2018 Laird Malbec Flat Rock Vineyard Napa Valley

2018 Laird Malbec Flat Rock Vineyard Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtMalbecNapaUSAYountville

Laird

Malbec 2018
Flat Rock Vineyard
Napa Valley

2018 Laird Malbec Flat Rock Vineyard Napa Valley

A showstopper at our recent tasting, Laird’s 2018 Flat Rock Vineyard Malbec captures the rare moment when power and precision meet in perfect harmony. Drawn from the volcanic soils of Yountville’s eastern edge, this wine channels its pristine origins. It’s a wine that reflects not only the essence of place but also the discipline of a family that’s been perfecting the art of balance for generations.

From vineyard to cellar, every step of this wine’s creation reflects intent. The fruit was harvested at optimal ripeness, then aged for 21 months in French oak. What emerges is Malbec reimagined through a Napa lens: concentrated and full-bodied, yet balanced by refinement and lift. It’s the kind of craftsmanship that transforms a varietal curiosity into something enduring.

Now fully realized after five years in bottle, the 2018 Flat Rock Vineyard Malbec shows the seamless integration of time and terroir. The structure is commanding, yet the fruit remains luminous and pure, framed by fine French oak and a finish that lingers with mineral precision. Every element is in perfect balance, as if the wine has settled into its natural rhythm after years of quiet evolution.

Laird
Malbec 2018
Flat Rock Vineyard
Napa Valley
Retails at: $65

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“The 2018 Laird Flat Rock Ranch Malbec from Napa Valley is a beautiful domestic Malbec, showing excellent concentration and balance. The nose reveals aromas of wild berry cobbler, English rose petals, Chambord liqueur, and dried herbs. On the palate, it delivers juicy, sweet black raspberries and cassis, supported by satiny tannins and black tea on the back-end. The finish is long and mouth-quenching, with bright acidity. The intense fruit and balanced structure will allow this wine to evolve well over the next decade, though it’s approachable now.”

94 points

2022 Aniello 006 Malbec Patagonia Argentina

2022 Aniello 006 Malbec Patagonia Argentina

with No Comment $30 and underArgentinaKevin VogtMalbec

Aniello

‘006’ Malbec 2022
Patagonia, Argentina

2022 Aniello 006 Malbec Patagonia Argentina

Bodega Aniello’s 006 Malbec is a vibrant expression of Patagonia’s unique terroir, a captivating interplay of perfectly ripened fruit, silky textures, and intriguing savory notes. This stunning Malbec, a remarkable value at $20, showcases the rising brilliance of Río Negro, where elegance and wild beauty converge in every sip.

The winery’s story is as rich as its wines. Founded in 1927 by an Italian family with a centuries-old winemaking heritage, Bodega Aniello embodies a harmonious blend of Old World craftsmanship and the untamed potential of Patagonia. Nestled amidst pristine, alluvial soils of sand, silt, and gravel in the celebrated Río Negro region, the estate is perfectly positioned to capture the magic of this emerging wine region.

Grown in the winery’s Manique vineyards in the Upper Río Negro Valley, where Malbec thrives in the cool climate, the 2022 006 Malbec is crafted with meticulous care. Fermented in small concrete tanks and aged for 12 months in oak barrels, the wine achieves a harmonious balance of vibrant freshness and subtle complexity. Enjoy its delightful approachability now, or savor the promise of added depth with careful cellaring.

Aniello
‘006’ Malbec 2022
Patagonia, Argentina

Your Price: $19.99

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“The 2022 Malbec 006, from Mainqué, Patagonia, underwent aging in 30% American oak. Purple in color, it boasts aromas of plum and herb-tinged cherry. Rich and taut, with reactive tannins, the 2022 delivers a lasting, ripe-fruited finish-the embodiment of a sun-kissed Malbec.”

