi 13.8% (USA) $8.99.
88 State of Brewing Pumpkin Ale 6% (USA)
87 State of Brewing Pumpkin Pie Cider 5.0% (USA) $7.99.
88 Stormchaser 2018 Wild Ride Red, Columbia Valley 14% (USA) $6.99.
87 Stormchaser 2019 Wild Ride Red Blend, Columbia Valley 14% (USA) $6.99.
90 Sunshine Bay 2020 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough 12.5% (New Zealand) $7.95.
90 Sunshine Bay 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough 12.5% (New Zealand) $7.95.
88 Tailslide 2019 Pinot Noir, California 13.7% (USA) $6.99.
87 Tailslide 2021 Pinot Noir, California 13.7% (USA) $6.99.
88 Villanella 2020 Pinot Grigio, Alto-Adige 12.5% (Italy) $9.99.
85 Vista Bay Natural Lime 5% (Germany)
85 Vista Bay Ruby Grapefruit 5% (Germany)
88 Vista Bay Hard Seltzer Lemonade 5% (USA)
93 Vve Monsigny NV Brut, Champagne 12% (France) $19.99.
88 Wernesgrüner Brauerei Pils 4.9% (Germany)
92 Wernesgrüner Brauerei Pils Legende 4.9% (Germany)
86 White Tide Belgian Wheat Ale 5% (Belgium)
90 Wicked Grove Crisp Apple Hard Cider 5% (USA) $6.99.
87 Wicked Grove Pearsecco Bubbly Dry Cider 5% (USA) $7.99.
92 Wicked Grove Hard Cider 5.0% (USA) $7.99.
88 Wild Range IPA 6.9% (USA)
92 Wild Range Hazy IPA 6.9% (USA)
89 William Wright 2019 William Wright Reserve, Pinot Noir, Monterey County 13.5% (USA) $9.99.
89 William Wright 2020 Reserve Lot, Pinot Noir, Monterey County 13.5% (USA) $9.99.
87 William Wright 2020 Chardonnay, Monterey County 13.5% (USA) $6.99.
87 Zarita Margarita RTD, California 13.9% (USA) $13.99.

Malbec

Wine Glass Cabernet.jpg
Serve in a Cabernet Wine Glass
While Malbec is historically known as a red Bordeaux variety, it is Argentina that has given this grape its new found popularity. Bright purple in color with ripe plum and black cherry fruit with moderate acidity, Malbec from Argentina has become the people’s choice among moderately priced red wines ($12-$16 a bottle in domestic markets).

Along with the plum and black cherry flavors, there are notes of pepper, black spice, and, in a few examples, a note of tobacco. Most versions from Argentina are made for consumption upon release or within the first two years after the vintage date; however, a few producers make long-lived offerings of Malbec from older vineyards that retail for $40 or more.

Malbec can work with a humble array of foods such as empanadas, hamburgers or grilled chicken or even roast meats or lighter game.