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All the medallists from the Global Malbec Masters 2023
Malbec is changing, and for the better – as the judges at this year’s Global Masters blind tasting of the grape were delighted to discover. Patrick Schmitt MW reports.
What a difference a decade makes. That was my feeling following a particularly fine set of results in this year ’s Malbec Masters – a competition that featured an impressive quantity of top-scoring wines, and far more, I would imagine, than we would have seen 10 years ago. Why do I think that? Over the years of running Malbec-only blind tastings, we’ve witnessed shifts in style and quality to a point today where it appears that a happy medium has been struck.
In contrast, during the 2000s, one might taste something more rustic and relatively dilute made from Côt – the synonym for Malbec in its native home of Cahors – or a drop that was more jammy, oaky and alcoholic when grown in the grape’s more famous base: Argentina. Between then and now, we’ve watched the Malbecs of southwest France gradually soften, fill out and improve, and the versions from South America move from fat to skinny, sometimes green, and then a little bit back again to a position, right now, where they are generous, ripe, but also refreshing.
Indeed, commenting on this year ’s competition, after the day’s tasting was over, Jonathan Pedley MW, a fellow chair of the judges, recorded the same trend. “I was particularly struck by the fact that several of the negatives that characterised previous editions of the Malbec Masters hardly featured today,” he said.
“In other words, very few wines were over-extracted, over-oaked, over-tannic and/or over-alcoholic … On the contrary, the tasting demonstrated what super wines Malbec and Argentina are capable of creating across the price spectrum.” In terms of styles and prices, under £10 there was a good standard of wines, but nothing outstanding, as one would expect, considering the constraints of making inexpensive drops at the moment.
But moving beyond this psychological price point, the standard of wines took a leap forward, with several Golds and even a Master awarded, proving that Malbec, particularly from Mendoza, is capable of producing good-value wines with immediate and broad appeal. “The fruit character became more succulent and appealing, with oak adding a bit of richness and complexity; there was more length on the finish as well,” reported Pedley, who said it was such wines that “put a smile on consumers’ faces”.
But it was the £20-£30 category that was declared “the sweet spot” by the judges, with plenty of Malbecs showing the variety’s hallmark combination of fleshy dark berry fruit, black peppery spice and complementary notes of toast and vanilla from maturation in barrels. Such wines were not delicate, or subtle, but have made Malbec popular, especially among diners chewing on marbled red meat.
Finally, at the very top end, over £30 and up to £100, there were samples to show that Malbec can be the basis of fine wine. And not just from the top spots in Argentina – but France too, with La Roche Mère from Crocus in Cahors picking up a Master, putting it alongside famous South American producers such as Salentein and Terrazas de los Andes.
Speaking of the most prized, if priciest, wines of the Malbec Masters 2023, Pedley said: “The best wines here had a refinement not present in the less expensive categories: the fruit was ripe but not stewed, the tannins were polished and the finishes were long.”
Unoaked White Malbec
Winery | Name of wine | Region | Country | Vint. | Medal |
Under £10 | |||||
Trivento Bodegas y Viñedos | Trivento Reserve White Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2023 | Bronze |
Unoaked Rosé Malbec
Winery | Name of wine | Region | Country | Vint. | Medal |
Under £10 | |||||
Trivento Bodegas y Viñedos | Trivento Reserve Rosé Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2023 | Bronze |
Bodega Argento | Artesano de Argento Organic Fairtrade Malbec Rosé | Mendoza | Argentina | 2023 | Bronze |
Unoaked 100% Malbec
Winery | Name of wine | Region | Country | Vint. | Medal |
Under £10 | |||||
Trapiche | Trapiche Pure | Mendoza | Argentina | 2022 | Bronze |
£10-£15 | |||||
Uco Valley Wines (Kauzo Estates) | Malacara Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2022 | Silver |
£15-£20 | |||||
Domaine Bousquet | Gaia Nouveau Organic Malbec | Gualtallary | Argentina | 2022 | Silver |
Bodegas Bianchi | Famiglia Bianchi | Mendoza | Argentina | 2022 | Bronze |
Oaked 100% Malbec
Winery | Name of wine | Region | Country | Vint. | Medal |
Under £10 | |||||
Bodega Doña Paula | Cigar Box Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2022 | Silver |
Kavaklidere Saraplari | Egeo Malbec | Aegean | Turkey | 2021 | Silver |
Finca Flichman | Estate Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2023 | Silver |