90 Points

2019 Bodegas Bianchi IV Generacion Single Block Malbec

2019 Bodegas Bianchi IV Generacion Single Block Malbec

with No Comment $40-$50ArgentinaKevin VogtMalbecUco Valley

BODEGAS BIANCHI

IV GENERACIÓN | SINGLE BLOCK
GRAN MALBEC 2019
VALLE DE UCO, ARGENTINA

2019 Bodegas Bianchi IV Generacion Single Block Malbec

Bodegas Bianchi’s roots trace back to 1928 when Valentin Bianchi achieved his dream of acquiring a vineyard in Argentina. Enzo, Valentin’s son, served as a visionary winemaker at the Estate for over fifty years, and his passion and unwavering commitment to continually elevating the quality of the estate created a lasting legacy. Notably, the family heritage and involvement in winemaking have contributed significantly to the quality and success of Argentine wines.

The IV Generación celebrates the fourth generation of the Bianchi family. The Gran Malbec comprises grapes from a single block in the Los Chacayes estate vineyard, producing a powerful expression of high-elevation Malbec. 

The final blend differs yearly as specific barrels are selected to represent each harvest. The 2019 vintage impressed our panel by perfectly balancing power and finesse with intense fruit concentration, elegant spice, and a silky finish.

BODEGAS BIANCHI
IV GENERACIÓN | SINGLE BLOCK
GRAN MALBEC 2019
VALLE DE UCO, ARGENTINA
Retails at: $55

Your Price: $45

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“One tremendously exceptional red. Spiced cedar, mulberry, and black tea join garden herbs and violets for an intense, yet juicy, red. Tannins are plush and a dot of white pepper seasons generous blackberry jam notes.”

97 Points

 

2021 Bodega Atamisque Catalpa Malbec Mendoza Argentina

2021 Bodega Atamisque Catalpa Malbec Mendoza Argentina

with No Comment $30 and underArgentinaKevin VogtMalbecUco Valley

BODEGA ATAMISQUE 

CATALPA MALBEC 2021  
TUPUNGATO-VALLE DE UCO
MENDOZA ARGENTINA

2021 Bodega Atamisque Catalpa Malbec Mendoza Argentina
Bodega Atamisque sits in the San José District along the western foothills of the Andes Mountains in the Uco Valley near Tupungato, one of Mendoza’s most highly regarded growing regions. The vineyards in Tupungato are at an average elevation of 4,200 feet above sea level, moderating hot daytime temperatures and exposing the fruit to more intense sunlight, resulting in grapes with concentrated flavors, elaborately structured tannins, and crisp acidity.
 
Catalpa is the winery’s flagship wine produced from vines over 90 years old, taking advantage of the unique climate that contributes to some of the world’s most outstanding Malbecs. The 2021 vintage was aged for 14 months in Taransaud-Demptos French oak, giving the wine added complexity and age-ability, sustaining the winery’s standards and continuing Malbec’s legacy in Argentina.
 
BODEGA ATAMISQUE 
CATALPA MALBEC 2021  
TUPUNGATO-VALLE DE UCO
MENDOZA ARGENTINA
 
 
 
“Quite a ripe nose with plenty of black cherries, stewed blueberries, black licorice and violets. Juicy and chalky on the palate with a medium to full body and floral fruit coming through alongside the purple, pulpy fruit. Drink now.”
91 Points
2018 Jigar Malbec Sonoma County

2018 Jigar Malbec Sonoma County

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtMalbecSonomaSonoma ValleyUSA

JIGAR

MALBEC 2018
SONOMA COUNTY

2018 Jigar Malbec Sonoma County
Jigar and Stephanie Patel are the proud owners of Jigar Wines and seek to secure the best fruit possible from Jigar’s extensive and amicable grower relations along California’s North Coast. Jigar wines are small in production, terroir-driven, and varietally expressive, showcasing the potential of each vineyard brought forth by passionate farmers.
 
The fruit for their 2018 Malbec comes from the Sonoma Valley AVA, where a long, cool growing season created one of Sonoma’s best vintages in the last decade. The harvest took place two to three weeks later than usual, giving fruit with an intricate structure and intense concentration without being overripe. This tiny production of Malbec is pure, fruit-forward, and delightfully approachable.
 
