Cupcake Malbec

The first thing I notice about Cupcake Vineyards' Malbec is the amazing color. It is THE Wine Red. When I go hunting around CVS for a deep red nailpolish to make my toenails look colorful but professional, THIS is the color I'm searching for. And, looking at a full glass of this stuff, I understand why Revlon calls my favorite nail color, "Forbidden." It looks taboo, a bit evil, a bit like a chalice of blood. It's the darkest wine I've seen in awhile. It could also be that it looks so especially dark sitting on the lacquered white play-table chair that belongs to my son. (Seriously, can we get a coffee table now?)

When I take in a long sniff from the top of the glass, I swear I smell chocolate. The dark color certainly makes me think of a rich 80% dark chocolate, so maybe there's some weird brain interference, but I really smell something chocolately. The taste is full, with a nice zing as I swallow. It's more powerful than that Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir from earlier in the week, but I don't feel like I need food to temper it. It's perfectly nice all on its own. Which, honestly, is my favorite way to drink wine. I certainly won't turn down wine with dinner, but it's become my grownup dessert these days, even preferable to actual dessert-dessert. The zing at the swallow is not overpowering. It's not like some reds I have tried that literally make me involuntarily cringe. It's just a zippy tail, after a smooth entrance. I can see how this would mix well with other grapes to make a nice blend.

This would go well in good company, in the twilight evening. Why doesn't anyone bring Malbec to parties? This is a nice after-party wine, after food wine, kicking back after the kids are asleep wine. I paid $16 for it, but wonder if I could get it cheaper elsewhere. After comparing prices on several of the Safeway wines, I'm starting to think they jacked prices up in preparation for the 10-cent sale. I wonder if this one is normally $8 elsewhere? (Though, honestly, it seems worth the $16.)