International Malbec Day
- Wine Scoffer
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
International Malbec Day lands on April 17, which is as good a reason as any to open something big, juicy and just a little bit dramatic. It marks the moment back in 1853 when Michel Aimé Pouget was sent to Argentina with a suitcase of grape cuttings and a very loose brief to "fix the wine situation." One of those grapes was Malbec, which at the time was France’s slightly troublesome underachiever in Cahors.
Then it arrived in Mendoza and completely reinvented itself. Same grape, very different attitude. In France it is structured and brooding. In Argentina it is plush, generous, and very comfortable being the life of the party.
High altitude vineyards do not hurt either. The result is a wine so dark it borders on ink, with flavours that lean into blackberry, plum and dark chocolate. It does not whisper, it shouts.
Which is exactly the point. Malbec is not here to be overthought. It wants fire, salt and something politely and properly charred. Ideally steak. Preferably outside. It is generous, unfussy and reliably a good time, which is really all you want from a bottle and, frankly, most people.
In honour of such an auspicious day, here are 5 of our drinking choices with a little wildcard thrown in at the end for good measure.
Obsessionist 2021. Cranbrook Tasmania. $80ish
Inky, savoury and little bit wild, this is a wine person's Malbec. The judges in their cardigans keep circling back to this while the young, hip and hairy rate the heck out of it. It's the Bosco Baracus of the A Team. https://www.obsessionist.com.au/
Bleasdale Mainsail 2022. Langhorne Creek SA $99
This is all proper pedigree and quite the showpony. Plush, spicy and built for a charry roasted eye fillet, medium rare of course. Violet, boysenberry and black olives aromas sit with a bright acidity, velvety tannins and impeccably managed dark plums, boysenberry and molasses. https://bleasdale.com.au/product/2022-mainsail-malbec/
Cirillo Estate 2023 Single Vineyard. Barossa SA. $50
This could just as easily wash down a roast leg of lamb or a slow braised beef cheek. Its meaty, savoury and rather serious. Crunchy acidity and a lack of tannins kind of restrains this wine. Cherries, violet, plum and spices make it more than interesting and a most incredible jammy, brambly nose. https://cirilloestatewines.com.au/
Tamburlaine 2023 Reserve Malbec. Orange NSW. $60
A cooler climate Malbec from NSW gives more perfume and lifted floral notes but backs it up with dark cherry, plum and dare I say, roasted capsicum. This feels a little more composed, a little more modern - like a vape compared to a pipe. Bright acidity and lovely tannins, it gives more interesting than classic, which is why it deserves a place on the list. https://tamburlaine.com.au/
Campbells Malbec 2022 Limited Release. Rutherglen Victoria. $30
Do not be fooled by the price. While it might be lighter and a little more medium bodied, you'll find redcurrant and rhubarb, with fine silky tannins. There is an elegant, savoury profile with notes of dried tobacco leaf, wild Mediterranean herbs, and subtle, integrated oak. Its a crowd pleaser with backbone, and would perfectly wash down a pork and fennel sausage or a simple lamb cutlet. https://www.campbellswines.com.au/
St Ignatius 2021 Reserve Malbec. Lamplough Victoria. $40
Made by an Argentinian couple in Victoria's Pyrenees region, this is a proper outlier, and rightly so. Violet and dark plum are prominent on the honk, with a fleshy dark fruit, spice, a bit of savoury edge, and a slightly lifted, almost floral top note. Definitely the wildcard but from The House of Malbec, you cant argue. Probably the most fun to talk about.
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