Five great Malbec wines from Patagonia
Patagonia is an exciting work in progress competing with Mendoza to produce the best Argentinian Malbecs. Patricio Tapia highlights the top five Patagonian Malbecs from this lesser-known yet promising region...
Scroll down to see five great Malbec wines from Patagonia
The two most important wine provinces in Patagonia are Río Negro and Neuquén. The first has a great wine tradition, dating back more than a century, while the second, with most of its vineyards planted in the late 1990s, is one of the youngest in Argentina.
Around the Colorado and Río Negro rivers, and at heights that do not exceed 500m (in Mendoza, they can reach 1,600m), vineyards in Patagonia flourish under the warm sun, but the grapes are cooled almost year-round by the intense winds that descend from the Andes. Despite Patagonia’s latitude at 45° south, it is not necessarily a cold region. The heat is often intense, as demonstrated by the alcohol levels in the wines.
Malbec is the main variety (40% of reds), and the one which produces the best results. The depth and complexity of the Malbecs from old vines in Río Negro is a flagship style for Patagonia, best demonstrated by Noemía whose reds are the stars of that sub-region. The younger vines of Neuquén and La Pampa (especially in cooler vintages like 2014) are made in a simple, approachable style with a strong focus on the fruit.
Editing for Decanter.com by Laura Seal
Five of the best Patagonian Malbec wines
Bodega Noemia, J Alberto Malbec, Río Negro, Patagonia, Argentina, 2014
95
The best version of J Alberto to date, this 95% Malbec, 5% Merlot comes from an old vineyard planted in 1955 in Valle Azul, one of the finest area for reds in Patagonia. Fine, polished tannins, spices and ripe red fruit and bracing acidity. Super!
2014
Bodega NoemiaRío Negro
Bodega Noemia, Malbec, Río Negro, Patagonia, Argentina, 2013
94
The ‘grand vin’ at Bodega Noemía. Winemaker Hans Vinding Diers selected the fruit from a 1.4ha vineyard planted in 1932. It’s voluptuous and creamy with unctuous red fruit; profound and complex.
2013
Bodega NoemiaRío Negro
Bodega Noemia, A Lisa Malbec, Río Negro, Patagonia, Argentina, 2014
93
The simplest and least expensive of the Noemía wines, it is a beauty in its own right. Rich in ripe, red berries and violets, this is creamy yet bright with crisp acidity. One for charcuterie.
2014
Bodega NoemiaRío Negro
Humberto Canale, Gran Reserva Malbec, Río Negro, Patagonia, Argentina, 2013
90
During recent vintages, Canale’s wine style has shifted to fruitier, less oakier reds and this is a good example. Firm, tight structure, with upfront sweet blueberry and strawberry flavours. Still young.
2013
Humberto CanaleRío Negro
Familia Schroeder, Saurus Select Malbec, Neuquén, Patagonia, Argentina, 2014
89
Another example of Schroeder’s new style, this focuses on bright red fruit and spices instead of oak. The tannins are spiky, yet the texture is soft and round.
2014
Familia Schroeder
