This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
All the medal-winning wines from the 2022 Global Malbec Masters
This year’s competition saw some exciting Malbecs from the variety’s Argentinian heartland and its birthplace in southwest France, as well as excellent examples from many other countries and regions. By Patricia Stefanowicz MW.
Malbecs and Malbec-dominated expressions frequently produce exceptional ‘black wines’. The quality of those we judged in our 2022 Global Malbec Masters competition was remarkably high, from inexpensive to extremely high-priced. To use the much maligned phrase, Malbecs are by-and large ‘food wines’. However, they are not only fit to accompany grilled Argentinian beef, they can be just as good with something like Cajun gumbo with a bit of home-made salsa.
This year, the lion’s share of entries came from South America, with Argentina dominating the medals, especially Golds and Silvers. Chilean wines also showed very good balance and concentration.
Mendoza and, especially the cooler part of Uco Valley and Luján de Cuyo, produce stunning wines; intense but elegant, with abundant silky-textured tannins and aromatic overtones, crushed orange-coloured roses and hints of acacia honey. Weightier wines come from the lower, warmer slopes here, though the wines retain balance and integrity. At every price point, these wines deliver. Some of the biggest excitement among the judging panel this year, however, came from Malbec’s birthplace – southwest France. Exceptional examples came notably from Cahors and the Dordogne. The latter is the home of Pécharmant, and these made up some of the most elegant wines we tasted, in particular, wines from the Georges Vigouroux group – that high-class, French Malbec extraordinaire.
The rest of southern France is also a good place to search out high-quality Malbec wines, with some superb styles from the Languedoc. Brisk acidity, wellcontrolled tannins and appropriate use of oak with high alcohol less evident are all attractive features in these wines, which did not envoke palate-fatigue, even at the end of an extensive ‘black-wine’ tasting day. More crowdpleasers this year came via blends of Malbec and other, mostly Bordelais, varieties, including Petit Verdot. Many of these blends are succulent and aromatic, showing how well Malbec can work with other grapes, adding extra dimension and filling the sometimes slightly hollow mid-palate, making the wines feel more complete. An interesting aspect of this year ’s Global Malbec Masters is that we received more blends from outside of France than previous years, from the likes of Argentina, Chile and other parts of the globe, including Australia, suggesting that it’s not just single-varietal Malbec that producers are pursuing with earnest. Up in the more stratospheric price brackets, many of the wines were stunningly delicious, with great fruit, well-measured oak accents, bright acidity and velvet tannins. You can discover a number of these layered, complex wines over the following pages and they are worth every penny.
Rosé Malbec
Winery | Name of Wine | Region | Country | Vintage | Medal |
Under £10 | |||||
Trivento Bodegas y Viñedos | Reserve Rosé | Mendoza | Argentina | 2022 | Silver |
Unoaked 100% Malbec
Winery | Name of Wine | Region | Country | Vintage | Medal |
Under £10 | |||||
Bodega RPB | El Supremo | Mendoza | Argentina | 2020 | Silver |
Finca Flichman | Estate Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2022 | Silver |
Aldi Ireland | S/S Argentinian Malbec | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2021 | Silver |
£10-£15 | |||||
Agostino Wines | Crux Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2020 | Silver |
Domaine Bousquet | Alavida Organic Kosher Malbec | Gualtallary, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina | Argentina | 2021 | Silver |
£20-£30 | |||||
Bodegas Bianchi | Famiglia Bianchi Organic | San Rafael | Argentina | 2021 | Silver |
Oaked 100% Malbec
Winery | Name of Wine | Region | Country | Vintage | Medal |
Under £10 | |||||
Agostino Wines | Estate Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2019 | Gold |
Graffigna | Genuine Collection | Mendoza | Argentina | 2021 | Silver |
Finca Flichman | Finca Flichman Reserva | Mendoza | Argentina | 2021 | Silver |
Trivento Bodegas y Viñedos | Trivento Private Reserve | Mendoza | Argentina | 2021 | Silver |
Viña Indómita | Zarper | Bío Bío Valley | Chile | 2020 | Silver |
Viñedos Puertas | Aguanegra Gran Reserva | Curicó Valley | Chile | 2020 | Silver |
Bodegas y Viñedos Pascual Toso | Toso Estate Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2021 | Bronze |
Bodega Norton | Barrel Select Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2021 | Bronze |
Graffigna | Graffigna Glorious Selection | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2019 | Bronze |
