Whether paired with a comfort-food classic or enjoyed by itself, Malbec is a crowd-pleaser of a wine that’s typically dark in colour and rich in flavour.
Its namesake grape originates from the Cahors region of France but it’s since become more synonymous with Argentina, where it has become the country’s flagship export.
Found in the foothills of the Andes, Mendoza is the word to look for on bottles to signify grapes grown at famously high altitudes that contribute to the wine’s signature robustness. Elsewhere, Chilean, American, South African and Australian Malbecs are also there for the taking, but they’re far less famous than their French and Argentinean counterparts.
Malbecs tend to be fruit-forward – think red plum, blackberry, vanilla, sweet tobacco and cocoa – and are full-bodied with medium tannins and low acidity which all make for a dangerously delicious drink.
When looking for a special bottle, look for extended ageing in oak to enrich the wine. Many are aged up to 24 months before release.
Jake Biggs, buyer for Argentina at Majestic, weighs in: “Malbec is fast becoming the staple in the wine racks of consumers around the UK. Although the birthplace of Malbec was France – namely Cahors and Bordeaux – Argentina has made Malbec its ‘hero’ grape. With its warm and dry climate at high altitude, it’s a relatively extreme location for vine-growing, but the Malbec grape thrives in these conditions.”
He explains the high altitude, essentially a desert, means the temperature drops overnight, allowing grapes to halt ripening momentarily and preserve their acidity.
“This results in a slower and longer ripening which allows the sugars to develop leading to a fully-ripened grape. Malbec can be made in a range of styles, some winemakers choosing to vinify their wines in concrete vessels to show the purity of fruit, and some expressions being aged in oak barrels – increasing the body of the wine and adding notes such as vanilla and spice. The purer, fruit-focused expressions are great to enjoy on their own or perhaps with lighter food dishes, and the robust full-bodied expressions are ideal to enjoy with a steak or BBQ.”
How can you find a knockout bottle? Biggs reveals “try a specific village of the Uco Valley, such as Gualtallary, located in the Tupungato district. These villages have specific soil compositions – specifically stony soils with calcium carbonate – which impact the taste and texture of the wine and can be up to 1200-1600m altitude.”
Here, we round up the most mouthwatering Malbec wines to buy and try, from easy-drinking to complex bottles worth ageing and savouring.
¡Salud!
Definition Malbec 2021/22 Mendoza
Hailing from the Uco Valley – a sub-region of Mendoza that’s become synonymous with lush and juicy Malbec – Definition is a silky red that’s all about fruity plum and cherry flavours. There’s a bit of oak in there for good measure – adding structure without overpowering its vibrancy – resulting in a classic style that’s superb with a good steak or barbecued meat. No wonder it won an ICW award for the 2020 vintage.
Buy now £12.00, Majestic
Domaine Bousquet Finca Lalande Malbec
This organic Argentinean Malbec comes from leading winery Domaine Bousquet, founded by its French winemaker after he discovered the region of Gualtallary on holiday.
This well-balanced beauty is wonderfully rich but medium-bodied with evocative aromas of fig, red and black fruit, plus flavours of blackberry, plum and blueberry. Deep violet in colour, the wine combines the best of French winemaking with Argentinean terroir in the soils of Mendoza – famed for producing lip-smackingly good Malbec – using organically-grown grapes aged in stainless steel.
A worthy partner for red meat and pasta dishes.
Buy now £10.99, Waitrose Cellar
Nice Malbec
There’s seemingly no stopping this London-based start-up that makes great-tasting tipples from wineries they love.
From boxes to cans, the female-led Nice team loves to experiment with formats, but they’ve gone traditional with this Malbec. Classically juicy, darkly fruit and smoothly Argentinean, it’s a medium-bottled wine made from grapes grown in Mendoza in the foothills of the Andes.
The epitome of easy-drinking, it goes as well with comfort-food classics – ragù, casserole or a Sunday roast – as it does with lighter, brighter dishes such as chicken or salads. We serve ours slightly chilled for the latter.
Buy now £10.00, Nice
Sea Change Malbec
This French Malbec is from Sea Change, a new-wave brand from a small team with big ambitions to turn the tide against plastic pollution by eliminating wrap around their natural corks, sourcing label paper from certified sustainable forests and making their wines partially from grape waste.
Thankfully, the eco credentials of their Malbec don’t compromise on flavour. Classic in style and hailing from Languedoc, it’s fruity, refined and spicy with notes of violet, jasmine and blackberry. While it’s thoroughly versatile, we suggest serving it with a roast, rib-eye steak or ratatouille. A real crowd-pleaser.