Graffigna | Graffigna Reserve | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2021 | Silver |
Bodega Argento | Minimalista Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2023 | Silver |
Trivento Bodegas y Viñedos | Trivento Reserve Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2022 | Bronze |
Graffigna | Elixio Insigne | Mendoza | Argentina | 2022 | Bronze |
Trapiche | Trapiche Reserve | Mendoza | Argentina | 2022 | Bronze |
£10-£15 | |||||
Fecovita | Los Helechos Reserva Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2020 | Gold |
Bodegas Doña Paula | Estate Malbec | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2022 | Gold |
Trapiche | Tesoro | Mendoza | Argentina | 2021 | Gold |
Bodega Doña Paula | Smoked Malbec | Luján de Cuyo | Argentina | 2022 | Silver |
Terra Organica | Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2023 | Silver |
Susana Balbo | BenMarco Malbec | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2021 | Silver |
Yedi Bilgeler | Solon Attica | Izmir | Turkey | 2022 | Silver |
Trapiche | Expedición Sur | Neuquén | Argentina | 2021 | Silver |
Graffigna | Glorious Selection | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2021 | Silver |
Finca El Origen | Reserva Malbec | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2022 | Silver |
Bodega Norton | Winemaker’s Reserve | Mendoza | Argentina | 2022 | Silver |
Oaked 100% Malbec (continued)
Winery | Name of wine | Region | Country | Vint. | Medal |
£10-£15 (continued) | |||||
Sur Andino Argentina | Malbado Malbec | Luján de Cuyo | Argentina | 2022 | Bronze |
Susana Balbo | Crios Malbec | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2022 | Bronze |
Bodegas Etchart | Cafayate Estate | Salta | Argentina | 2021 | Bronze |
Brown Brothers/ Brown Family Wine Group | Brown Brothers Origins Series Malbec | Heathcote | Australia | 2020 | Bronze |
Finca Flichman | Reserva Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2022 | Bronze |
La Celia | Elite | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2021 | Bronze |
Trivento Bodegas y Viñedos | Trivento Private Reserve Malbec | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2022 | Bronze |
£15-£20 | |||||
Bread & Butter | Bread & Butter | Mendoza | Argentina | 2022 | Master |
Mascota Vineyards | La Mascota | Mendoza | Argentina | 2021 | Gold |
Bodega Foster Lorca | Enrique Foster Single Vineyard Los Altepes | Mendoza | Argentina | 2020 | Silver |
Trivento Bodegas y Viñedos | Golden Reserve Malbec | Luján de Cuyo | Argentina | 2021 | Silver |
Bodega Doña Paula | Single Vineyard El Alto Malbec | Luján de Cuyo | Argentina | 2022 | Silver |
1853 Old Vine Estate | Selected Parcel | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2020 | Silver |
Domaine Bousquet | Gaia Organic Malbec | Gualtallary | Argentina | 2021 | Silver |
Pyros | Appellation Malbec | Pedernal Valley | Argentina | 2020 | Silver |
Bodegas Salentein | Barrel Selection Malbec | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2021 | Silver |
El Esteco | El Esteco | Cafayate | Argentina | 2022 | Silver |
Trapiche | Medalla | Mendoza | Argentina | 2020 | Bronze |
El Esteco | Old Vines | Salta | Argentina | 2022 | Bronze |
£20-£30 | |||||
Bodegas Salentein | Numina Malbec | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2021 | Gold |
Mascota Vineyards | Gran Mascota | Mendoza | Argentina | 2020 | Gold |
Bodegas Bianchi | Bianchi Particular | San Rafael | Argentina | 2020 | Gold |
Château de Haute-Serre | Georges | Occitanie | France | 2020 | Gold |
Alpamanta Estate | Respect Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2021 | Gold |
Bodegas Bianchi | Enzo Bianchi | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2020 | Gold |
Bodegas Salentein | Single Vineyard Los Cerezos Malbec | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2019 | Gold |
Wakefield/Taylors Wines | Taylor Made Malbec | Clare Valley | Australia | 2022 | Gold |
Domaine Bousquet | Ameri Single Vineyard Organic Malbec | Gualtallary | Argentina | 2021 | Gold |
Terrazas de los Andes | Origen Las Compuertas | Mendoza | Argentina | 2021 | Gold |
Trapiche | Terroir Series Finca Ambrosia | Mendoza | Argentina | 2019 | Silver |
Bodegas Bianchi | Gran Famiglia | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2021 | Silver |
Bodegas y Viñedos Pascual Toso | Pascual Toso Alta Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2021 | Silver |
Maison Rigal | Rigal Les Pierres Blanches | South-West | France | 2015 | Silver |
Château de Mercuès | Les Évêques | Occitanie | France | 2020 | Silver |
Pyros | No 4 Malbec | Pedernal Valley | Argentina | 2019 | Silver |
El Esteco | Fincas Notables | Salta | Argentina | 2020 | Silver |
Bodega Norton | Privada | Mendoza | Argentina | 2022 | Silver |
Millaman Wines | Paya de Millaman | Curicó Valley | Chile | 2020 | Silver |
Culmina Family Estate Winery | Malbec | Okanagan Valley | Canada | 2019 | Silver |
