Opposites attract, at times. Other times, it is great to enjoy their diversity. I’m taking the latter track in this tasting of a low-alcohol Australian Chardonnay and a fuller-bodied Malbec from Argentina. Some people are looking for low-alcohol, and lower calorie, wines, while others want to enjoy the full-body and richness of other wines. I have Yalumba’s Y Series Lighter Chardonnay 2024, at 7% alcohol and 66 calories per 150 ml glass, and I have Luigi Bosca Wines’ La Linda Old Vines Malbec 2021, at 14% alcohol. These two wines should cover many people’s needs at your house party.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Yalumba Y Series Lighter Chardonnay 2024, Australia (BC $16.99)
This is a vegan-friendly wine.
Appearance: A clear, bright, medium-intensity lemon colour.
Nose: Medium-minus intensity aromas of lees, toast, crisp apple and a hint of citrus. No change to the aromas after decanting.
Palate: This wine is dry, with a light body and lean mouthfeel. You get a light acidic prickle on your tongue. Medium-plus intensity flavours of citrus, crisp apple and touches of toast, grape stem, and salty minerality. The wine has a little bit of roundness after decanting and has less minerality.
Finish: Medium-plus length finishing with mouthwatering acidity and flavours of crisp apple, apple skin and salty minerality. The wine length lessens after decanting, the wine has a touch of pepperiness and lighter minerality.
A light bodied Chardonnay with light flavours. Interesting salty minerality when first opened. No need to decant unless you want to lessen the mineral flavour.
Rating: 
The Yalumba Y Series Lighter Chardonnay 2024 offers a bright lemon hue and offers delicate aromas of lees, toast, and crisp apple. Light-bodied with a lean mouthfeel, it delivers citrus and apple flavours alongside subtle toast and salty minerality, with a touch of roundness after decanting. A refreshing, mouthwatering finish highlights apple skin and minerality, though the wine softens slightly with aeration.
Luigi Bosca Wines La Linda Old Vines Malbec 2021, Argentina (BC Liquor stores exclusive. $22.99)
This wine is made using grapes grown in vineyards between 50 and 60 years old. Winemaking notes, “Handpicking, selection of clusters and destemming. Fermentation is conducted in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature between 24-28°C with selected yeasts. Once the fermentation is completed, part of the wine matures in French oak barrels of second and third use for a
period of eight months. Finally, the blend is made, lightly filtered and bottled.”
Appearance: This wine has a medium-plus intensity, dull garnet colour in the glass. Teardrops visible on the sides of the glass with swirling.
Nose: Lighter aromas of toast, oak, blackberries (more), red fruit (less), raspberries, black plums and a touch of nutmeg. No change to the aromas of this wine after decanting.
Palate: It is dry, medium-plus body with a round, soft, smooth mouthfeel. Buttery texture. Blackberries and plums flavours along with some candied cherries, black pepper, and char. Medium acidity and tannins. The wine becomes less round and leaner on the palate. Also, drier with stronger tannins and less round, buttery mouthfeel.
Finish: A medium length finishing with blackberry flavour, light pepperiness and char, and slightly drying tannins. Same flavours on the finish after decanting, but you now get stronger tannins and some bitterness.
A laid back wine to enjoy as soon as you open it, (no need to decant) as it offers softness and buttery texture along with blackberry and plum flavours. The tannins get much stronger after decanting and the wine has a leaner mouthfeel.
Rating: The Luigi Bosca Wines La Linda Old Vines Malbec 2021 presents a medium-plus garnet hue with inviting aromas of blackberries, plums, oak, and a hint of nutmeg. Smooth and round on the palate, it delivers rich blackberry and plum flavours with notes of candied cherries, black pepper, and char, complemented by a buttery texture. Best enjoyed right after opening, as decanting brings out firmer tannins and a leaner mouthfeel.
Also, as a reminder, April 17, 2025, is Malbec World Day.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
Both wines are available at BC Liquor stores:
The Yalumba wine is still new to BC so is not yet in any private wine shops, but should be available at some point in the future.
