2011 Tilia Cabernet Sauvignon and 2011 Tilia Malbec

While out and about, I came across two recommended “Best Value” bottles of wine made by Tilia, a producer in the famous Mendoza region of Argentina. At $10 a bottle, I figured it was time to check out these wines and see if they delivered real bang for the buck.

I’ll start with the Cabernet Sauvignon.

When I initially opened and tasted, it fell pretty flat. For Cab, it was weak and watery, yet there was a backbone of tannin present that told me it just might need a little help from my Vinturi. If you’ve never seen a vinturi before, it’s a handheld aerator. You simply pour the wine through the Vinturi into you glass and it is aerated and ready to drink. That’s the hope, at least. Check out this post for more on aeration and the Vinturi.

And yes, after running it through the Vinturi, the wine was markedly improved. Plum and black cherry became more prevalent in the nose. It tasted young (although I wouldn’t expect it to age, so youth in this case is a very good thing) fruity and quite pleasant. There was just enough tannin to give it structure, but overall it was a very light and easy drinking version of Cabernet Sauvignon. Not exactly what I’m looking for when I’m in the mood for Cab, but quite tasty nonetheless.

The Malbec was next.

It didn’t need the vinturi, there was fresh fruit on the front, blueberries, blackberries and overall dark fruit. Extremely tasty with very little tannin. Much fresher than the Cab, but simpler too.

Overall, I would say both wines showed pretty equally. At $10 a bottle I think these are decent values as well. I’ve certainly had a lot worse at this price point and for daily drinking, they fit the bill. Neither has complexity, but both would pair with many different dishes and would be perfect for a party.  Screw tops make them even more convenient, although I’m a romantic and miss the “ceremony” of removing the cork.