The medallists from The Global Malbec Masters 2021

We reveal all the medal-winners from this year’s Global Malbec Masters, which saw wines from a range of nations pick up top scores, from Chile to Argentina, Turkey to South Africa, with some of 2021’s most impressive samples hailing from south west France.

OVER THE years we’ve been running The Global Malbec Masters, we’ve witnessed a number of changes taking place among the wines made from this fashionable grape. Many of these have concerned the Malbecs from Argentina, and primarily Mendoza, where we’ve seen a gradual shift from almost over-ripe styles, sometimes overlaid with sweet barrel-sourced flavours, to brighter wines with less overt oak influence.

Such was the pendulum swing a few years ago, we even saw some slightly green-tasting Argentine Malbecs, with notes of celery leaf, or spicy rocket-like characters, doubtless due to a move to earlier harvesting leading to some underripe berries getting into the ferments.

In 2021 I’m pleased to say Argentine Malbec appears to have reached an attractive middle ground, with wines generally featuring fully ripe grapes, but not dried fruit, and while the style veers towards something fresher and lighter, the flavours are not green.

Meanwhile, we’ve seen other developments take place in the Malbecs from other nations. In past competitions, we’ve seen a real rise in the quality of wines from Chile, which tend not to be as intensely fruity as the Malbecs from Argentina, but offer an appealing spice and tannic structure, as well as an excellent blending component for Cabernet and Syrah.

We’ve picked up on the quality of Cahor Malbecs from Château Lagrézette in the past, but this year, it was the wines of George Vigouroux that shone, particularly Crocus, his joint venture brand with international wine consultant Paul Hobbs –a label to shine a new light on the reds of Southwest France.

Nevertheless, a producer from Argentina picked up more top scores than any other. That was Catena, which has taken Malbec to new heights, not just when compared with the competition from its own nation, or continent, but relative to what the rest of the world is doing with this variety.

Indeed, Catena seems to be providing the most powerful argument for an upwards revision of Malbec’s quality potential, and an improvement of its global reputation – and, to add controversy to this compliment, even provide a reason to elevate the grape to ‘noble’ status alongside the likes of Cabernet.

Unoaked 100% Malbec

Oaked 100% Malbec

Unoaked Malbec Blend

Oaked Malbec Blend