Buy now £13.99, Social Supermarket
MLBC Earth & Sun Malbec 2022
Expect typical Malbec ‘oomph’ but with refined freshness from this Mendoza. Serving up fresh plum and blackberry fruit flavours alongside notes of dried fruit and dark chocolate, it’s full-bodied but well-balanced. Respected winemaker Stephen Huse, who earned his stripes at the likes of Châteaux Margaux and Mouton Rothschild, has successfully combined French finesse with Argentinean weight.
Buy now £12.98, Virgin Wines
M&S Cahors Malbec
Rich and robust, this Malbec from Marks & Sparks is made from grapes that are grown in its namesake French town. The resulting wine is bold and full-bodied with aromas of dark berries and spicy, earthy notes. Try it with beef, lamb or chicken to bring out the best of the bottle.
Buy now £9.00, Ocado
Adnams Single Estate Malbec, Mendoza
Known for crafting small-volume, high-altitude wines that are as impressive as the landscape, the Gouguenheim Winery in Valle de Uco, Mendoza, is a top-notch producer. Case in point is this juicy, fruity Malbec with aromas of plum and liquorice and flavours of fresh blackberry, pepper and just a hint of spice. The delicate finish, bursting with soft, ripe tannins, adds to its lusciousness. A tomato-based dish, such as chicken chasseur, is a match made in heaven.
Buy now £10.49, Adnams
Co-op Fairtrade Irresistible Organic Malbec
Bursting with plum, cherry and jam aromas, this full-bodied Malbec hails from grapes grown in the high-altitude vineyards of the remote Famatina Valley in north-western Argentina by Rodolfo Griguol, one of the country’s most respected winemakers. The Fairtrade label means that funding from Co-op helped to build a new secondary school in Tilimuqui – making this a thoroughly feel-good sip.
Buy now £8.50, Co-op
by Amazon Our Selection Mendoza Argentinean Malbec
This Mendoza Malbec is part of ‘by Amazon’ – an edit of own-label quality food and drink at affordable prices – and offers plenty of bang for your buck. Dark purple in colour, it’s produced from 25-year-old wines in the Agrelo district of Mendoza and is a classic expression with violet, redcurrant and cassis notes. Enjoy the full-bodied wine with a juicy steak accompanied by a fiery and fresh chimichurri sauce.
Buy now £7.99, Amazon
Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Zurriago Malbec
A hallmark Argentinian Malbec, Zurriago is bold and spicy with black-fruit and sweet-spice flavours complemented by a long, velvety finish. The winery, Bodegas Argento, benefits from the exceptional growing conditions of the region – great soils, high altitude and an ideal climate – which is reflected in this bottle.
Buy now £7.00, Sainsbury’s
Clos La Coutale Cahors Malbec 2022
This well-structured, full and rounded bottle combines Malbec and Merlot grapes from the Lot Valley in south-western France to produce something truly special. With the grapes having spent a year in wooden casks, it serves up levelled-out tannins and a hint of vanilla to balance its ripe and juicy fruitiness. Expect red-berry aromas and flavours of blackberry with a refreshing burst of acidity.
Buy now £14.99, Master of Malt
Alamos Malbec
Characterised by hints of cherry and blackberry with a long and lingering finish, this full-flavoured but beautifully-balanced wine is perfect with barbecued favourites. Its richness and intensity are courtesy of grapes grown in the Andes at elevations of up to 5,000 feet where intense sunlight, cool evening temperatures and mineral-rich irrigation from melting snow result in award-winning wines such as this.
Buy now £9.50, Tesco
Wild Steps Malbec Organic 2021
Wines in cans have come on leaps and bounds in recent years and Wild Steps is no exception with an organic Malbec that wouldn’t be out of place in an expensive-looking bottle. So much more than just for picnics or trains, this fun format doesn’t scrimp on quality with a juicy and vibrant Mendoza Malbec packed with fresh-cherry and soft-plum flavours. Full-flavoured and fabulous.
Buy now £5.60, Vincancan
Cafayate Estate Malbec
Elegant and rich, this Argentinian Malbec is made from grapes harvested in Cafayate – home to some of the highest vineyards in the world – that are fermented for seven days and aged in French oak for six months. It’s worth the wait. On the nose, ripe plum, raisins and toasted spice tantalise and tease, followed by a balanced, well-structured and smooth palate.
Buy now £9.60, Amazon
