Best Argentinian Malbec Wines 2021
We’ve rounded up the best Argentinian Malbec wines for 2021 according to the American wine expert James Suckling. He usually visits the South American country to taste and rate new vintages. This year, after tasting a total of 1768 wines, he said, “Argentina has hundred of outstanding quality wines”. Although no wine has got the perfect score, many of them rated from 95 to 99 points. So, here is a list of the best rated Malbec wines, hands down!
99 points
Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino 2019
Founded in 1902 by the Italian Nicolás Catena Zapata, Argentine winery Catena Zapata is a family-owned company. It’s known for its pioneering role in resurrecting Malbec and discovering extreme high altitude terroirs in the Andean foothills of Mendoza. And altitude has a strong influence on the quality of grapes. As one climbs the mountain, the average temperature drops and the temperature range between day and night increases. This provides the ideal climate for proper ripening of the fruit. Nowadays, the winery owns six vineyards. One of them, Adrianna Vineyard, is planted 1500 meters above sea level.
Last year, Drinks International, the prestigious global drinks journal, announced that Catena Zapata was voted the World Most Admired Wine Brand of 2020 by an international group of drinks buyers and wine experts, including wine professionals from 48 different countries.
This bold and structured wine offers a mix of blackberries, chocolate and black truffle tasting notes for beginning to end, with fine tannins.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
*Varietal: 100% Malbec
*Alcohol: 13.9 %
*Total Acidity: 5.95 grams/litre
*Colour: Red.
*Pairing with: Beef and venison
Catena Zapata Malbec Mendoza Adrianna Vineyard Fortuna Terrae 2019
This wine is absolutely powerful and delicious, full-bodied and smooth. Besides, it’s one of the best Malbec in the world with lots of rich flavours: intense sweet-spicy on the nose with a palate of blackberries, plums, and hints of leather, oak, vanilla and tobacco. Lush and round, there is some spice and a long elegant finish. Finally, acidity is sublime; it’s perfectly balanced.
*Colour: Charming purple
*Pairing with: Beef and venison
Viña Cobos Malbec Mendoza 2018
In 1997, Andrea Marchiorim, Luis Barraud and Paul Hobbs decided to start this company in Mendoza, Argentina. The young winery Viña Cobos became the first in Latin America to produce a wine rated with 100 points by the renowned international expert James Suckling. Viña Cobos makes its wines through natural, minimally invasive processes, taking care that they receive a gentle treatment at each stage of their development.
This is an expressive and rich Malbec with an exquisite bright violet colour. Its character is spicy, fruity and complex. Also, its fresh aromas are reminiscent of blackberries and Andean herbs with notes of violets and dark chocolate, with an elegant and silky texture.
*Aroma: A mix of blackberries, Andean herbs and chocolate
*Colour: Bright Violet
*Palate: Intense wine with great structure
*Finish: Round and long.
*Pairing best with beef
*Alcohol content: 14%
*Ideal serving temperature: 16°C (61°F)
98 points
Matervini Malbec Mendoza El Challao-Las Heras Piedras Viejas
Matervini Winery is a young company founded by Santiago Achával and Roberto Cipresso in 2008. This company has shown how different wines from different terroirs can be born from the same grape variety. On the other hand, they produce about 40000 bottles per year.
Grown at 5200 feet of altitude, Piedras Viejas is the utmost agricultural challenge. It is one of the most extreme vineyards in the world. This geological diversity shows itself in distinctive flavours and aromas.
This is a rich and intense wine, well structured with herbal and fruity tasting notes. Spicy and young with soft tannins.
*Alcohol content: 14,1%
*Best pairing with: Beef
*Colour: Dark purple
*Tasting notes: Blackberries, herbs.
Trapiche Malbec Cabernet Franc Mendoza Iscay 2017
Bodega Trapiche is a traditional Argentine winery established in 1883, internationally celebrated for its constant innovation in wine production. They were pioneers in the use of French oak barrels and the introduction of French grapes in Argentina. Also, it’s one of the most awarded Argentine wineries ever.
Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months, this is a rich-tannin wine with an elegant finish. This outstanding wine offers a complex mix of violets, fruits, pepper, vanilla and chocolate. In short, it’s well balanced and perfectly rounded.
*Colour: Deep purple
*Aroma: Violets, red fruits and a hint of spices.
*Alcohol content: 14,5 %
*Ideal serving temperature: 16°C-18°C (61°F-64°F). We recommend opening the bottle 15 minutes before serving.
*Best pairing with: Beef and lamb
*Storage potential: 15 years
Zuccardi Malbec Valle de Uco Paraje Altamira Finca Piedra Infinita Gravascal 2018
This winery from Mendoza opened its doors in 1963 by the hand of the engineer Alberto Zuccardi. Nowadays, this Argentine company is led by his grandson, Sebastián Zuccardi. His goal is to create wines that represent a clear expression of the Andean region.
This delicious and complex wine comes from the Piedra Infinita vineyard, 1000 meters above sea level, where nobody ever dared to plant anything. So, this is an authentic mountain wine. Besides, it’s hand-harvested and stored in oak barrels for 12 months. Smooth, characterful and pleasing on the tongue, it’s a complex and well-structured wine with firm tannins. Without a doubt, one of the best Argentine wines ever.
*Colour: Deep ruby red
*Alcohol content: 14%
*Aroma: Complex wine, with notes of blackberries, species and minerals.
*Acidity: 6,1 g/l
*Residual sugar: 1,8 g/l
*Ideal serving temperature: Around 16-18°C (61-64°F)
*Tasting notes: Blackberries, species and hint notes of flowers.
*Finish: Long and elegant
*Best pairing with: Beef
They may be a bit pricey, but they’re worth every penny. We’re sure you’ll love these wines. Enjoy!
