Top-Rated Malbecs

It's easy to forget that Malbecs as we know them today didn't really come into style until the late 1990's. Since that time, though, they've won over a wide swath of casual wine drinkers and critics alike. Here are some top-rated Malbecs you ought to give a try.

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Altos Las Hormigas Malbec Appellation Gualtallary

2019 / 750 ml.

Item #: 59284

RP9797 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 30th Nov 2022
The 2019 Malbec Appellation Gualtallary comes from specific soils, two small three-hectare plots in the Cerros del Jaboncillo, where they find more caliche and limestone in Tupungato Winelands. They believe this place transmits the maximum expression of limestone to Malbec, giving a structured wine with fine-grained tannins with the wilderness from Gualtallary. It fermented in small concrete vats with indigenous yeasts at some 26 degrees Celsius for 20 days. Eighty-five percent of the volume matured in untoasted 3,500-liter French oak foudres for 20 months while the rest was kept in concrete. They sell it a little later than the Altamira because they feel Gualtallary needs a little more time in bottle; therefore, they are now offering the 2019 vintage, a very balanced wine that talks about the place where it was born. This is vibrant and expressive, with a complex nose and especially a lively palate with effervescent acidity and very fine-boned with elegant but firm tannins (they say “Serralunga-like” tannins). I find the recurring iron-like note of blood and fresh meat here too, intermixed with the wild flowers, herbs and spices. This has depth and complexity, and if Altamira is Barbaresco, Gualtallary is Barolo… 10,000 bottles were filled in January 2022. (Luis Gutiérrez)

JS9595 pts. - JamesSuckling.com - Wednesday, November 30, 2022
Dense and powerful, but in a very fresh and scented way, with violet, hibiscus, oyster-shell and hot-stone notes to the black and blue fruit. Almost a bit gamey with some wet earth. Full-bodied and quite dense on the palate. There is volume, with succulents and real structure, and, of course, some fine austerity. Quite puristic and intellectual, far from flattering. Give it some time to fully unwind itself. Best from 2025.

Argentina | Mendoza | Uco Valley

Primary Grape: Malbec

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La Posta Pizzella Malbec

2021 / 750 ml.

Item #: 59665

JS9393 pts. - JamesSuckling.com - Tuesday, May 3, 2022
Blueberries and cherries with walnuts and blackberries, too. Medium body, firm tannins and a creamy texture. Tension and focus. Real malbec character. Excellent price. Sustainable. Drink now. (James Suckling)

RP9090 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 30th Nov 2022
The 2021 Pizzella Malbec is ripe without excess and shows more black than red fruit, and it’s juicy and velvety, dense and with fine tannins. It has a touch of vanilla that makes it very attractive and pleasant. (Luis Gutiérrez)

Argentina | Mendoza

Primary Grape: Malbec

Sustainable

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Mendel Malbec

2020 / 750 ml.

Item #: 60149

JS9393 pts. - JamesSuckling.com - Tuesday, May 3, 2022
A perfumed red with notes of fresh wild berries, just-picked violets, sweet spices and cocoa-dusted walnuts. Medium-to full-bodied with layers of plush, polished tannins and a lingering, silky mouth-feel. Velvety and seamless with delicious blue-fruit and blue-flower character. Drink or hold.

VN9393 pts. - Vinous - Jan 2023
The 2020 Malbec is a blend of grapes from Drummond and Perdriel, Luján de Cuyo. The vines date back to 1926. Aged for 12 months in one-third new barrels. Purple in the glass. The nose offers intense aromas of violet, fresh plum, gentle woody notes and hints of spice. Plush, broad and agile with refined, polished tannins. The texture is a combination of silk and velvet. Well-made, given the year. (Joaquín Hidalgo)

RP9292 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 30th Nov 2022
The estate 2020 Malbec was produced with grapes from their property in Mayor Drummond (Finca Mendel) that was planted in 1928. It fermented in stainless steel and matured in French oak barrels, one-third each new, second and third use, for 12 months. It has 14.5% alcohol and a soft and round palate with integrated acidity. De la Mota thinks this 2020 is very representative of the zone of Luján even if they harvest it a little earlier, and it has a little more fresh fruit, using the oak to keep that character, a balance between ripe and fresh fruit that is very interesting. It is juicy and primary with very fine tannins. A wine that overdelivers for the price. 88,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2021. (Luis Gutiérrez)

WE9090 pts. - Wine Enthusiast - 4/1/2023
The grapes for this red are sourced from a vineyard planted in 1928 in Luján de Cuyo. It exhibits a dense and fruit-forward bouquet. The palate offers ripe plum, blueberry and rosemary, all intertwined. Moderate acidity and supple tannins provide support. It finishes with subtle coffee notes. (Jesica Vargas)

Argentina | Mendoza

Primary Grape: Malbec

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Altos Las Hormigas Malbec Terroir Valle de Uco

2020 / 750 ml.

Item #: 60992

Argentina | Mendoza | Uco Valley

Primary Grape: Malbec

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Luca Old Vine Malbec

2019 / 750 ml.

Item #: 59669

JS9595 pts. - JamesSuckling.com - Thursday, February 3, 2022
Amazing depth and intensity to this old-vine malbec with blackberry and black-licorice character to the wine. Violets, too. It’s full and dense, yet remains energetic and long. Polished, refined tannins. A gorgeous, plush red. Drinkable now for its generosity, but let it mellow with a few years of bottle age. Better after 2024.

SP9393 pts. - Wine Spectator - Nov 30, 2021
Unctuous and fine-grained flavors of dark currant and ripe cherry are supported by medium-grained tannins in this red, which is creamy midpalate, with concentrated chocolate mousse notes on the finish. Drink now through 2026. 13,000 cases made, 7,000 cases imported. (Kim Marcus)

VN9393 pts. - Vinous - Nov 2021
The 2019 Malbec Old Vine is a blend of grapes from La Consulta, Paraje Altamira, Pampa El Cepillo and Gualtallary, all in the Uco Valley. The 2019 was aged for 14 months in 35% new French barrels. Vivid purple in the glass. The nose is a combination of the best of the different regions. Fresh, ripe plum with hints of herb and sweet spices, violet and lavender aromas are present against a backdrop of cedar. Juicy with a velvety texture, the fine tannins are enhanced by the precise freshness. The tacky finish lingers at length. This is an elegant, voluminous wine; the 2019 is an accomplished approach to the variety. An upgrade for lovers of the Mendoza Malbec. (Joaquín Hidalgo)

RP9292 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 31st Mar 2021
The 2019 Old Vine Malbec comes from old ungrafted vineyards irrigated by traditional flood irrigation in the Uco Valley in Mendoza. It’s a floral, juicy and varietal Malbec with nicely integrated oak and a lively palate with pungent flavors, vibrant acidity and fine and round tannins. 180,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2020. (Luis Gutiérrez)

Argentina | Mendoza | Uco Valley

Primary Grape: Malbec

Sustainable