JIGAR
MALBEC 2018
SONOMA COUNTY
Retails at: $30
 
 
 
“The Jigar 2018 Malbec opens with pure, fresh notes of bergamot, lilac, raspberry, blueberry, cinnamon, and black tea leaves. On the palate, the wine has a silky texture and flavors of ripe fruits, plum, blackberry, and berry bramble with a hint of carob. The wine has a playful light to medium body, clean aromatics, concentrated flavors, and a long finish.”
93 Points
2020 Chateau Lamagdelain Noire Malbec Cahors France

2020 Chateau Lamagdelain Noire Malbec Cahors France

with No Comment $30 and underCahorsFranceKevin VogtMalbec

CHÂTEAU

LAMAGDELAINE NOIRE
MALBEC 2020
CAHORS, FRANCE

2020 Chateau Lamagdelain Noire Malbec Cahors France
Malbec has been produced in Cahors, France, since the late middle ages, finally receiving AOC status in 1971. The wines have continually gained popularity worldwide, competing with the grape’s new-found home in Mendoza, Argentina. Malbecs from Cahors have a firmer tannic structure and a rustic, earthy spice characteristic that beautifully contrasts with the variety’s innate fruity components. 
 
The AOC allows up to 30% of other varieties, such as Tannat or Merlot, to be blended with Malbec; however, a trending resurgence in 100% Malbec has occurred over the last two decades. Château Lamagdelaine Noire’s vines have an average age of around 40 years, providing layers of flavor and complexity, preserved by maturation in concrete eggs and concrete vats. This style of aging protects the fruit’s purity while retaining the wine’s ability to age in the bottle for another eight to ten years.
 
CHÂTEAU
LAMAGDELAINE NOIRE
MALBEC 2020
CAHORS, FRANCE
 
 
 
“The Chateau Lamagdelaine Noire 2020 Cahors Malbec opens with a brooding nose of intense aromatics, including lavender, dried thyme, black plum, chocolate brownie mix, and smoke meat. On the palate, the wine has flavors of blackberry, pomegranate, black tea leaves, and savory spice. The tannins are firm and fine-grained, and the acidity is bright, making this wine an excellent companion with food. The finish is long and complex, and the wine is a stunning example of the region.”
95 Points
2018 Tapiz Black Tears Malbec Mendoza

2018 Tapiz Black Tears Malbec Mendoza

with No Comment $40-$50ArgentinaKevin VogtMalbecUco Valley

TAPIZ

BLACK TEARS MALBEC
MENDOZA 2018

2018 Tapiz Black Tears Malbec Mendoza
The state-of-the-art Tapiz Winery sits in a prime region of Mendoza’s Uco Valley at the foothills of the Andes Mountains, where their vineyards are some of the highest in the world. Their estate vines are carved into slopes as high as 4,600 feet elevation, producing some of the region’s most stunning wines due to the altitude and intense sunlight, ensuring fresh acidity and deep color.
 
Jean Claude Berrouet produced 44 historical vintages at Petrus and today works with Fabian Valenzuela, who has over 20 years of winemaking experience in Mendoza, creating wines that are an intricate tapestry (tapiz) of the Uco Valley terroir. The 2018 Black Tears Malbec comes from 20-year-old estate vines that were hand-harvested and aged 24 months in new French oak, giving a refined integration of oak spice with delicious ripe fruit flavors of the country’s most prized variety.
 
TAPIZ
BLACK TEARS MALBEC
MENDOZA 2018
Retails at: $55
 
Your Price: $49.99
 
 
“Deep blue and black fruit here, with floral, spicy and balsamic accents. Brooding and complex. You have to fathom the power of tannin on the palate, as the texture is so ultra-fine and polished. But don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of tannins here, only so seamless that they make it taste so effortless. Naturally concentrated, juicy and long. Delicious now, but you can hold for added complexity.”
96 Points
2019 Aniello 006 Malbec Riverside Estate

2019 Aniello 006 Malbec Riverside Estate

with No Comment $30 and underArgentinaKevin VogtMalbec

ANIELLO

2019 006 MALBEC
RIVERSIDE ESTATE
PATAGONIA ARGENTINA

2019 Aniello 006 Malbec Riverside Estate
Vines have been growing in Patagonia for over 100 years, and today a large number of low-yielding, old vines are thriving and producing some of the most exciting wines in Argentina. The latitude in Patagonia ranges from 38 to 42 degrees South, providing one more hour of sunshine each day and lower temperatures during the vegetative cycle, slowly ripening the grapes and resulting in complex, elegant flavors, and profound aromatic intensity.
 
