What are the wines recommended by the great sommeliers?

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On April 17, Malbec Day is celebrated around the world, the iconic strain of Argentina and that was decisive in making the country known in the eyes of international consumers.

And while wineries seek to diversify communication to show the versatility of the industry – which works seriously with other red varieties and also achieves incredible white wines and upscale sparkling wines – the reality is that Malbec is the best spearhead and the one that marks the course.

In this context, iProfessionnel He has summoned prestigious Argentine sommeliers to explain the reasons for this phenomenon and, in addition, suggest labels that should not be proven.

Take note!

Peace Levinson

Member of the Board of Directors of the Argentinian Association of Sommeliers, Best Sommelier of Argentina 2010 and 2014, Best Sommelier of the Americas 2015 and 4th Best Sommelier of the World 2016. He is currently Chief Sommelier of the Pic Group (in Switzerland, England and France). .

Malbec for me is …

It's like pinot noir or chardonnay for a bourguignon. This is the indisputable strain. Try Malbec for me, it's like being at home. It's a flavor, a certain structure. After experiencing the changes and witnessing, I see how palaces, interpretations and research are changing, I believe that the understanding of tension and places is so superior today and at the same time that is a beginning. The processes can take 300 years, to return to the example of Burgundy, with the difference that today everything goes faster and that the changes of the past 15 years are immense. Malbec as a red vine has it all! Beautiful color, intensity, vibrant, expressive nose, floral, transmits red and black fruits, spices and has a "minerality", that we find in the form of chalk, dust, pencil lead, limestone. In this sense, it is transparent and can reach incredible purity. It fits well with oak but, to the appropriate extent, can be made with structured wine without wood. Malbec and the mountain, Malbec and height. What I like most is the balance between freshness and tannins and the juiciness that wines can produce.

My two recommended Malbecs:

-A Lisa Malbec 2017, from Bodega Noemia

I choose it to be delicious but also to show the purity of Patagonia. Be organic, have conscious practices with nature and the future. Because Hans always bet on Argentina, without hesitation and especially in Patagonia. Because it's a wine that can be taken young or saved a few years. A wine that always has a pinch of Merlot and Petit Verdot, but that puts the malbec in value to take it where it is needed. A Malbec that speaks of terroir. From what there is, the enormous purity and all that there can be.

Mufatto La Cautiva Gualtallary 2016

I chose it to be one of the great wines of Gualtallary and because it represents the place and the work of this creative couple, fighters and travelers. Creative in every way C is a floral, fragrant wine, with fresh herbs, something wild, something domestic, a wine that is to say that will be. Andrea and Gerardo are convinced of the search for organic, natural, unaffected. What is forgotten and recovered. The energy of dance

Marina Beltrame

Sommelier, graduated from the Ecole des Métiers de la Table, in Paris. Since 1999, she has been General Manager and Teacher at the Escuela Argentina de Sommeliers in Buenos Aires and Mendoza. She was president of the Asociación Argentina de Sommeliers between 2001 and 2003. Among many achievements, she created the first training institute for sommeliers in Argentina and in other Latin American countries, carrying EAS certification at the undergraduate university level in Argentina and linking the CETT – UB Barcelona Studies Center and localization of EAS within the Argentinean national brand companies.

Malbec for me is …

Today is an opportunity to say that Argentina continues to grow and diversify. There was a time when we had to go out to the world with a flag bearer; for this reason, without a doubt, it was precise and strategic. Today, we can talk about terroir thanks to the extensive research of many agronomists and winemakers who demonstrate Malbec year after year according to their origin. On the other hand, consumers find in this variety a very drinkable, easy, recognizable and friendly wine. In addition, there are all kinds of awards and regions, which also arouses curiosity and interest in their discovery.

My two recommended Malbecs:

Sometimes choosing a wine depends on the weather and the day. At this moment, I choose two names: Cheval del Andes, a blend of Malbec, and Matervini Malbec. They are fantastic wines: they make you shudder and surprise without having such exorbitant prices.

Martin Bruno

Best Sommelier of Argentina 2017, 2nd place Best Sommelier of the Americas 2018 and TOP15 Best Sommelier of the World 2019.

Malbec for me is …

This is our introductory letter to the world. It's the variety that has opened the door to many countries, thanks to the great quality we get in our wines, at a truly competitive price. This is the variety that allows winemakers to experiment on different terroirs and find their different facets, from sparkling wine to strong white through red white, white and red.

My two recommended Malbecs:

-Cafayate Gran Linaje Malbec 2017, from Bodegas Etchart

Made with grapes reaching over 1700 meters above sea level, it is an excellent representative of the terroir of Cafayateño. With the intensity of the color, the typicality of the aromas and intensity that characterize tall Malbec, but at the same time the elegance that gives its aging of ten months in oak barrels. It is one of the most awarded wines of the winery, and has just recently earned 92 points from James Suckling.