Fecovita | Los Helechos – Designado | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2020 | Silver |
Bodega Foster Lorca | Mauricio Lorca Poético Malbec | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2020 | Silver |
Emiliana Organic Vineyards | 57 Rocas Malbec | Colchagua Valley | Chile | 2020 | Bronze |
Bodega Norton | Altura | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2022 | Bronze |
Sur Andino Argentina | Altaluvia Malbec | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2020 | Bronze |
Terrazas de los Andes | Origen Los Chacayes | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2021 | Bronze |
Finca Flichman | Gran Reserva Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2021 | Bronze |
Bodegas Clunia | Clunia Malbec | Castilla y León | Spain | 2020 | Bronze |
Fecovita | Cruz Del Sur – Gran Austral | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2017 | Bronze |
£30-£50 | |||||
Bodegas Salentein | Single Vineyard La Pampa Malbec 2019 | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2019 | Master |
Alpamanta Estate | Alpamanta Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2021 | Gold |
Bodega Norton | Lote Single Vineyard – La Colonia | Mendoza | Argentina | 2022 | Gold |
Bodega Doña Paula | Selección de Bodega Malbec | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2020 | Gold |
Finca Flichman | Dedicado Gran Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2020 | Silver |
Maison Rigal | Rigal Le Vin Noir | South-West | France | 2018 | Silver |
Fecovita | Los Helechos – Ensamblados | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2018 | Silver |
Bodegas Bianchi | IV Generación | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2020 | Silver |
Finca Flichman | Dedicado Microterroir Sand & Silt | Mendoza | Argentina | 2019 | Silver |
Terrazas de los Andes | Grand Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2020 | Silver |
Crocus | Le Calcifère | Occitanie | France | 2020 | Silver |
Bodegas Salentein | Primus Malbec | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2020 | Silver |
Oaked 100% Malbec (continued)
Winery | Name of wine | Region | Country | Vint. | Medal |
£50-£70 | |||||
Finca Flichman | Dedicado Microterroir Gravel & Stone | Mendoza | Argentina | 2019 | Gold |
Château de Mercuès | 6666 | Occitanie | France | 2020 | Gold |
Bodega Norton | Lote Single Vineyard – Lunlunta | Mendoza | Argentina | 2022 | Gold |
Bodega Norton | Lote Single Vineyard – Agrelo | Mendoza | Argentina | 2022 | Silver |
Château de Haute-Serre | Géron Dadine | Occitanie | France | 2020 | Silver |
£70-£100 | |||||
Crocus | La Roche Mère | Occitanie | France | 2020 | Master |
Bemberg Estate Wines | La Linterna Malbec Finca El Tomillo, Parcela #5 | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2016 | Master |
Terrazas de los Andes | Terrazas de Los Andes Parcel Los Castaños | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2020 | Master |
Bodega Foster Lorca | Enrique Foster Firmado | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2019 | Master |
Bodega Foster Lorca | Mauricio Lorca Grandes Varietales Malbec | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2019 | Master |
Catena Zapata | Malbec Argentino | Mendoza | Argentina | 2021 | Gold |
Pyros | Pyros Limestone Hill Malbec | Pedernal Valley | Argentina | 2019 | Gold |
Terrazas de los Andes | Parcel Licán | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2020 | Gold |
Terrazas de los Andes | Parcel Los Cerezos | Mendoza | Argentina | 2020 | Silver |
Terrazas de los Andes | Parcel El Espinillo | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2020 | Bronze |
Oaked Malbec Blend
Winery | Name of wine | Region | Country | Vint. | Medal |
Under £10 | |||||
Viña Luis Felipe Edwards | LFE Reserva Malbec | Colchagua Valley | Chile | 2022 | Silver |
Bodega Argento | Artesano de Argento Organic Fairtrade Malbec/Cabernet Franc | Mendoza | Argentina | 2022 | Silver |
La Celia | La Celia Reserve | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2021 | Bronze |
Viña Luis Felipe Edwards | LFE Gran Reserva Malbec | Colchagua Valley | Chile | 2022 | Bronze |
£15-£20 | |||||
El Enemigo Wines | El Enemigo Malbec | Mendoza | Argentina | 2020 | Gold |
Viñedos Calcu | Calcu Tiny Blocks Malbec | Colchagua Valley | Chile | 2020 | Silver |
£20-£30 | |||||
Domaine Bousquet | Bousquet Gran Organic Malbec | Gualtallary | Argentina | 2021 | Gold |
Bodega Norton | Lote Negro | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2022 | Silver |
Susana Balbo | Signature Malbec | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2021 | Silver |
About the competition
With high-quality wines and a unique sampling process, The Malbec Masters provides a chance for your wines to star. The 2023 competition was judged on 10 August at Holmes Hotel London in Chiltern Street, 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 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