Best Malbec Wine to Try
If you’re looking for the best Malbec wine to try, then look no further. Malbec is an enticing grape with French roots that makes one of the most popular and delicious red wines today.
Below, we’ll go over what Malbec wine is and where it’s made, and give you a few recommendations for the best Malbec wine to try, most from Argentinian Winery Domaine Bousquet in Argentina’s pristine Gualtallary region in Mendoza, Argentina. All of these Malbec wines are certified organic too.
By the end of this post, you’ll hopefully have found the best Malbec wine for you!
All about Malbec wine
Malbec is a red grape variety originating from southwest France’s Cahors and Loire Valley regions (where it was commonly known as Côt). Since its introduction to Argentina, it has adapted itself to the conditions to produce beautifully full-bodied red wines with soft tannins, rich, juicy flavours and a velvety smooth texture. Today around 75% of the world’s Malbec is grown in the Mendoza region of Argentina – browse all our Argentinian Malbec wines here.
Interestingly enough, yet tragically too, Malbec became far less popular in France after a ghastly in 1956 killed off a big majority of the grapes growing in Bordeaux. Before this, the grape is said to have been important in the Bordeaux region and was used as a blending partner with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It is still one of the six grapes that can be used to make the Bordeaux blend.
When it comes to flavours, Malbec wines are known for their rich fruity flavours and even chocolatey finish. Silky red fruit flavours are common (red cherry, red plum etc), along with black fruits like blackberries and black plum too. Malbec has a shorter finish and lower tannins than Cabernet Sauvignon.
The best Malbec wine, taste-tested from Vintage Roots
Malbecs from Domaine Bousquet
If you’re looking for the best Malbec wine to try, then look no further than the Malbecs from Domaine Bousquet. This winery came into existence when Jean Bousquet (pictured below) up and sold his 4th generation winery in Carcassone, France and moved to Gualtallary, Argentina in the 90s. It was a leap of faith, and he named his new winery ‘Domaine Bousquet’ in honour of his French roots. The pristine land where Domaine Bousquet is located is now considered some of the finest wine real estate in the world.
Today Domaine Bousquet is an organic wine powerhouse made up of over 640 acres of certified organic vineyards. The winery takes environmental stewardship very seriously, and has been certified organic for more than 25 years. Some of their vineyard parcels are located in at an altitude of 1,200 metres (4,000 feet) in the Gualtallary Valley in Tupungato, Mendoza, making it one of the higher altitude vineyards in Mendoza and the world. The cool nights and a near constant breeze cerate idyllic climatic and terroir conditions, and this rare high altitude location results in a superb quality range of organic wines. A superstar vineyard, apart from being certified organic, Domaine Bousquet is also Regenerative Organic and BCorp Certified.
We’ve been stocking Domaine Bousquet’s wines since the 2000s, and they are indeed some of our most popular organic wines, and they’ve also wone numerous wine awards over the years. If you’re after the best Malbec wines to try, here are six from Domaine Bousquet we highly recommend.
Domaine Bousquet Malbec (available in both 75cl and 37.5cl bottles) — This has got to be one of the best Malbec wines to try, and a benchmark organic Malbec wine you’ll find anywhere! Reviewing the 2020 wine in The Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Michael Schachner wrote, “The fresh and bouncy nose on this wine smells of blackberry, cassis and rubber, while the palate is vibrant and clean. Spicy, lightly herbal black-plum and black-cherry flavours are warm on the finish.” The wine is unoaked and, as a result, the ripe, juicy fruit shines through and makes for an extremely food-friendly wine. A top Malbec in every way.
£12.95
Domaine Bousquet Virgen Malbec No Added Sulphur — Music to many ears, this no added sulphite organic Malbec has a fragrant and concentrated nose of blackberries and violet. The palate has plentiful vibrant fruit with sweet spice, accompanied by touches of pepper and blue flowers. The Malbec fruit is all estate-grown at a very cool 4,000 feet above sea level, in the foothills of the Andes, and having no sulphur added at all makes it a rare find too.
£13.50
Domaine Bousquet Reserve Malbec — This is another deliciously drinkable modern Malbec from Domaine Bousquet that’s loved by critics the world over. This Reserve Malbec is aged for ten months in solely French oak (rather than a combination of American and French), which is generally accepted to deliver more finesse and subtle flavouring and this works well in this fabulous wine.
Original price was: £15.50.£14.25Current price is: £14.25.
Domaine Bousquet Gran Malbec — We describe this as a sort of liquid Aston Martin, and this Gran Malbec is a step up from the Reserve with twelve months ageing in new French oak. The 2021 vintage also received an impresive (and well deserved) 96 points at the 2023 International Wine & Spirits Competition, with the jury saying, “Layers of dried exotic spices, dark fruits and chalky notes combining with violet, roses, oak and hints of roasted red fruit characteristics on the nose and palate. Well-integrated oak notes with medium tannins, lifted acidity and balanced alcohol and fruit.”
£21.50
Domain Bousquet Ameri Single Vineyard Malbec — As a single vineyard Malbec, this is Domaine Bousquet’s top-tier Malbec. Not only is it ‘single vineyard’, but also ‘specific cluster’ and only 500 cases from a single vineyard at over 4,000 feet are made in exceptional growing years. Aged for 12 months in French and new oak, this Malbec is violet in colour with deep black fruit aromas, sweet tannins and a smooth delicate finish, and it has earned top points from Decanter’s tasting panels.
£29.50
Domaine Bousquet Gaia Red Blend — Cheating just a bit here, but we wanted to show just how good Malbec is in a blend. The Gaia Red Blend has 50% Malbec in the blend alongside 45% Syrah and a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine was aged for ten months in French oak. The 2021 vintage was awarded 93 Points from Vinous, saying “The nose offers plum, herbs, hints of black pepper, olives, and redcurrant over a bed of oak. Juicy with refined, slighty taut tannins, it’s balanced in the mouth with plenty of fruity flavour.”
£18.50
SHOP ALL ARGENTINIAN MALBECS HERE
Two Organic French Malbecs
AOC Cahors Château de la Marjoliere — Located in France’s Occitanie region, Cahors is famous for its rich Malbec wines, with the grapes for this wine coming from vines planted on the terraces above the Lot River. Here the limestone soils are critical to yielding fruit that’s both ripe and elegant. After fermentation the grapes were gently pressed to keep harsh tannins at bay, followed by a year of concrete ageing to retain the wine’s natural freshness and purity of fruit. This is a highly recommended French Malbec with bright, ripe black fruits and super balance and length.
£15.75
Alpha Loire Domaines Touraine Le Malbec — Alongside Argentina and Cahors, the two best known places to find the best organic Malbec wine, we are thrilled to also have a top Malbec made in the Loire Valley. It is a lovely, fresh expression of the variety with ripe blue fruits with cherry and red berries. It’s supple and moreish and very drinkable indeed.
How to drink Malbec
Like most red wines, Malbec should be served just under room temperature — somewhere between 16 and 20 degrees Celsius. If you think the wine might be too warm, try placing it in your fridge for up to 30 minutes. It’s best enjoyed from a traditional red wine glass, large enough to give a decent swirl, releasing its wonderful aromas.
Malbec and Food Pairings
As a full-bodied red wine, Malbec can stand up to stronger-flavoured foods. Here are some popular food pairing ideas for Malbec wine:
- Blue cheese and cheese/charcuterie boards
- Aubergine dishes and grilled aubergine
- Burgers
- Slow cooked casseroles
- Steak of course and other red meats
See this blog post from Fiona Beckett for more food pairing ideas for Malbec wine.