-A Lisa Malbec 2017, from Bodega Noemia

Juicy and delicate Malbec, ideal for drinking fresh. The grapes come mainly from organic and biodynamic vineyards. A copy that shows the most subtle face of this variety, with floral notes and even something earthy.

Julián Diaz

Member of the Argentine Association of Sommeliers and owner of 878 Bar, Bar Los Galgos and La Fuerza.

Malbec for me is …

This is the beginning of our path. This is in most cases the tension with which we started drinking and which opens the doors of Argentina abroad. That's the tradition and the future. It is the identity and proof that we are neither the old nor the new world.

My two recommended Malbecs:

-Concrete 2015, from Bodega Familia Zuccardi

I think it is one of the big representatives of the current Malbec and a sample of what this strain can give. This has changed the paradigms since its release on the market, marking a new example of versatility.

-Noemia Malbec 2013, from the cellar Noemia

In a sense, a malbec opposed to concrete, more velvety, wood, rounder. But I think that they have a common philosophy.

Matías Prezioso

President of the Argentine Association of Sommeliers and member of the consultancy Wine Idea.

Malbec for me is …

This is not only the iconic variety of Argentina, but one that is responsible for most of the country's best wines. It is a luxury that few countries can afford. There are representative varieties, such as Carmenere in Chile, Pinotage in South Africa, Zinfandel in the United States … although the best labels in these countries rarely come from their iconic strains. In the case of Argentina, Malbec is the most planted variety of ink, but also one that provides quality and, more recently, a truly unique sense of place. In purity transmitting all the power of the Northwest, or the subtleties of the old vineyards of Rio Negro, not to mention the diversity of micro-regions in the Uco Valley. As a base of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Bonarda cuts. And even in co-fermentations with Cabernet Franc, get top-flight wines. Malbec defines us as a wine region and positions us to play in the main wine leagues.

My two recommended Malbecs:

-A Lisa Malbec, from Bodega Noemia

From an iconic winery to Patagonia, since it has managed to bring Malbec to a higher level in this area. Although Hans Vinding Diers makes sublime wines with Noemía and J Alberto (both Malbec), his A Lisa is the wine that many consumers can know and enter the world of Noemía. It is a good wine, pure, elegant and that conveys the place where he was born.

-Polígonos San Pablo, from the winery Familia Zuccardi

I think today, Sebastian Zuccardi is at the forefront and has developed some of the most daring wines in Argentina. I am referring not only to the search for the terroir, but also to the stylistic style, to obtain fresh wines, with aromas that are no longer full of black fruits, but to find red fruits in Malbec, which were difficult to imagine. a few years. This wine is not the ultimate expression, but it is an expression that, by its price, is not exaggerated and can allow an enthusiastic consumer to enter the world of the new era of Argentine Malbec.

Marco Scolnik

After working for two years as a sommelier in the famous restaurant Bras in France, then as an editorial badistant on the wine critic James Suckling's website, Scolnik became the new director and chief sommelier of Chila Relais & Châteaux, where he had already Served as a sommelier between 2015 and 2017.

Malbec for me is …

I believe that Malbec is our flagship variety, being a variety that adapts very well, it has allowed us to understand our diversity of soils and styles of production in all price ranges.

My two recommended Malbecs:

-A Lisa, from Bodega Noemia

It's a fresh, juicy and energetic wine at a time. Presents aromas and textures typical of the variety and is suitable even for a few years.

-Susana Balbo Us Single Vineyard Nómade, by Susana Balbo Wines

It is a wine that changes every year the vineyard from which it is developed. The 2013 vintage was the product of a plot located in Gualtallary, in Valle de Uco. And in my opinion it's an exceptional wine.

Natalia Valentina Suárez

For more than 20 years, he devotes himself to the industry. He trained as a hotel management technician (Universidad de Morón) and sommelier (EAV). In addition to working in various restaurants, wine bars and wineries, he has been teaching gastronomy to chefs, hoteliers and sommeliers for 12 years. She is currently a professor at EAV and coordinates the Liz Vineyard wine project in Tunuyán, Valle de Uco.

Malbec for me is …

Malbec is the most diverse expression of Argentine viticulture. It is the variety that opened the door to the world, becoming our flag, our standard and our ambbadador. It is a variety so versatile on our soils that it is able to be pink; or, why not, an austere but interesting red wine; also, an elegant and unforgettable copy … Thus, he managed to transcend his original place, Bordeaux France, to show his best version of diversity, expression and explosion in our country . We have grown a lot in terms of winemaking, thanks to the concern of young winemakers and agronomists and the generosity of the country's major producers. This is how we are now encouraged to talk about soils, giving rise to new GIs. But it is no coincidence that in every new place where we manage to adapt the vine, we plant Malbec. And this Malbec continues to surprise us because it manifests itself in an infinite and varied way. So I think in a few years we may be talking about more denominations or terroirs of Argentina. But it is clear that Malbec will remain the most planted and most productive vine in the country, from north to south and from east to west. That is why, without a doubt for me Malbec, it is Argentina.

