Tag Archives: Old Vines

Cigar Box Old Vine Malbec 2022

13 October 2025 By in Red Wine, Wine Tags: , , , Leave a comment

Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina

Purchase Price: $13.99

Tasting Panel 93, Wine Enthusiast 85, ElsBob 89

ABV 14.5%

A dark purple wine, with aromas of red fruit and spices traveling through you at speed of wow. On the palate a rush of cherries with a smooth medium finish.

A very good fine wine at a great price. Current prices range from $12-18.

Trivia: Cigar Box Old Vine Malbec gets its name from the first winemaker’s impression of the wine. The vintner reportedly detected a subtle aroma reminiscent of a cigar box, a blend of cedarwood, spice, and aged tobacco often found in oak-aged reds. The name stuck.

Bodegas La Purisma Old Vines Red Blend 2019

21 July 2025 By in Red Wine, Wine Tags: , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Red Blend Other (GSM) from Yecla, Spain

Monastrell (Mourvedre) 85%, Syrah 10%, Garnacha (Grenache) 5%

Purchase Price: $12.99

James Suckling 93, Wilfred Wong 90, ElsBob 89

ABV 14.5%

A dark cherry in color, medium to full-bodied, aromas of black ripe fruits with a touch of vanilla and spice. Balanced acidity and tannins with a strong, long finish.

A very good fine wine that retails around $11-19. Don’t pay more than $15 for this wine. Drink now or let it age for up to another 5 years. Cheers.

Trivia: Bodegas La Purísima is a cooperative of small-holding farmers in Yecla, Spain, united under the stewardship of María Teresa Ruiz González. Their old-vine Monastrell, over 40 years in age, thrives on 250 acres of sand and limestone soil. Grapes are picked by hand in late October, preserving the integrity of the fruit and the tradition behind the growers and the blend.