Top Malbec wines are typically a medium to full-bodied red wine. Ripe fruit flavors of plums and blackberry give it a jammy characteristic. The tannins are typically a bit tight and the earthy, wood-like appeal makes for a fairly rustic, yet versatile wine.
Although the grape is traditionally grown in Bordeaux, areas in the Loire, Cahors, Mediterranean and California also harvest this varietal. It is mainly used for blending, adding a deep red color and tannin, but winemakers in Argentina have taken to this particular grape and now produces top Malbec wines as its own wine. The grape yields soft, chewy fruit with rich, strong flavors. They are also perfect for aging. Pair it with slow-cooked red meats, such as stew, or with wild game.
Here are the 10 top Malbec wines. 
1. Mendel Unus Malbec 2006 – A 30% blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, for both well-planned structure and concentrated fruit. This is a fresh, sturdy wine with warm layers of complexity and vivid fruit – largely dark cherry, blackberry and jammy plum along with a delicious mix of mocha and vanilla on the velvety finish.
2. Susana Balbo Malbec 2007 – This particular wine has just a dash of Cabernet Sauvignon (10%) in the mix, giving it a little more structure and finish length – it is a well-placed blend addition.
3. Mendel Finca Remota Malbec 2006 – This limited production Mendel Finca Remota, “Faraway Ranch,” is 100% pure Malbec from top of the line 60 year old vines. It was hand-harvested and handled with exquisite care and vision from grape to bottle. This wine has seen the best of barrel aging and lives the legacy in both fruit intensity and perfectly balanced component integration.
4. Clos de los Siete Malbec 2007 is a dynamic fusion of Malbec, Merlot, Cab and Syrah. This red wine is brimming with rich, dark fruit – mainly cherry, blackberry and some blueberry along with dashes of chocolate and plenty of engaging spice.
5. La Posta Paulucci Vineyard Malbec 2007 – This is a stunning, single vineyard wine from 34 year old vines. On the nose you’ll find plenty of cherry, currant and vanilla spice. On the palate the cherry profile extends its reach and welcomes well-yielded tannins and black pepper spice on the finish. This is a medium-bodied red wine that will pair up well with burgers, pot roast, poultry and even a hearty sausage pizza.
6. Trapiche Broquel Malbec 2006 – This is a delicious Malbec with intensity and kick, fruit and firm tannins. The flavor profile consists of blackberry and some plum with a bit of smokiness and vanilla spice. It is a full-bodied wine with good flavor and a decent finish. A fairly versatile wine for summer grilling.
7. Michel Torino Malbec Don David 2007 – The Don David Malbec is bursting with blackberry and cherry mingling with tea and tobacco nuances on the nose. The palate profile offers plenty of fruit and spice with noticeable structure and and elegant balance, the finish is long and strong. A solid value wine that is versatile enough to handle a mix of flavors and seasonings in the pairing process.
8. Luca Malbec 2008 – This wine displays a stunning, dense violet color in the glass. And the density carries on to the palate in the form of jam-packed, dark berry fruit, layered with mocha notes and a touch of tobacco. The wine’s innate depth and well-honed balance of acidity, alcohol, soft tannins and focused flavor is striking. A fun, fresh wine with plenty of flesh and endurance.
9. Alamos Malbec 2007 – Dark, inky purple pigment gives way to blackberry aromas mixed with a bit of violet making up the first impressions on the Alamos Malbec. This is a fine introduction to the Malbec grape.
10. Punto Final Malbec Classico 2008 – Sourced from 50+ year old vines, this Malbec was late harvested allowing the sugars to concentrate and flavors to become more jam-driven. Aging took place in stainless steel tanks, with no oak contact whatsoever during the vinting process. A decadent wine and sure to please a wide variety of palates.
Enjoy these top Malbec wines!
Where to buy online
Snooth
Argentine Malbec
Wine Globe
Additional products
Malbec Wine Making Ingredient Kit
Vino Argentino: An Insider’s Guide to the Wines and Wine Country of Argentina
La Posta Paulucci Vineyard Malbec 2007 is on my number one list! I love that sensation of cherry passing through my nose and the vanilla that makes me crazy.
I want to try Mendel Unus Malbec 2006, I wonder how it will taste when jammy plum mixed with vanilla and mocha plus the other fruit.