My two recommended Malbecs:

-Liz Vineyard Family Icon Gran Malbec, from the winery Liz Vineyard

In this Chacayes Malbec, its fruit predominates with blue flowers, pepper, toasted spices and some butterscotch or toffee, typical of its fermentation and its subsequent aging of 21 months in French oak barrels. It is a wine that, with time and oxygenation, becomes more and more attractive. The palate is voluminous, with ripe tannins, balanced acidity and a nice finish. Powerful and persistent with great aging potential. Drink slowly, savoring each sip from the cup.

-Malbec de Ángeles Malbec 2014, by Bodega De Ángeles 1924

This copy of Vistalba is a Malbec of very good concentration, elegant and endowed with the personality that gives the region and the vines from which it comes. On the nose appear the typical notes of black fruits, with something floral, vanilla and toast that gives him his way through the oak. On the palate, it is round, voluminous, juicy and concentrated, with powerful tannins, but round and very well accompanied by a refreshing acidity. The mouth is long and persistent. Good balance and concentration.

Alessandro Ribeiro

Born in Brazil, he has been in Buenos Aires for ten years. In Argentina, not only did he meet his partner and get married, but he also had a career in sommellerie at CAVE. For five years, he has been a sommelier at Aldo's.

Malbec for me is …

It is a romantic relationship with Argentina. In addition to being the emblematic strain, Brazilians love it. I have no way of thinking about Argentina without bringing it back to the grape variety.

My two recommended Malbecs:

-Tinto Negro 1955 Vineyard 2014, from Bodega Tinto Negro

The aging in the wood added to the detail of the years that the vineyard has, is the perfect combination. Spicy, with a good texture on the palate, dry and at the same time elegant. I knew the story of the genesis of this project that captivated me: it is an old vineyard abandoned and, beyond all that there was to do, Alejandro Sejanovich never doubted the continuation of his dream.

-Wapisa Malbec 2017, by Bodega Tapiz

One of the last Malbec I've tried in a different region of Patagonia, non-traditional for this variety. I like very much the present tannins, the balanced acidity that we find in this wine.

Mariano Moreno

He studied gastronomy and went through several institutions until he entered the Faena Hotel, with the help of Valeria Mortara, who trained him at the beginning. He was in Mendoza, with Pablo del Río in Zampa, then in Córdoba, where he worked in El Papagayo with Javier Rodríguez. Later, he was ambbadador of the Umami distributor brand. He is currently curator-sommelier of La Dame de Pic in Paris (1 Michelin star), one of the restaurants where Paz Levinson is the executive sommelier.

Malbec for me is …

Talking always about Malbec gives me a lot of pride. Now I work abroad and whenever they say that "Argentina has very good wines", it gives me great happiness. For me, today, Malbec is more than a constraint: it is the possibility that Argentina is recognized in the world. What is interesting is that it has different expressions and fits very well in all corners of the country.

My two recommended Malbecs:

-Zuccardi Finca Cbad Uco, from the winery Familia Zuccardi

The first time I tasted this wine, I did an internship in the new Uco Valley wine estate. Upon my arrival, they were building the new vineyard and after a day of work, Sebastian told me that there was wine to try and this is the first time I've met Finca Uco Channel. I was simply dazzled by the fruit and the layers of aroma. All this is the result of the work that Sebastián and his team have done and come, Laura Principiano in the cellar and Martín Di Stefano in the vineyard.

-Cadus Finca Villa Blanca Malbec, wines from Bodega Cadus

With Santiago Mayorga, we tried tank and barrel samples and it is exactly with the sample of Finca Villa Blanca, made from a vineyard with vines from 1925, that I found a malbec with notes black tea, laurel, black fruits, red and What dazzled me a lot is the range of possibilities offered by almost century-old vineyards, a very important historical heritage for us. While one is a finished wine and the other is not on the market, it is interesting to talk about what is about to come out and show the full potential of Argentina.

Matías Chiesa

Sommelier at the restaurant "Resto" and member of the Argentine Association of Sommeliers.

Malbec for me is …

It is an emblem of Argentine viticulture without a doubt. It represents a combination of fresh fruits, red and black, with a good tannic load, but at the same time kind, floral and a very attractive style for the current consumer. It is not for nothing that today is very popular in the world and also represents an emblem, which gives us today food and talk to many wine professionals in Argentina, which is also important . Malbec gives work in a good way.

My two recommended Malbecs:

-Zuccardi Polygons of the valley of Uco San Pablo, from the Familia Zuccardi winery

-And Nave Va Malbec, by Gabriel Dvoskin

It is a malbec from a fairly fresh region and a very special malbec.

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