Winemaker Notes
#43 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2025
Dark purple in color, the Lamadrid Single Vineyard Malbec Reserva has a ripe, pretty nose of blueberry, plum, cassis, sweet tobacco and licorice. Orange zest and herbs, too. It's medium-to-full bodied with firm, rounded tannins. Spiced and generous.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Blackberries, licorice and spices lead on the nose, a touch of violets adding lift. The medium- to full-bodied palate has fine-grained tannins and attractive dark fruit, all wrapped in a balanced and pure expression of malbec. Vegan. Drink or hold.
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Wine Spectator
Structured and balanced, this leads with a generous layer of floral cassis and blackberry. Graphite and herb notes chime in around the fresh, mineral-driven center. Finishes with nice length around well-formed tannins. Drink now through 2030.
Celebrated for its bold flavors and supple texture, Malbec has enjoyed runaway success in Argentina since the late 20th century. The grape originated in Bordeaux, France, where it historically contributed color and tannin to blends. A French agronomist, who saw great potential for the variety in Mendoza’s hot, high-altitude landscape, brought Malbec to Argentina in 1868. Somm Secret—If you’re trying to please a crowd, Malbec is generally a safe bet with its combination of dense fruit and soft tannins.
By far the largest and best-known winemaking province in Argentina, Mendoza is responsible for over 70% of the country’s enological output. Set in the eastern foothills of the Andes Mountains, the climate is dry and continental, presenting relatively few challenges for viticulturists during the growing season. Mendoza, divided into several distinctive sub-regions, including Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley, is the source of some of the country’s finest wines.
For many wine lovers, Mendoza is practically synonymous with Malbec. Originally a Bordelaise variety brought to Argentina by the French in the mid-1800s, here it found success and renown that it never knew in its homeland where a finicky climate gives mixed results. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Pinot Noir are all widely planted here as well (and sometimes even blended with each other or Malbec). Mendoza's main white varieties include Chardonnay, Torrontés, Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.