What to Drink This Weekend: Pascual Toso

Thanks to its exceptional value, once obscure Argentine wines are now a staple in American wine shops. Malbec may be Argentina’s star, but the country has much more to offer wine lovers in the value vein — like this supple and flavorful merlot from Pascual Toso (Chairman’s Selection, $8.99).

In general, Argentine merlot is softer and juicier than Malbec, as in this delightfully balanced version, loaded with black-cherry flavors and accented with vanilla and cola aromatics. Mid-weight and fruit-forward, this merlot tastes great alone, but also suits a wide range of simple foods, from cheeseburgers to fajitas.