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Winner Details

New World: Malbec


2015: Gold 2 Silver 4 Bronze 6 Commended 4
2014: Gold 1 Silver 4 Bronze 5 Commended 5


A solid performance from a popular category, with a good spread of prices, and even a bit of stylistic variation – it’s really not often that a judge uses the word ‘restraint’ in conjunction with this flight! Nice to see a couple of Chileans picking up medals, too – they’ve historically often done pretty well here, but the wineries seem to lack the confidence to enter them against their marauding neighbours to the east.

Star Performer

Atamisque’s third place on the Gold List here rounded off a stunning performance for this winery with red wines, adding to sub-£10 Golds for Cabernet and Cab Franc.

FOOTNOTE: Argentine Malbec costing less than £12 ex-VAT can be entered either here or in the relevant Varietal Classic category.


From the Tasting Teams


‘[The Vistamar] would be amazing as a house wine.’ Giuseppe Longobardi, The Cross at Kenilworth
‘At the top end, there’s a definite elegance starting to creep in. There are rich wines, of course, but also ones with more restraint.’ Tom Forrest, team leader

‘Out of 12 tables last night, four of them were drinking my house Malbec. It’s like NZ Sauvignon – people order it at £30-40 and it flies out. But it’s hard to upsell people to premium listings.’
Debbie Smith, 21212

Award winners

Found 16 wines

New World: Malbec

Atamisque, Serbal, Malbec 2014, Mendoza, Argentina

Gold medal winner

Another Gold for Atamisque, this time for its food-friendly yet fragrant Malbec. Kicking off with plums and vanilla on the nose, team leader Laura Rhys MS noted: 'Savoury and meaty with dark fruits, a slightly stewed style but not jammy.' Guillaume Kaczmar of L'Ortolan added: 'Powerful, with lovely grip on the palate, and a long, enjoyable finish with a touch of bitterness.'

£9.33 Matthew Clark

Matias Riccitelli, Vineyard Selection, Malbec 2012, Mendoza, Argentina

Gold medal winner

Great to see the talents of Matias Riccitelli topping the Gold podium with this, a concentrated yet elegant Malbec. Admiring its 'deep ruby' colour, team leader Tom Forrest highlighted its 'creamy vanilla and black cherry and berry aromas', followed by 'fresh blackcurrant and soft cherry fruit, with peppery spice, grippy tannins and a cedary finish'. Consultant Sam Caporn MW, commented on the lovely fragrant oak, suggesting the obvious match: steak.

£18.97 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Vistamar, Sepia Reserva, Malbec 2013, Maipo Valley, Chile

Silver medal winner

Charles Van Wyk of FJB Hotels summed this up as a: 'Big, ripe fruit bomb! A lot of wine for the money.' Team leader Tom Forrest picked out its 'ripe, confected aromas of black cherry and berry fruits, and nice spice'.

£5.00 Bottle Green

Pérez Cruz, Limited Edition, Cot 2013, Maipo Valley, Chile

Silver medal winner

Team leader Laura Rhys MS found 'vibrant, fruity cassis and bright acidity,' concluding that this was a 'lighter style but good expression'. 'Lovely black fruit on the nose,' added Guillaume Kaczmar of L'Ortolan.

£12.13 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Kaiken, Mai 2011, Mendoza, Argentina

Silver medal winner

Debbie Smith of 21212 praised this wine for its 'soft vibrant fruit and good spice', with team leader Laura Rhys MS adding: 'Complex, rich, dark fruit and integrated tannin. Needs time, but a lovely wine.' 'Tasty,' agreed consultant Sam Caporn MW succinctly.

£29.55 Liberty Wines

Kaiken, Ultra, Malbec 2012, Mendoza, Argentina

Silver medal winner

'Deep purple colour with aromas of ripe black fruits and coconut notes,' observed team leader Tom Forrest, adding that the palate showed: 'Soft red and black fruits, peppery spice, with a rich fruit and cedar finish.'

£10.55 Liberty Wines

Ojo de Vino, Puro, Malbec 2014, Mendoza, Argentina

Bronze medal winner

'Very savoury in character, vegetal but very pleasant food wine. Would be perfect with game,' said 21212's Debbie Smith. 'Deep, inky, rich, jammy dark fruits and liquorice,' added team leader Laura Rhys MS.

£10.51 Matthew Clark

Doña Paula, Selección de Bodega, Malbec 2009, Mendoza, Argentina

Bronze medal winner

Giuseppe Longobardi of The Cross at Kenilworth enjoyed generous flavours of 'black spice, crushed raspberry, chocolate and coffee', while team leader Tom Forrest highlighted its 'very soft tannins' and 'cedar and cinnamon spice'.

£26.69 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

El Esteco, Malbec 2012, Calchaquí Valley, Argentina

Bronze medal winner

'Rich, ripe fruit with lovely weight of fruit and bold tannins, but well integrated,' summed up team leader Laura Rhys MS, while 21212's Debbie Smith added: 'Juicy and bright.'

£13.17 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Santa Ana, Reserve, Malbec 2013, Mendoza, Argentina

Bronze medal winner

'Big and bold,' said Charles Van Wyk of FJB Hotels, adding: 'Black berry fruits and savoury spice of clove, pepper and cinnamon are combined with soft, integrated tannin and a lingering finish.'

£8.11 Enotria&Coe

Salentein, Portillo, Malbec 2014, Mendoza, Argentina

Bronze medal winner

Team leader Laura Rhys MS highlighted this wine's 'dark fruit, savoury, slightly meaty' character, while Guillaume Kaczmar of L'Ortolan found it to be: 'Medium-bodied, easy-drinking, open and quite floral with lots of black fruit and spice.'

£6.99 Matthew Clark

Matias Riccitelli, The Apple Doesn't Fall Far from the Tree, Malbec 2013, Mendoza, Argentina

Bronze medal winner

Charles Van Wyk of FJB Hotels enjoyed the contrast of a 'fresh style with chewy tannins'. Declaring it a 'Malbec bomb', he described: 'A deep concentration of blackberry and stewy red fruit; blueberry with spicy overtones of clove, cinnamon and cedar.'

£12.93 Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Salentein, Barrel Selection Malbec 2013, Mendoza, Argentina

Commended medal winner

£10.50 Matthew Clark

Malbrontes, Malbec/Torrontés 2013, Mendoza, Argentina

Commended medal winner

£8.19 Matthew Clark

Zuccardi Q, Malbec 2013, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina

Commended medal winner

£12.30 Alliance Wine

Sophenia, Synthesis, Malbec 2012, Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina

Commended medal winner