2024 Alamos Malbec, Mendoza

This savory and fleshy red has aromas and flavors of olives, white pepper and red plums. It’s medium-bodied, lightly peppery and tasty with ripe tannins. Drink now.

91 points James Suckling

Alamos has long been one of the great gateways into Argentine Malbec, consistently delivering generous flavour, authenticity and remarkable value from the high altitude vineyards of Mendoza. Backed by the Catena family, pioneers of modern Argentine wine, the label draws fruit from vineyards planted at the foothills of the Andes where intense sunlight, cool mountain nights and dry conditions create reds packed with richness and freshness in equal measure.

The 2024 vintage is plush, vibrant and immediately satisfying. Ripe blackberry, plum and dark cherry fruit pour from the glass alongside notes of violet, cocoa and sweet spice. There is a lovely softness to the palate, with velvety tannins wrapping around juicy dark fruits and subtle hints of mocha, vanilla and smoky herbs. Despite the richness, the cool Andean nights help preserve freshness and lift, keeping the wine balanced and energetic rather than heavy.

This is exactly the sort of red that thrives with smoky, hearty food. Chargrilled ribeye, beef empanadas or slow cooked lamb with chimichurri would all be sensational matches. It would also shine beside smoky barbecue dishes, rich pasta sauces or late night burgers shared with friends. Pour a generous glass, fire up the grill and the bottle tends to disappear surprisingly quickly.