From Argentina.
$10CAD

A lower tier bottle from Catena's Lunlunta and Alta level Malbecs. Dark rub red, almost opaque. Grapy on the nose with not much else. Medium-full bodied. Bitter and sour fruit; vegetal notes. Not appealing at all. I guess you can't expect much for $10CAD. 68 points.

68 points, blimey will avoid this like the plague.....

I'd say that's pretty strange... Catena/Esmeralda normally is a good producer in all quality levels, and 2002 was a great year in Argentina. I've heard great comments about Argento Malbec and Chardonnay and could expect anything as low as 80-83, but not bellow the 80 line. Could it have been a bad bottle?

Anyway, I would give it another try before definitely giving up. Or, in case you don't want to take the risk of Argento, how about a Alamos (quality line just above Argento and bellow Catena) Malbec or Chardonnay 2002? That would be just a little more expensive. I haven't trying it yet, so I can't give you thoughts on that, but I had a Catena Malbec Lulunta 2000 that scored around 90 pts for me and I'm waiting anxiously for the 2002s!

Mars..

The Alamos sells around here for $7 - $8.
If the Argento is below the Alamos, then we're talking about a $5 bottle.
The Lunlunta goes for $15-$20 and is traditionally a 90 point malbec (at least in my house).

I hope that gives you some U.S. pricing perspective.

Mars...

I LOVE Catena wines. They are among the best QPR around!

I really wasn't impressed with this wine at all. I too like the Catena offerings, as I've enjoyed several bottles of the Lunlunta Malbec and also tasted their single vineyard Alta Cabernet.

For $10, it wouldn't hurt to try this wine again. Perhaps I'll do that next week.