This 17 April marks the 13th anniversary of Malbec World Day, a global initiative created by Wines of Argentina to celebrate the success of Argentina's wine industry.
Argentina is the main producing country of Malbec with more than 44,000 hectares planted across the country. Mendoza, Argentina’s most famous wine region, has become synonymous with Malbec and leads local production with 37,754 hectares cultivated (85% of the total vineyards).
Quality on the rise and reinforcing the exceptional value to be found in the country, Argentinean Malbec saw record-breaking results at the 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards with an impressive 12 Malbec and Malbec-dominant wines awarded 97 points — three of these Value wines under £15 retail.
Scroll down to discover Argentina’s top-scoring Malbec wines from DWWA 2022
Now the 13th edition, Malbec World Day celebrates the diversity of Argentinean Malbec. From North to South, Argentina’s varied wine regions and sub-regions showcase the unique characteristics of Malbec, with altitude, soil, climate, latitude, sunlight and winemaking styles all influencing the grape’s identity.
Tasted and rated by regional specialists at the 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards, see below for the top 12 award-winning Malbec wines from Argentina to celebrate Malbec World Day with…
Top Malbec wines of DWWA 2022
Best in Show
Bodegas Bianchi, IV Generación Gran Corte, Los Chacayes, Tunuyán, Mendoza, Argentina, 2019
Best in Show, 97 points
60% Malbec, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot
The anatomisation of Uco is one of the wine world’s great adventures at present: it’s been obvious for some years that the resource is a splendid one. If you harbour any doubts, try to get hold of a bottle of this midnight-black blend of Malbec with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Head-turning fruit perfumes are always possible here – but harnessing and optimising that aromatic potential is the point of this blend, which actually steals from the glass stealthily and convinces by slow increments. On the palate, the wine is wide, broad, amply dimensioned and naturally balanced, with admirable textural wealth. Once again, the blend has brought complexity to what is clearly outstanding fruit. It’s young still, and a few years in the cellar will provide further insights into this finely crafted Uco classic. Alc 14.5%
Finca Sophenia, Altosur Malbec, Gualtallary, Tupungato, Mendoza 2021
Value Best in Show, 97 points
It’s fair to say that no other country delivered value in this year’s DWWA to match that sent over to us from Argentina, and this saturatedly dense, dark Malbec from the prized highlands of Gualtallary makes this point admirably. It’s initially beefy and purposeful in aroma, the plum and sloe fruits emerging in purer form with time in the glass or the decanter. There’s admirable weight, lyricism and lift to those fruits: Gualtallery is never clumsy. Better still, in place of overt tannins and intrusive acidity there is a kind of sappy, stemmy freshness which combines the function of both texture and acidity – and that, in fact, is the origin of the fruit’s notable energy and charm. Value Best In Show wines rarely exceed the appeal you’ll find here. Alc 14%
Morrisons, The Best Gran Montaña Reserve Malbec, Uco Valley, Mendoza 2020
Value Best in Show, 97 points
Three of the four Argentinian wines winning their way through to Best In Show this year come from Uco, and this splendid Malbec is the second Value Best In Show from Uco, too, underscoring the colossal potential on offer here. As with its peers, this wine is a dense, opaque purple-black-red in colour with huge saturation on the sides of the glass after a swirl. It’s opulently fruity too, with billowing damson and sloe pointed up by notes of tea leaf and rose. You might, from the aromas, be expecting a fruit bomb – but this is purer, finer and fresher than that, with ample sinew, sap and ripely leafy inner freshness. Can anywhere in the world compete with red-wine value of this order at present? Alc 14%
Platinum
Argento, Single Vineyard Organic, Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza 2020
Platinum, 97 points
Inviting, with an opulent, smoky nose layered with toast, cedar, black fruit and just the hint of sleek oak. The palate is braced with a lively acidity, a note of black tea and beautiful, textured supple tannins. Alc 14.5%
Bemberg, La Linterna Finca La Yesca Parcela No 13, Pedernal Valley, San Juan 2015
Platinum, 97 points
Perfumed and very inviting, with a pretty nose of lifted fresh herb, heady eucalyptus, herbaceous fresh grass, pure dark fruit and seductive mineral notes, then on to an elegant palate laced with polishes, sleek oak. World class Malbec! Alc 14.5%
Bodegas Callia, Contracara Reserva, Pedernal Valley, San Juan 2020
Value Platinum, 97 points
Perfumed and inviting, with aromatics of lifted herb, pure fruit and a lovely floral lift, then on to a palate of plush plum, silky violet, bright cherry, spice and supple, succulent tannins. Alc 14%
La Luz, Callejón del Crimen, Blend de Terroirs, Uco Valley, Mendoza 2019
Platinum, 97 points
Seductive and beautifully perfumed with notes of lifted violet, blueberry, blackberry, liquorice and perfectly integrated oak spice. The sumptuous palate is graced with deep red fruit, graceful, fine grained tannins, plush plum, spice, herb and a gorgeous, bright acidity. Alc 14%
La Luz, Callejón del Crimen Single Vineyard Malbec, Gualtallary, Tupungato, Mendoza 2019
Platinum, 97 points
Perfumed and very inviting on the nose, with gorgeous, expressive fresh red berry aromatics, and then on to a velvety palate laced with lush black fruit, graceful yet focused tannins and a beautiful, clean mineral texture. Alc 14.5%
La Luz, Relatos del Callejón Malbec, Uco Valley, Mendoza 2020
Platinum, 97 points
Intensely perfumed, with a pretty nose of lifted violet, delicate raspberry and plush black cherry, while the vibrant palate is graced with cedar, thyme, lush plum, a refined mineral tension and ends on a perfumed, long finish. Very good! Alc 13.9%
Puna, 2600, Cachi, Salta 2020
Platinum, 97 points
Inky, plush nose of lush dark fruit, overripe plum, chocolate and powerful fruit, while the fluid, supple palate is textured with deep, juicy fruit, elegantly restrained oak, olive and rounded, smooth tannins. A wine full of character. Alc 14.5%
Rutini, Single Vineyard, Altamira, San Carlos, Mendoza 2019
Platinum, 97 points
Plush, lush and very inviting on the nose, with notes of dusky spice, black pepper, heady liquorice, spice and rich fruit, while the palate is a joy, layered with red fruit, tobacco, cedar, a bright acidity and elegant, silky tannins. A spectacular, multi layered wine. Alc 14%
Zuccardi, Tito, Paraje Altamira, Mendoza 2020
Platinum, 97 points
85% Malbec, 15% Cabernet Franc
Super fresh, with bright aromas of crunchy red fruit, plush plum, heady violet, spiced liquorice, rosemary and thyme, while the palate is laced with elegant, fine grained tannins and lush fruit. Very serious, but at the same time cheerful and delicious! Alc 14.5%
