Santa Julia Reserve Malbec 2016

Santa Julia malbec, made by the irrepressible Jose Zuccardi of the Familia Zuccardi winery, is an excellent introduction to this Argentine specialty.  Its bouquet of plums and dark berries introduces flavors that resemble ripe red fruits with echoes of chocolate and black licorice.  Not as complex as some more expensive, oak-aged malbecs, it nonetheless offers balanced, harmonious pleasure at a very fair price. It's hard to imagine a better red wine choice for spring or summer entertaining.