Best Argentinian wine to buy 2023 | Good Housekeeping UK Argentinian wine pairings
Malbec and steak are a well-documented match made in heaven; however, pork, lamb and game (when in season) are also worth experimenting with. The full-bodied nature of malbec will also take on rich, indulgent sauces (blue cheese burger anyone?), while vegetarians should try teaming it with mushrooms, roasted bell peppers and aubergine-based dishes.
Elsewhere aromatic torrontes — with notes of sweet rose petal and white peach — is fantastic with lightly spiced dishes. Try it with coconut-based fish curries, or peanut-coated tofu stir-fries.
How we test Argentinian wine
As part of the Good Housekeeping Institute’s annual Wine Awards, our panel of 10 WSET-accredited experts and consumers sampled 18 bottles of Argentinian wine.
They considered a range of styles, looking for wines that were a good representation of their grape variety. Each was assessed on its complexity, flavour and finish. Here’s our pick of the best Argentinian wine for 2023.
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1
Joint best Argentinian wine
Luigi Bosca Malbec
Score: 89/100
Bodega Luigi Bosca is one of Argentina’s oldest family-owned wineries. This top-rated malbec reflects the vineyard’s desert terroir in every drop, with a smooth palate dominated by sweet red fruit, mellow spice and balanced tannins.
2
Joint best Argentinian wine
Gaia Organic Malbec
Score: 89/100
Malbec is a certified crowd-pleaser, and this organic drop is ideal for Christmas. As a medium-bodied red, it’s excellent with dark turkey meat, pork and lamb, as well as mushroom-based sauces and blue cheese. Expect forest fruits, a touch of black pepper and subtle spice.
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3
Runner-up malbec
Opi Malbec
Score: 85/100
This impressive red is a steal (a previous vintage was named “Best Malbec of Argentina” at the Wines of Argentina awards). With layers of black fruit, oak, vanilla, a whiff of smoke and a crack of black pepper, if beef is on the menu, this is the wine to pair with it.
4
Best bonarda
Santa Julia Reserve Valle de Uco Bonarda
Score: 85/100
Although Argentina is best known for its malbec, the bonarda grape is being tipped as the country’s next big thing. Here you’ll find a similar fruit-forward palate — think, cherry, redcurrants and blackcurrants — but with added spicy complexity.
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5
Broken Spur Mendoza Malbec
Score: 85/100
A great match for roast beef through to veggie-friendly stuffed peppers, this versatile malbec proved to be great value. Its aromatic profile includes red and black cherries, black pepper and a touch of forest floor, offering a complexity you wouldn’t necessarily expect at this price.
6
Best supermarket own-brand malbec
Tesco Finest The Trilogy Malbec
Score: 84/100
Part of Tesco’s Finest range, The Trilogy is produced by Catena (widely considered one of Argentina’s top producers), so you know you’re in safe hands here. Pleasingly full-bodied, this bold red will see you through winter with festive spice, and a touch of sweet maraschino cherry.
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7
Best budget torrontes
Tesco Finest Torrontes
Score: 82/100
The torrontes grape is known for being deliciously aromatic, and this is an excellent example, with Turkish delight, lychee, stone fruit and blossom all vying for attention. The high-altitude influence gives it a zingy edge, making it a great match for spicy food.
8
Best budget malbec
Domaine Bousquet Finca Lalande Malbec
Score: 81/100
With an abundance of blackberries and cherries, this fruity little number is ideal with tomato-based pasta or slow-cooked ragu. The organic nature of this wine is apparent on the palate, with earthy notes of forest floor, spicy black pepper and leather adding complexity and depth to each sip, while happily coming in at under ten pounds.
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9
M&S Collection Susana Balbo Malbec
Score: 80/100
Susana Balbo became the first woman in Argentina to receive her degree in oenology (the study of wine) back in 1981. Since then, she’s been named as one of the “most influential women winemakers” by The Drink Business magazine. This wine by Balbo is smooth and full-bodied, with fresh blackcurrant leaf and complex spice on the nose, and luscious blackberry notes on the palate.
Score: 80/100
Next stop, Patagonia! It might not be a go-to wine region for most, but the country is fast becoming recognised for malbec that holds its own against the likes of Argentina’s Mendoza. Testers loved the aromatic fruit, which was described as “summer pudding in a glass”, and found the perfumed, baked berry notes developed an earthy, leathery quality which builds with each sip. Full-bodied, rich and substantial, your wine rack will thank you for it.
And if you’re wondering why there’s a dinosaur on the label, it’s in reference to the 75-million-year-old dinosaur bones which were discovered when building the winery.
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11
Best Fairtrade malbec
Co-op Fairtrade Irresistible Organic Malbec
Score: 77/100
Boasting both organic and Fairtrade credentials, Co-op’s well-priced red is outstanding value. It’s a classic, bold Argentinian malbec — think plump, dark fruit flavours and a spicy finish — but with firm tannins and a well-rounded savoury edge. In fact, you’d be forgiven for thinking it was much more expensive than it is.
12
Best Argentinian cabernet sauvignon
Harvey Nichols Mendoza Cabernet Sauvignon
Score: 72/100
Proving there’s more to Argentinian wine than malbec, Harvey Nichols’ own-brand range of wines includes this cabernet sauvignon from the Uco Valley. It opens with elegant aromas of black fruit, tobacco and chocolate, moving to smoke, herbs and chewy tannins on the palate.
Key specificationsGrapeCabernet SauvignonABV14%
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13
Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Argentinian High Altitude Malbec
Score: 72/100
The grapes for Sainsbury’s TTD malbec, are grown at high altitude, meaning they get maximum sunshine during the day, and the benefit of cooling winds in the evening. The result is a more complex, fruit-forward wine, with refreshing acidity.
14
Best biodynamic malbec
Krontiras Natural Malbec
Score: 70/100
This biodynamic wine is sulphite-free, allowing the pure fruit in this malbec to truly shine. The lack of oak means this is slightly lighter in style than others on test, but it’s no less complex, with a satisfying spicy finish.
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15
Best carbon-neutral malbec
Jam Shed Argentinian Malbec
Score: 70/100
Looking for a carbon-neutral alternative to your regular bottle of malbec? Jam Shed delivers with this crowd-pleasing, vibrant red. You can expect a combination of rich and indulgent pomegranate molasses, sour cherry and cranberry, with just a hint of vanilla oak. And all while keeping carbon emissions in check.
Callum is our Food and Drink Testing Manager and has been part of the world of professional catering for 10 years, from cheffing to food manufacturing. While working in manufacturing he specialised in bespoke product and menu development for several start-ups and well-known brands such as Wrap It Up! and HOP Vietnamese. He holds the WSET Level 2 in wine, a Level 3 in spirits and has a particular interest in agave spirits.
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