£10-£15 | |||||
Viña Las Perdices | Graham Norton’s Own He-Devil | Mendoza | Argentina | 2020 | Gold |
Bodega Norton | Winemakers Reserve Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2021 | Silver |
Doolhof Wine Estate | Single Vineyard Malbec | Limietberg | South Africa | 2020 | Silver |
Trivento Bodegas y Viñedos | Private Reserve Malbec | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2021 | Silver |
Agostino Wines | Crux Xtra Malbec | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2019 | Silver |
Finca Flichman | Paisaje de Tupungato Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2021 | Silver |
Sur Andino Argentina | Los Cardos Private Collection Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2021 | Silver |
Bodegas y Viñedos Pascual Toso | Toso Estate Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2021 | Bronze |
Bodega Norton | Colección Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2021 | Bronze |
Bodega Norton | Winemakers Reserve Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2020 | Bronze |
La Celia | Pioneer | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2020 | Bronze |
Antigal Winery & Estates | Uno Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2019 | Bronze |
Yedi Bilgeler | Solon Attica | İzmir | Turkey | 2021 | Bronze |
Viña Sur Andino Argentina | Cigar Box Old Vine Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2021 | Bronze |
Doña Paula | Doña Paula Estate Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2021 | Bronze |
Serre de Bovila Vignobles Romain | Alexandre | South West | France | 2020 | Bronze |
£15-£20 | |||||
Bodegas y Viñedos Pascual Toso | Pascual Toso Reserva Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2020 | Gold |
Viña Sur Andino Argentina | Malbado Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2021 | Gold |
Pyros Wines | Pyros Appellation Malbec | San Juan | Argentina | 2019 | Silver |
ACW | Trisquel Series Malbec | Curicó Valley | Chile | 2020 | Silver |
Emiliana Organic Vineyards | 57 Rocas Malbec | Colchagua Valley | Chile | 2020 | Silver |
Trivento Bodegas y Viñedos | Golden Reserve Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2020 | Silver |
Doña Paula | Single Vineyard El Alto | Mendoza | Argentina | 2020 | Silver |
Marcelo Pelleriti | Signature Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2019 | Silver |
Château Saint-Didier-Parnac | Prieuré de Cénac | Occitanie | France | 2020 | Silver |
Domingo Molina | Domingo Molina Malbec | Cafayate | Argentina | 2018 | Silver |
Bodega Piedra Negra | Malbec Reserve | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2021 | Silver |
La Celia | Elite | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2020 | Bronze |
Kraft aus Rust | X Bec | Burgenland | Austria | 2018 | Bronze |
£20-£30 | |||||
Bodegas y Viñedos Pascual Toso | Pascual Toso Alta Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2020 | Master |
Pyros Wines | Pyros Vineyard Block 4 Malbec | San Juan | Argentina | 2018 | Gold |
Bodegas Clunia | Clunia Malbec | Castilla y León | Spain | 2019 | Gold |
Bodega Norton | Privada Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2020 | Gold |
Bodegas Bianchi | Gran Famiglia | Mendoza | Argentina | 2020 | Gold |
Finca Flichman | Dedicado Gran Mabec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2019 | Gold |
Salentein | Numina Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2020 | Silver |
Bodega Norton | Altura Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2020 | Silver |
Terrazas de los Andes | Apelación de Origen Las Compuertas | Luján de Cuyo | Argentina | 2020 | Silver |
Alpamanta Estate | Alpamanta Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2020 | Silver |
Terrazas de los Andes | Apelación de Origen Los Chacayes | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2020 | Silver |
Agostino Wines | Agostino Legado Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2017 | Silver |
Hacienda el Condor | Paya de Millaman | Curicó Valley | Chile | 2019 | Silver |
Bodega Foster Lorca | Mauricio Lorca Poético Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2019 | Bronze |
£30-£50 | |||||
Doolhof Wine Estate | Bloedklip Malbec | Limietberg | South Africa | 2018 | Master |
Tapiz | Black Tears | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2017 | Master |
Finca Flichman | Dedicado Microterroir Sand & Silt | Mendoza | Argentina | 2019 | Master |
Viña Sur Andino Argentina | Altaluvia Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2019 | Master |
SAS Rigal | Rigal Le Vin Noir | Cahors | France | 2018 | Gold |
Bodega Alpamanta | Terroir Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2014 | Gold |
Salentein | Single Vineyard Los Cerezos Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2018 | Silver |
