Don Miguel Gascon Malbec grows in Mendoza where the landscape is dominated dramatically by the Andes Mountains

Argentinian Malbec continues to offer great value. As approaches to viticulture and winemaking  for Malbec evolve in Argentina, diversity increases while quality keeps rising. You can find delicious and affordable wines to drink tonight, rich and structured wines to cellar for a decade and wines that express very specific sites.

The two wines below are from the same producer, but meet different needs. The first, priced low enough to be an everyday drinker for many people, is immediately accessible with fetching fruit and a welcoming mouthfeel. The second is darker, denser and built to improve with a few years in the cellar.

2015 Don Miguel Gascon Malbec Reserva Mendoza Argentina 90 13.9% 750ml $15

Dark ruby-purple in the glass, this Gascon Malbec engages with a nose of ripe black cherry, blackberry, earth, spice and dry soil. The palate offers more of the black cherry, tangier blackberry with smoke and a backdrop of dry herb. Mouthfeel is satisfyingly viscous with medium+ body and very fine, soft, moderate tannins. The combination of fruit intensity, complexity, delightful texture and moderate alcohol make this a very appealing choice for a dinner or drinking on it’s own. And at just $15, this wine is an excellent value. Enjoy it over the next three years.

2014 Don Miguel Gascon Malbec Mendoza Argentina 91 14.5% 750ml $25

This wine, made from vines in both the Ucu Valley and Agrelo areas of Mendoza is built for moderate aging. The dark ruby-purple color is spot on for Malbec. The nose leads with briary dark fruit but also offers smoke and chocolate, resulting from 15 months of oak aging. The palate is medium+ in weight with very fine, soft tannins that last throughout the long finish with chalky persistence. Flavors echo the nose with dark fruit, chocolate and smoke, but oak and coconut are very present too. This wine will be best with a meaty dinner in two to five years.

You may also be interested in these reviews of Argentinian Malbec:

Nieto Senetiner: Reviews of Current Releases 89–92+pts

Susana Balbo: Reviews of Current Releases 88–93pts

Copyright Fred Swan 2016. Photo courtesy Don Miguel Gascon. All rights reserved.