What Are The UK’s Best Argentinian Malbecs?

As more people continue to push their wine exploration boundaries, malbec is quickly becoming one of the UK’s favourite wines. Here is your guide to the top Affordable, Mid-Range and Top of the Range Argentinian malbecs in the UK

Deep, dark and fruity: Argentines are giving French producers a run for their money with their malbec (Getty)

France may be the birthplace for this grape but over in the southern hemisphere, Argentina is producing some stunning malbec wines. Exceptional expressions from there are well within our reach in the UK.

If you’re ideal tipple is a robust, dark, inky wine bursting full of flavour, dark juicy fruits, chocolate and ripe tannins, this guide may be handy.

Across my articles you’ll begin to notice a theme – informative and educational guides showcasing fantastic wines that you can actually get your hands on and enjoy, not just look at and move on. Today’s article is no exception to that rule – so let’s continue to cut down the barriers of wine snobbery and help wine-lovers everywhere explore our wonderful world of the vine.

Would I enjoy malbec?

Everyone’s palate is different but if you enjoy really full-bodied wines that have a lot of concentration, malbec could very well be for you. I usually describe malbecs as being quite “jammy”, given they have a really deep body, comprising seriously ripe dark fruits and a sweet tinge on the back of the tongue.

A typical tasting note would be incredibly ripe blackberries, black cherries and dark plums oozing with milk chocolate, tobacco and a little leather spice with a sweet zing on the finish. A good Argentinian malbec will give you really well structured tannins (that feeling you get when a wine is coating your tongue) and a fantastically long finish.

How should I serve and drink malbec?

It’s important to stress that all wines are different and it depends on the age and intensity of the wine. For most young malbecs I’d advise letting them sit in a decanter for about 30 minutes to an hour before drinking to allow them to open up. If it’s an older vintage then you may not want it sitting as long. Have a sip and see what you think. I’ll create an article about this in the future, as it’s a huge topic when it comes to wine.

For glassware I’d recommend one of the larger wine glasses you’ve got sitting around as opposed to something small. We’re talking about a big wine here, so you want to give it lots of breathing room to open up in the glass. One of my favourite glasses would be Riedel’s Vinum range, and I use these glasses specifically when drinking malbec!

The Top Affordable Picks

Diversity of Terroir (D.O.T) premium malbec

Winery: Bodegas La Rosa

Region: Mendoza

Price: £6.98

ABV: 14%

Buy It From ASDA

Dark and intense: Diversity of Terroir malbec

D.O.T. is produced from grapes in Uco Valley, a famed region within Mendoza, with Mendoza being the most renowned Malbec territory in Argentina. As a wine that is fairly available across the country, D.O.T. is a good example of an everyday malbec, with dark and intense juicy plums and cherries on the nose. The tannin structure works well, with a little spice and chocolate thrown in the mix.

Don David Blend of Terroirs Malbec 2015

Winery: Bodega El Esteco

Region: Salta

Price: £8.99

ABV: 14%

Buy it in-store at Co-op

White pepper spice: Don David​ malbec

This great Malbec is exclusive to Co-op, so you’ll only find it in their stores, which to be fair are very widely available. I mentioned the word ‘jammy’ earlier and that’s what you can expect here. A thick syrupy plum and blackberry jam hits the palate with an elegant finish complete with a little white pepper spice, cherries and chocolate.

Las Maletas Malbec 2016

Winery: Las Maletas

Region: Mendoza

Price: £6.99

ABV: 12.5%

Buy It From Majestic

Ever so smoky: Las Maletas

Majestic constantly impress me with their incredibly well sourced wines. For £7, this really is a total bargain and probably one of the best expressions of malbec around this price point. An initial explosion of strawberry syrup and baked plum pie hits your tongue with layers upon layers of blackcurrant, oak and tobacco coming into play on the finish. There’s a great spice and slight smokiness that hit the senses just before the tannins roll in on the finish.

The Top Mid-Range Picks

Alta Vista Terroir

Winery: La Casa del Rey

Region: Mendoza

Price: £15

ABV: 15%

Buy It From Sainsbury’s

Rolls off the tongue: Alta Vista malbec

Alta Vista is a wonderful expression of multiple terroirs, given that it is produced from 5 different vineyards in Mendoza. The entire blend is then aged in French oak barrels for a 12-month period to evoke a rich smokiness that works alongside the tannin structure. This is a really well balanced wine with a smooth mouth feel that rolls off the tongue. You can expect to pick up the traditional Malbec notes of black cherry and dark plum with notes of cedar wood, tobacco, leather and liquorice. I’d advise opening Alta Vista and letting it sit in the bottle for about an hour before drinking or a decanter for about 20 minutes.