Bodega y Viñedos Catena | Catena Alta Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2019 | Silver |
Catena Zapata | Angélica Zapata Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2018 | Silver |
Finca Flichman | Dedicado Microterroir Gravel & Stone | Mendoza | Argentina | 2019 | Silver |
Finca La Anita | Magna Finca | Luján de Cuyo | Argentina | 2019 | Silver |
Lupa Wines | Lupa Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2018 | Silver |
Bodegas Bianchi | Bianchi Particular | San Rafael | Argentina | 2019 | Silver |
Doña Paula | Selección de Bodega Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2019 | Silver |
Bodega Norton | Lote La Colonia | Mendoza | Argentina | 2019 | Silver |
Tabali | Tabali Talinay Lítico | Valle de Limarí | Chile | 2017 | Silver |
Bodegas Bianchi | Bianchi IV Generación | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2019 | Silver |
Bodega Foster Lorca | Mauricio Lorca Gran Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2019 | Silver |
Tabali | Roca Madre | Limarí Valley | Chile | 2018 | Bronze |
Salentein | Single Vineyard El Tomillo Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2018 | Bronze |
£50-£70 | |||||
Georges Vigouroux SAS | Château de Haute-Serre, Géron Dadine | South West | France | 2019 | Gold |
La Celia | Heritage | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2019 | Gold |
Salentein | Salentein Single Vineyard Los Jabalíes Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2018 | Silver |
Terrazas de los Andes | Grand Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2019 | Silver |
£70-£100 | |||||
Pyros Wines | Pyros Vineyard Limestone Hill Malbec | San Juan | Argentina | 2018 | Master |
Doña Paula | Parcel Los Indios | San Carlos | Argentina | 2019 | Master |
SAS Baldes Jean-Luc Triguedina | The New Black Wine | Cahors | France | 2016 | Master |
Bodega Foster Lorca | Enrique Foster Firmado | Mendoza | Argentina | 2018 | Gold |
Catena Zapata | Malbec Argentino | Mendoza | Argentina | 2020 | Silver |
Terrazas de los Andes | Parcel N° 2 W Los Castaños | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2019 | Silver |
Doña Paula | Parcel Alluvia | Mendoza | Argentina | 2019 | Silver |
Unoaked Malbec Blend
Winery | Name of Wine | Region | Country | Vintage | Medal |
Under £10 | |||||
Cono Sur | Bicicleta Malbec | Central Valley | Chile | 2021 | Silver |
Aldi Ireland | Pierre Jaurant French Malbec Syrah | Languedoc-Roussillon | France | NV | Bronze |
Oaked Malbec Blend
Winery | Name of Wine | Region | Country | Vintage | Medal |
Under £10 | |||||
Cono Sur | Organic Malbec | Colchagua Valley | Chile | 2021 | Silver |
La Celia | La Celia Reserve | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2021 | Silver |
£10-£15 | |||||
Viña Luis Felipe Edwards | LFE Gran Reserva Malbec | Colchagua Valley | Chile | 2020 | Silver |
Via Wines | Chilensis Reserva Malbec | Maule Valley | Chile | 2019 | Bronze |
£15-£20 | |||||
Langmeil Winery | Black Beauty Malbec | Barossa | Australia | 2021 | Silver |
£20-£30 | |||||
El Enemigo Wines | El Enemigo Malbec | Gualtallary | Argentina | 2019 | Gold |
Bodega Norton | Lote Negro | Mendoza | Argentina | 2020 | Silver |
Bodegas Bianchi | Famiglia Bianchi | Mendoza | Argentina | 2021 | Silver |
Doña Paula | 1100 | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2019 | Silver |
Viña Valdivieso S.A. | Caballo Loco Grand Cru Curicó | Curico | Chile | 2020 | Bronze |
£30-£50 | |||||
Georges Vigouroux SAS | Château de Haute-Serre, Les Seigneurs | South West | France | 2019 | Master |
Georges Vigouroux SAS | Château de Mercuès, Les Evêques | South West | France | 2019 | Silver |
£50-£70 | |||||
El Enemigo Wines | Gran Enemigo Blend | Gualtallary | Argentina | 2018 | Master |
Viña Luis Felipe Edwards | LFE 900 Malbec | Colchagua Valley | Chile | 2019 | Silver |
Finca El Origen | PHI | Mendoza | Argentina | 2020 | Silver |
About the competition
With high-quality judges and a unique sampling process, The Global Malbec Masters provides a chance for your wines to star.
The 2022 competition was judged on 16 September at Humble Grape, Fleet Street, London, employing experienced judges. The top wines were awarded Gold, Silver, or Bronze medals according to their result, and those expressions that stood out as being outstanding in their field received the ultimate accolade – the title of Malbec Master. This report features the medal winners only. Please visit the Global Masters website for more information, or, to enter future competitions – giving you the chance to feature online and in print – please call: +44 (0) 20 7803 2420 or email Sophie Raichura at: sophie@thedrinksbusiness.com.
Related news
All the medallists from the Global Malbec Masters 2024
Domaine Chanson releases first vintage of Château d’Etroyes
Capensis flies the flag for ‘world-class’ South African Chardonnay