While we have our summer backyard barbeques, Argentina has the asado, slow-grilled meat over open flames, which they pair with their signature red grape wine, Malbec. Fortunately for us, Argentinean Malbecs are here in Canada to purchase. I received three Argentinean Malbecs to review from you, coming at a value price point. All three, with tax, are no more than $20.
Grown at elevations between 900 and 1,400 metres, where intense sunlight and cooler nights preserve acidity and allow for slow and even ripening, you get ripe black fruit flavours and supple tannins, making Malbec a great pairing with grilled meats. The three Malbecs I have for you are the Trapiche Alaris Malbec 2025, Trapiche Reserve Selected Vineyards Malbec 2024, and the El Esteco Don David Reserve Malbec 2023. Three different consecutive years should be interesting to see if there is a general consistency in style.
Let me tell you about these three wines.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Trapiche Alaris Malbec 2025 (BC $18.39, ON $12.95)
Appearance: A clear but dull, deeply coloured mix of ruby and garnet in the glass.
Nose: Medium-minus intensity aromas of toast, plums, black fruit, black berries and black cherries, plus a touch of either leather or licorice. No change to the aromas after decanting.
Palate: Dry, lighter-bodied, with a smooth, soft, lighter mouthfeel. Medium acidity and tannins. Dark berry fruits, plums, black cherries, and black fruit flavours, plus some toastiness. Medium body after decanting with a leaner mouthfeel. Same flavours, plus a touch of leather.
Finish: Medium to medium-plus length finishing with some tartness. Black fruit flavours with light tannins. Add a touch of pepperiness after decanting.
A Malbec with juicy berry fruit flavours, smoky/toasty notes, and a smooth and soft mouthfeel. Decanting opens the aromas more and increases the body.
Rating: 
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The Trapiche Alaris Malbec 2025 shows a deeply coloured ruby-garnet appearance with medium-minus aromas of toast, plum, black fruit, blackberry, and black cherry, with a touch of leather or licorice. The palate is dry and lighter-bodied with a smooth, soft mouthfeel and medium acidity and tannins, offering dark berry fruit, plum, black cherry, black fruit, and toast flavours, with a touch of leather appearing after decanting. It finishes medium to medium-plus in length with some tartness, black fruit flavours, and light tannins, with a touch of pepperiness after air.
Trapiche Reserve Selected Vineyards Malbec 2024 (BC $15.99, ON $14.95)
Appearance: A deep, dull mix of ruby and garnet colours.
Nose: Medium-minus intensity aromas of oak, toast, black fruit, plums, and a touch of sweet spices. No change to the aromas after decanting.
Palate: This wine is dry, medium-bodied, with a roundish, smooth and soft mouthfeel. Sweet ripe black fruit, berry fruits, plums, and touches of sweet spices, chocolate, and pepperiness, plus cedar becoming evident toward the finish. Medium acidity and tannins. The wine is rounder with more subtle flavours after decanting. Cedar, vanilla, and pepperiness goes away.
Finish: Medium-plus length finishing with drying tannins, black fruit and berries, cedar, and a touch of vanilla. Softer tannins on the finish after decanting, plus no more cedar and vanilla flavours.
A more structured Malbec with firmer tannins. I prefer the undecanted version with the stronger flavours along with the cedar note.
Rating: The Trapiche Reserve Selected Vineyards Malbec 2024 shows a deep ruby-garnet colour with medium-minus aromas of oak, toast, black fruit, plum, and sweet spice. The palate is dry and medium-bodied with a round, smooth, soft mouthfeel, offering ripe black fruit, berries, plum, sweet spice, chocolate, and peppery flavours, with cedar becoming evident toward the finish. It finishes medium-plus in length with drying tannins, black fruit, berries, cedar, and vanilla, while the tannins soften and the cedar and vanilla fade after decanting.
El Esteco Don David Reserve Malbec 2023 (BC $19.99, ON $17.95)
Appearance: A deeper, dull, ruby colour. About 95% opaque.
Nose: Medium-minus intensity aromas of black fruits, plums, and a touch of toasty oak. Medium-intensity aromas after decanting. Same aromas.
Palate: Dry, medium-minus to medium body, with a smooth, soft, light mouthfeel. Medium acidity and tannins. Char, black fruit, plums, and light pepperiness on the palate. Medium body with a thicker mouthfeel and less pepperiness.
Finish: Medium-plus length finishing with drying tannins, char, ripe black fruit, and some pepperiness and bitterness. Thicker mouthfeel on the finish after decanting. It is also less peppery and bitter.
The undecanted version of this wine did not show a lot of interest on the palate, but decanting with more body and thicker mouthfeel really made this wine much better. Decanting is recommended.
Rating: with decanting. The El Esteco Don David Reserve Malbec 2023 shows a deep ruby colour with medium-minus aromas of black fruit, plum, and a touch of toasty oak. The palate is dry and medium-minus to medium-bodied with a smooth, soft, light mouthfeel, offering black fruit, plum, char, and light pepperiness, with a thicker mouthfeel and less pepperiness after decanting. It finishes medium-plus in length with drying tannins, ripe black fruit, char, pepperiness, and some bitterness, which become softer after decanting.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
Two wines are available in BC at BC Liquor stores:
The Trapiche Alaris Malbec 2025 is available at Marquis Wine Cellars and at Broadway Beer, Wine, & Spirits.
