A wine merchant once let me into a secret about ordering from an unfamiliar wine list: go for the Rioja or the Malbec, and you can’t go wrong. Malbec is one of the very few grape varieties, like Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay, that has become a brand name familiar to non-wine buffs.
What’s all the more remarkable is that 25 years ago the word ‘Malbec’ was almost unknown. In its home in south west France where it went into an often rather tough wine called Cahors, it was called Cot. In Bordeaux, however, it was known as Malbec but there was very little of it. Once an important variety, it had largely been superseded by Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc, and Merlot. But there were acres and acres of the stuff in Argentina, where it was brought by French immigrants in the 19th century.
In the 1990s Argentinian producers managed to harness all that sunshine to transform this often awkward grape into something that people loved, full-bodied but with smooth tannins, lushly fruity and perfumed with violets. A new wine style was born, Argentinian Malbec. It’s become such a success that in south west France, they now call the grape Malbec instead of Cot, and it is generally made in a fruitier, more friendly style than in the past.
Most Malbec on the shelves comes from Argentina or France, but we have included a couple from other countries too. Read on to discover the pick of the best Malbec wines, ranging from under £10 to £30 a bottle. For more unbiased expert buyer’s guides and taste tests, visit our review section to find 400+ round-ups of everything from the best English wine and prosecco to rosé. To learn more about wine, explore our complete wine varieties guide and discover all you need to know about Chenin Blanc, Garganega, Vermentino and much more.
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Best Malbec at a glance
- Best overall Malbec: Zuccardi Concreto Malbec 2021, £30
- Best Malbec for pairing with food: Opi Malbec Reserve 2023, £16.99
- Best Malbec for Bordeaux lovers: HJ Fabre Barrel Selection Patagonia Malbec 2023, £17.99
- Best fusion Malbec: Domaine Bousquet’s Finca Lalande Malbec 2024, £13
- Best value Argentinian Malbec: Definition Uco Valley Malbec 2022, £13.50
- Best Malbec under £10: by Amazon Our Selection Mendoza Argentinian Malbec, £8.49
- Best Australian Malbec: Felix Noctua Malbec 2024, £13.99
- Best value French Malbec: Tesco Finest Malbec Cahors, £8.75
- Best French Malbec: Georges Vigouroux Malbec Le Grand Retour, £12
- Best Malbec with steak: Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec, £16
Best Malbec to buy 2025
Zuccardi Concreto Malbec 2021
Best overall Malbec
Star rating: 5/5
ABV: 14%
From one of Argentina’s most revered wine producers, the Zuccardi Concreto Malbec 2021 is produced using grapes grown in the chalky soils of the estate’s own vineyards in Paraje Altamira. The chalky character of the soil is highlighted by fermenting and ageing the wine in concrete vessels, hence the ‘Concreto’ name. It’s this unique ageing process that gives the wine the purity, precision and elegance it has become so well renowned for.
Fresh and floral on the nose with some herbal aromas, the palate is characterised by berry fruitiness with chalky tannins, a hint of black pepper and a bold floral finish. An absolutely exemplary Argentinian Malbec.
Available from:
Laithwaites (£30)
Opi Malbec Reserve 2023
Best Malbec for pairing with food
Star rating: 4/5
ABV: 14%
Made by Rodolfo Sadler, chief winemaker at Andean Vineyards in Argentina, this uses grapes from older, higher altitude vineyards in the Maipu region of Mendoza. It was aged for 15 months in new French and American Oak barrels for rounded tannins and greater depth of flavour.
With intense black fruit notes of plum, mulberry and blackcurrant, this is a particularly juicy Argentinian Malbec with some gorgeous vanilla and spice notes lingering on the finish. It’s an elegant bottle that is great for pairing with food, especially steak, roast beef and game.
Available from:
Laithwaites (£16.99)
HJ Fabre Barrel Selection Patagonia Malbec 2023
Best Malbec for Bordeaux lovers
Star rating: 4/5
ABV: 14.5%
Bordeaux-born Hervé Fabre moved to Argentina during the 1990s and soon fell in love with old-vine Malbec. Since then, the winemaker has bought estates in Mendoza and Patagonia, where he runs his winery like a Bordeaux Château, with barrel cellars at each.