The grapes retain their natural acidity due to the wide diurnal temperature range in the region, and the windy, desert climate forces the development of thick skins that give more tannic structure, deeper colors, and more concentrated flavors. Destined to become a new favorite, Bodega Aniello’s 006 Malbec has intriguing aromas, juicy fruit, spicy undertones, and a refined finish that vastly over-delivers at its modest $20 price.
 
ANIELLO
2019 006 MALBEC
RIVERSIDE ESTATE
PATAGONIA ARGENTINA
 
Your Price: $19.99
 
 
“A rich, ripe wine that shows dried berries and hints of figs and spice. Medium body, medium-chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Juicy blackberry finish that’s really fresh and zesty.”
92 Points
 
“Grown at an estate vineyard in Mainque, this malbec fermented in concrete tanks and a third of it aged for 12 months in oak barrels. It needs air to settle down, the cinnamon spice taking a backseat to an orange zest volatility. Wild and meaty. Best Buy” 
91 Points
2018 Finca Don Carlos Calathus Malbec Valle De Uco

2018 Finca Don Carlos Calathus Malbec Valle De Uco

with No Comment $30 and underArgentinaKevin VogtMalbecUco Valley

FINCA DON CARLOS

CALATHUS MALBEC
2018 VALLE DE UCO

2018 Finca Don Carlos Calathus Malbec Valle De Uco
Finca Don Carlos Calathus Malbec hails from Tupungato, in the Northernmost reaches of the Uco Valley at the base of Mount Tupungato volcano. The vineyard sits at 3,300 feet elevation, where cooler nighttime temperatures encouraged brighter, fresher acidity, increased flavor concentration, depth, and definition. 
 
Utilizing state-of-the-art equipment at every production stage, Gustavo Silvestri crafts Calathus in an expressive yet elegant style, offering sensational value at $23.
 
FINCA DON CARLOS
CALATHUS MALBEC
2018 VALLE DE UCO
 
Your Price: $23
 
 
“Multi-layered nose with wild mountain jarilla undertones over ripe prune, damson and chocolatey aromas, somewhat spicy. Elegant tannins with purity of fruit and freshness on the palate.”
95 Points
2018 Ilaria Malbec Napa Valley

2018 Ilaria Malbec Napa Valley

with No Comment $30-$40CoombsvilleKevin VogtMalbecNapaUSA

ILARIA

2018 MALBEC
NAPA VALLEY

2018 Ilaria Malbec Napa Valley
Brazenly expressing their heritage, Ilaria wines are strategically crafted in small lots to showcase their unique identity. The wines highlight the convergence of exceptional Napa Valley terroir and the farming expertise of UC Davis grads Anna and Mario Monticelli. Their Malbec embodies the soul of Napa Valley and builds on Anna and Mario’s accumulative experience, including Chateau Cheval-Blanc, Bryant, Pina, Antinori, and Trinchero. As Jeb Dunnuck writes, “I’d happily drink bottles any time over the coming decade,” and here’s your chance to make it happen. 
 
Ilaria’s Malbec balances the interplay of Coombsville fruit’s elegance and concentrated Atlas Peak flavors. 15% Cabernet Sauvignon adds strength to Malbec’s supple nature, resulting in a harmoniously textured, full-bodied red. 
 
Born from a combination of volcanic and loam soils, this 2018 Malbec highlights the vintage’s power, along with the vast skillset of Anna and Mario and their ability to produce expressive wines that are terroir-transparent and mindfully balanced. 
 
ILARIA
2018 MALBEC
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $42
 
Your Price: $39.99
 
 
“…. Beautiful blue fruits, violets, bouquet garni, and peppered meat-like nuances emerge from the glass, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with a fresh, elegant texture, terrific tannins, and a great finish. I’d happily drink bottles any time over the coming decade.”
92 Points
 
“…. the deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Malbec gives up exuberant notes of plum preserves, blueberry pie and Morello cherries with hints of Sichuan pepper, cardamom and cedar chest. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has lovely freshness cutting through the intense black fruit flavors, finishing with a plush texture and great harmony. 414 cases were made.”
91+ Points