The 2005 Broquel Malbec was aged for 15 months in new French and one year American oak. Purple-colored, it exhibits aromas of smoke, cedar, blueberry and black cherry. Medium-bodied, ripe, and sweet on the palate, it has good depth and excellent concentration. It will evolve for 2-3 years and drink well through 2015. Broquel is the winery’s mid-range series. Each of them is an excellent value.Trapiche is best known for its value-priced wines, a number of which are listed at the end of this report in the Best Buy charts. However, the mid-range and upper end of the Trapiche portfolio offer some super wines that should not be missed.Importer: Frederick Wildman & Sons, New York, NY; www.trapiche.com.ar

Broquel always offers a little more elegance and pedigree than most value Malbecs, and the 2005 has body, a silky feel and aromas and flavors of tobacco, baked blackberries and leather. It’s a ripe, moderately tannic wine that’s best for near-term drinking.——M.S.(12/1/2007)—— 88