This particular wine is made like a fine claret, using grapes from 30-year-old vines in Patagonia’s Río Negro, aged for a year in French oak barriques. The result is a powerful, elegant Malbec with velvety tannins, a hint of oak, blackcurrant, spice and a medium to full body with a well-balanced finish. Top tip: ideally decant for at least an hour to experience this wine at its best.
Available from:
Laithwaites (£17.99)
Domaine Bousquet’s Finca Lalande Malbec 2024
Best fusion Malbec
Star rating: 4/5
ABV: 13%
The Bousquet family fell in love with the Gualtallary Valley, which occupies the highest extremes of Mendoza’s viticultural limits. It is here that the family planted vines to nurture organically-grown wines with their dream terroir, a perfect blend between France and South America.
The results blend French winemaking with Argentinian terroir. Really showcasing the Gualtallary soil, the Finca Lalande Malbec’s 2024 vintage is bursting with red and black fruit notes, including plum, blueberry, blackberry and fig alongside soft tannins and an elegant, well-balanced finish.
Available from:
Waitrose (£12)
Definition Uco Valley Malbec 2022
Best value Argentinian Malbec
Star rating: 4/5
ABV: 14%
Crafted exclusively for Majestic, the Definition Uco Valley Malbec is a more accessible wine from Zuccardi, the producers of the Concreto Malbec above.
Using grapes from vineyards which range between 800-to-1400 metres above sea level, half of the wine is aged in French oak for 10 months while the other portion is aged in concrete egg vats, like Zuccardi’s other exceptional wines. This protects the fruit and terroir. In this edition, jammy notes of blackberry, plum, blackcurrant and black cherry are joined by some oak and vanilla hints, plus some very feint tobacco alongside smooth tannins and moderate acidity.
Available from:
Majestic (£13.50)
By Amazon Our Selection Mendoza Argentinian Malbec
Best Malbec under £10
Star rating: 3.5/5
ABV: 13.5%
From Amazon’s own curated range of high quality food and drink, the By Amazon Malbec showcases grapes from 25-year-old vines in the Agrelo district of Mendoza in Argentina. A pure, classic example of Argentinian Malbec, the wine is bold with violet, redcurrant and blackcurrant notes alongside a silky smooth finish. Although not quite as complex as other options, the By Amazon Malbec is far greater than its price suggests, great for pairing with food.
Available from:
Amazon (£8.49)
Felix Noctua Malbec 2024
Best Australian Malbec
Star rating: 4/5
ABV: 13.2%
Sun-kissed, perfectly ripe Australian Malbec grapes are showcased in this Felix Noctua Malbec, known for their pronounced jammy fruit flavours. Produced by the expert team at Felix Noctua in South-Eastern Australia, this particular wine reminds us of the nation’s red wine credentials, which is a slight step away from the better known French and Argentinian Malbecs.
Offering plenty of depth without excess, the jammy dark fruit presence is balanced by some subtle spice and a touch of earthiness, framed by silky tannins and a long fruity finish.
Available from:
Virgin Wines (£13.99)
Tesco Finest Malbec Cahors
Best value French Malbec
Star rating: 3/5
ABV: 13%
Cahors, the original home of Malbec, tends to produce wines with more tannin than Argentina. That is the case here, but it’s also supported by acres of fresh ripe damson fruit so it’s not going to frighten the horses.
Available from:
Tesco (£8.75)
Georges Vigouroux Malbec Le Grand Retour
Best French Malbec
Rating: 4/5
ABV: 13.5%
Another wine from Cahors, this is more traditional than the Tesco version. There’s a smell like old leather with dark fruit and violets. It’s robust on the palate with dark fruit and grippy leather, but with freshness and fragrance too. Try this with cassoulet.
Available from:
Majestic (£12)
Trivento Malbec Golden Reserve
Best Malbec with steak
Rating: 4/5
ABV: 14%
Trivento makes a huge range of wines (including some tasty supermarket own labels) but I’ve gone for a more upmarket version which is worth the extra money. It’s very spicy with violets, plums and the kind of furry tannins that love a nice bit of rare steak.
Available from:
Tesco (£16)
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This review was last updated in November 2025. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.
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