Clos de Los Siete Malbec (Michel Rolland)

Winery: Clos de Los Siete

Region: Mendoza

Price: £11.80

ABV: 14.5%

Buy It From Waitrose

Toe-dipper: Clos de los siete malbec

Here we have something a little different; a Bordeaux-blend malbec equivalent from world-renowned winemaker Michel Rolland. Taking 53% malbec and 23% merlot with hints of cabernet sauvignon (12%), syrah (8%) and petit verdot (4%), there’s a really nice balance going on. While still on the concentrated side (big black meadow berries and ripened dark fruits), there’s elegance about this wine too, notes of clove, nutmeg and cinnamon with a little minerality. I’d say it’s the perfect wine for those who want to dip their toe in malbec before jumping straight in.

Mendel Selection Malbec 2014

Winery: Mendel

Region: Mendoza

Price: £22.99

ABV: 14.5%

Buy It From Majestic

A little earthiness: Mendel malbec

Another fantastic addition from the Majestic team for this mid-range beauty. This is the perfect choice for those who like a little more acidity in their wines. There’s a great backbone of black meadow fruits and brambles with a little earthiness and dry spice (white pepper) thrown into the mix.

The ‘Top Of The Range’ Picks

Zuccardi Aluvional Altamira 2011

Winery: Zuccardi

Region: Mendoza

Price: £49

ABV: 15%

Buy It From Waitrose

Super-complex: Zuccardi Aluvional malbec

Zuccardi wines elicit a “wow” – each time I crack open a bottle of Aluvional Altamira I get just that. I have to say this really is a stunning wine and, to me, depicts the true essence of what a “mendoza malbec” is all about. It’s super-complex with so many delicious flavours going on inside the bottle and silky tannins that just roll off the tongue. A sensational deep-red colour presents itself on pouring, with incredible notes of strawberry and cherry jam, stewed plums and a touch of clove. This boldness and intensity of flavours continues on the palate with a well-balanced acidity and an incredibly long finish. A must-have for every malbec lover.

Note: pair this beauty with a smoked ham hock dish for one of the best food-and-wine duets I’ve ever experienced.

Achaval-Ferrer Finca Altamira 2010

Winery: Achaval Ferrer

Region: Mendoza

Price: £80

ABV: 14%

Buy It From Uvinum (Only 10 bottles left)

Looking vine: Achaval-Ferrer Finca Altamira 2010

I always like to try and mix things up a little, which is why I’m showcasing a wine that has fewer than 10 bottles left to purchase. Put simply, this is one of the best malbecs you’ll ever taste, so it’s only right it has a place here for those who want to get their hands on something special. Achaval-Ferrer was founded in 1998 with the purpose of creating a smaller amount of sensational wines and they’ve managed to tick that dream box quite well. There’s a collective of around 16 hectares of vines (that’s not all that much), ranging from 66 to 86 years in age. For that reason and given the high elevation (670 to 960 metres above sea level), we’re talking super-low yields and super-high quality.

I’d recommend decanting for about 90 minutes to get the best out of this beauty; you can then expect blueberries, a sweet vanilla tobacco oak, 90%-dark-chocolate cocoa and a slight espresso on the nose. A quick sip will give you dry prunes, liquorice, sweet ripe black cherry, plum and blackberry jam. It’s oozing with delicate oak and the tannin structure is just sublime, rolling long into the finish.

Bodega Noemia ‘Noemia’ 2012

Winery: Bodega Noemia

Region: Patagonia

Price: £88

ABV: 14%

Buy It From Wine Treasury

Explosion: Bodega Noemia

Here we have one of the most beautifully concentrated malbecs in existence as far as I’m concerned. Take the fact this wine is produced from 74-year-old vines that are 100 per cent malbec and you know you’re on to something good – 18 months in French oak gives an explosion of intensity on the palate. While the colour showcases a deep purple hue, you can expect a nose of almonds, Christmas cake and dark cherries. Taking a sip it’s the sweet ripened raspberries, strawberries, blackberries and smothering of dark chocolate cocoa that leaves you wanting more. A spicy-bramble note hits you on the finish as wonderful tannins take over the finale of the show. What an outstanding wine and well worth the money in my humble opinion!

Regardless of where your budget is on this list, never be afraid to seek out something special and explore grape varieties that may seem a little out of your comfort zone – you’d be surprised and what you end up falling in love with!