Looking for a good Malbec

Mydnight wrote: My question is two-fold: What are some better Malbecs

In the US Argentine Malbecs are plentiful, I will hope that some of the ones I know are found in your market. In general Argentina makes great malbec at all price points. For French Malbec look to wines labeled "Cahors"

Forget that I present here the malbecs available at La Cabana in Buenos Aires I have had a few and will note them, these go from expensive down (IIRC)

Escorihuela Gascon one of my favorite $15 Malbecs Achaval Ferrer I have seen this one in the US for $29-40 Rutini Rutini is a major player with a wide variety of price points Alto Las Hormigas another good one as are Norton and Terrazas

If you can't find any of these ... well, ask again!

Palo Domingo Domingo Hnos., Yacochuya, Cafayate, Salta

Achaval Ferrer Altamira Ultra Premium Achaval Ferrer, Finca Altamira, Mendoza

Yacochuya San Pedro de Yacochuya, Cafayate, Salta

Angelica Zapata Alta Fincas Catena Zapata, Agrelo, Mendoza

Val De Flores Monteviejo, Vista Flores, Tunuyán, Mendoza

Cadus Nieto Senetiner, Vistalba, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza

Alto Alta Vista Alta Vista, Finca Las Compuertas, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza

Doña Paula Seleccion De Bodega Viña Doña Paula, Ugarteche, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza

Rutini Antologia XII Bodega La Rural, Maipú, Mendoza

Rutini Bodega La Rural, La Consulta, San Carlos, Mendoza

LindaFlor Bodega Monteviejo, Monteviejo, Vista Flores, Mendoza

Piedra Negra Jacques & François Lurton, Valle de Uco, Tunuyán, Mendoza

J. Alberto Bodega Noemía, Río Negro, Patagonia

Ruca Malén Kinien Bodega Ruca Malén, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza

Alto Las Hormigas Reserva Alto Las Hormigas, Las Compuertas, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza

Finca La Anita La Anita, Alto Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza

Historico Finca El Plumerillo, Colonia Las Rosas, Tunuyán, Mendoza

Monteviejo Bodega Monteviejo, Monteviejo, Vista Flores, Mendoza

Matices De Abril Bodegas Abril, Tunuyán, Mendoza

Family Reserve Finca La Perserverancia, San Rafael, Mendoza

Tierras Altas Malbec Crianza Vargas Arizu, Vistalba, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza

Carmelo Patti Finca El Lagar, Mayor Drummond, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza

Reserva Fincas Don Martino, Mayor Drummond, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza

Laborum Bodega El Porvenir, Valle del Cafayate, Salta Partidas limitadas de 5.181 botellas

Domingo Molina Domingo Hnos., Yacochuya, Cafayate, Salta

Famiglia Bianchi Bodega Valentín Bianchi, San Rafael, Mendoza

Del Fin Del Mundo Bodega del Fin del Mundo, San Patricio del Chañar, Neuquén

Gran Malbec. Flecha de los Andes Bodega Flecha de los Andes, Vista Flores, Mendoza

Doña Paula Estate Viña Doña Paula, Alto Ugarteche, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza

Saint Felicien Bodega Catena Zapata, Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza

Alto Las Hormigas Alto Las Hormigas, Las Compuertas, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza

Achaval Ferrer. Malbec Mendoza Perdriel, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza

Perdriel Coleccion Privada Bodega Norton, Perdriel, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza

Terrazas Reserva Terrazas de los Andes, Vistalba, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza

Obra Prima Malbec Reserva Familia Cassone, Mayor Drummond, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza

Cinco Tierras Bodega Banfi, Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza

Finca Sophenia Sophenia, Tupungato, Gualtayari, Mendoza

Luigi Bosca Reserva Bodega Leoncio Arizu, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza

Lamarca Bodega Lamarca, Tupungato, Mendoza

Altocedro Reserva Vino de Autor, Santa Rosa, Mendoza

Viña Amalia Finca La Amalia, Altamira, San Carlos, Mendoza

Terrazas Terrazas de los Andes, Vistalba, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza

El Peral Finca El Peral, Tupungato, Mendoza

Escorihuela Gascon Bodegas Escorihuela, La Consulta, Vistalba y Agrelo, Mendoza

Gran Malbec Bodega Flecha de los Andes, Vista Flores, Mendoza

Reserva Malbec Bodega Jacques & Francois Lurton, Tunuyam, Mendoza

El Plumerillo Finca El Plumerillo, Colonia Las Rosas, Tunuyán, Mendoza

Santa Ercilia Bodega Nogal, Valle de Uco, Mendoza

Pascual Toso Pascual Toso Bodegas y Viñedos, Finca Las Barrancas, Maipú, Mendoza

Fabre - Montmayou Domaine Vistalba, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza

Martino Fincas Don Martino, Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza

Norton Doc Norton, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza

Thanks so much for your reply, and I do recognize some of those names from the list but they aren't exactly the same. I found a Doña Paula but it is something called Doña Paula Los Cardos. I also have some of the Bodega Jacques Francois Lurton but it only says Valle de uco Mendoza and nothing else. I am going to go with my original guess when I say these are some of the lower end products of the vineyards?

You heard of these before?

The Los Cardos is acceptable, I think.

It is a little hit and miss. The Escorihuela Gascon for instance is marketed under a different name in the US as Escorihuela is just too much for US drinkers to say (I suppose). I was trying to give an impression of the producers because many, like Rutini, have a broad range of wines from less expensive to costly. The producers that I have underscored will deliver good quality in their price range.

The reason that I pasted the list from La Cabana is that it is extensive and represents a broad sampling of wines available at a very fine restaurant and yet many of the wines listed are affordable at US market prices.

FWIW the Escoriheula is called Cruz Alta in the US not to be confused with another wine also named after Sr. Gascon.

I was trying to give an

To paraphrase the party-guest in the motion picture, "The Graduate," it's "Mendoza," (replaces the word "plastics."). If I am seeking Malbec, I always go to Mendoza, and am almost never disappointed. Argentina has embraced this varietal and the Mendoza region seems to have a strangle-hold on Malbec. There may be weak ones out there (what area of the world doesn't have a few weak wines?), but you cut your losses by looking there.

I do not know how well they may be represented in China, but it is not a varietal that is a darling of the collectors. It is not immune to the problems, that you mention, but is less likely to be affected, than say a 1er Cru Bdx, or cult Cal-Cab.

Hunt

Joseph Coulter wrote:

Joseph, what a great list. I have not experienced almost 1/2 of your list, but will keep it handy, when going out after Malbec. If the remainder is as good, as the ones, with which I am familiar, they should be excellent.

Only hope is that some are available to the OP.

Hunt

As I said in an above post, I've located some of the producers like Dona Paula, but it was not the same as he said. So far, I have not been able to find anything on that list, and I don't plan to be able to. Most of the vineyards, I'm finding, are shipping the lowest quality stuff over and marking it up to take advantage of China's uneducated wine market. The stuff I've found here has retailed in winesearcher for like 4-8 dollars, most of it, and they sell for like

Rather disconcerting.

It should be a great list, the restaurant is as good as it gets in BA, but in keeping with Argentine spirit nothing there is over priced so one can eat high and drink well for a song.

If you like 'spicy' wines, you may want to look into southern Italian wines and wines from Sicily and Sardinia. Monica di Sardegna is a particular favorite of mine.

That is a pity. With the Chinese economy doing so well, and a bit of "globalization," I'd think that soon, this might change, and hopefully for the better.

Hunt

In Beijing and Shanghai you can get 2nd notch up from the worst for double the price. I guess that's progress...of some kind.