Two UKO Wines Malbecs to Enjoy at VanWineFest and International Malbec Day

This article is a 2-for-1.  I tasted two Malbec wines made by UKO Wines from Argentina.  This article is a 2-for-1 because the winery will be pouring the Malbec wines at the Festival Tasting Room at the Vancouver International Wine Festival 2023 AND you can celebrate Malbec World Day by sipping these wines on April 17.  The only thing you could add to make this any better is freshly grilled steaks with chimichurri sauce.  Let me tell you about these two wines.

My Wine Tasting Notes

UKO Wines Select Vineyards Reserva Malbec 2019 (BC $17.99)

Appearance: A deep opaque garnet with touches of ruby in the glass.
Nose: Medium-minus intensity aromas of ripe black fruit, black cherries and plums, along with black pepper, oak, and smokiness.  Lighter aromas with decanting.
Palate: Dry, medium-minus body, smooth with a light lean mouthfeel that gets bigger and rounder with swirling. A mix of red fruit and black fruit (more black fruit with air), plum and a touch of oak. Add floral and charred meat flavours with swirling in the glass. The wine had a lighter mouthfeel with decanting.  There was less charred meat flavour, but not there was dark chocolate and red apples.
Finish: A medium length with light fruit flavours, sweet spices and oak.  Medium acidity. The tannins are faint to start but get a bit firmer with swirling. Lighter flavours and mouthfeel with decanting.

The wine becomes lighter-bodied and mellow with softer flavours with decanting.  So if you are not one for charred meat flavours, give the bottle a decant.

Rating: – Lighter aromas of ripe black fruit, black cherries and plums, plus black pepper.  Medium-minus body with a mix of black and red fruit plus charred meat flavours.  Medium length.

UKO Wines Old Vines Malbec 2018 (BC $TBD)

Appearance: An opaque from rim to core ruby colour.
Nose: Light, pretty aromas of red fruit, red liquorice, cinnamon and cedar.  Touches of sweet spices, red cherries, and candied fruits with swirling. Same aromas after decanting.
Palate: Dry, medium-body, smooth and round.  Bright acidity and light oak.  Red fruits, red cherries and plums, red liquorice, cinnamon, plus violets on the palate.  A touch of oak.  You get a bigger, thicker mouthfeel after swirling this wine in the glass. You lose the floral component on the palate with decanting, and you can add cedar.
Finish: A lingering medium-plus length finishing with bright acidity, lively red fruits, a touch of sweet spices and lightly drying tannins. No change to the finish with decanting.

Both decanted and undecanted versions of this wine are tasty.  I give the edge to the undecanted version as I like the violets on the palate.

Rating: A wine with pretty red fruits, candied red fruits, and sweet spice aromas.  Medium-body with a smooth mouthfeel. The aromas continue to the palate plus you can add violets. A medium-plus length.

Where Can I Buy These Wines?

The UKO Wines Select Vineyards Reserva Malbec 2019 is available at BC Liquor stores.  If you attend the Vancouver International Wine Festival 2023, the wines should be available for purchase at the on-site liquor store.