2019 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
"I start so many Wine Society purchases with this. Fantastic value for money. After aerating and decanting this was a wonderfully smooth fruity wine. "
Dr Andre Gilburn (30-Dec-2020)
"I was quite excited by this wine when I read the reviews and saw how people liked it, but the first bottle I opened was a bit of a disappointment. I am not particularly educated on wine, but was drawn to this as an "ordinary" wine drinker who has enjoyed a number of beefy Malbecs with good steaks in the past.
It is not unpleasant, but neither is it something different that makes me think "wow". The taste is smoothish, the second bottle, decanted at room temp for 5 hours and poured into the decanter through an aerator was better, so perhaps the first had not had enough time to breathe before I drank it. (Though again this was decanted).
I'll not write it off, but I'll likely look at other Malbec options before re-ordering this."
Mr James Burke (02-Dec-2020)
Mr Duncan Balloch (23-Nov-2020)
"I don’t know if I got a bad bottle or what but I just opened mine and I was excited by the mostly positive reviews. Honestly this wine is not nice. Malbecs are always my favorite but this one is very sour and bitter and burns your chest for some time after. Acid reflux in a glass. Very disappointed as I ordered 2 bottles. "
Ms Alia Altajir (19-Nov-2020)
Mr Gordon Boyle (19-Nov-2020)
"Very nice wine! Easy to drink and nice and fruity. Definitely getting more of this one "
Ms Laura Beaumont (15-Nov-2020)
"Warming, fruity, dry, balanced, buy again"
Mr James Bowkett (08-Nov-2020)
"Really smooth and delicious Malbec at a great price"
Mr Angus Robertson (29-Sep-2020)
"Rich, full bodied for a 13.5. fruity, smooth and delicious. Buy again!"
Mr Thomas Day (17-Sep-2020)
"A beautiful medium bodied Malbec. Decanting helps to bring out the full flavour of the wine. I have ordered a second case as it is good value at the price offered."
Mr William J Rickard (12-Aug-2020)
"This is a brash, tannic wine that needs a lot of air before drinking. I suggest aeration and decantation of at least an hour. That will take off the hard edge. However, even after that effort I found that there is not enough that I enjoyed that would incline me to order it again., "
Mr Charles Yoe (08-Jul-2020)
"Can't say I cared much for this brash, young Malbec. Will not order again."
Mr Charles Yoe (08-Jul-2020)
"Very easy drinking Malbec and smooth to drink. Will be purchasing again.."
Mr Gareth Smith (03-Jul-2020)
"Nice Malbec and good value for money!! Will be buying more. "
Mr Eoghan McTiernan (18-Jun-2020)
"Very disappointed. I had two of these as part of a mixed case; I thought the first bottle was a dud, but the second bootle will now be used for cooking. I've been to Mendoza and always think Malbec is a very reliable and excellent choice. Sadly, the two bottles I bought utterly failed the test. Back to [another merchant's] !"
Mr Chris Holt (25-Apr-2020)
Mr Andrew Thomas (11-Apr-2020)
Mr Richard Callin (08-Apr-2020)
"A fantastic antidote to the current malaise."
Dr Matthew Hackett (28-Mar-2020)
"Took a chance and ordered a case.
I love an Argentine Malbec and this has to be as good as it gets for the price. Very smooth to drink with a great palate goes very well with red meat and cheese. Definitely recommend and will be buying more!"
Mr Peter Chapman (21-Mar-2020)
"Very good value Malbec; the five stars take into account value-for-money which I rate highly. A decent everyday wine which would be good for a party or similar. I will reorder."
Dr Peter Richardson (06-Feb-2020)
"Popped this open to enjoy with a curry, was absolutely delicious. Ordering two more bottles "
Miss Anna Stewart (26-Jan-2020)
"Hefty at 14.5%, but a good Malbec that slips down well. 51p more than the supermarket Malbec (Heston’s Local), but twice as good in my estimation. I will buy a few more !"
Mr Piers Doggart (30-Dec-2019)
2018 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
"A good Malbec, but possibly too sweet for my taste"
Mr Andrew Saunders (06-Jan-2020)
"Rather disappointing.
Very strong alcohol and not a lot else.
Had a much better glass in a local steakhouse of late than this.
I expect silky and this was just overpowerful. "
Mr Richard James R Paice (27-Sep-2019)
"An excellent wine, especially for the price. Would highly recommend you try"
Mr Keith Mitchell (08-Aug-2019)
"What a difference time makes. This was mouth puckering out of the bottle. Decanted and left for a few hours it was completely different. Smooth and creamy with plenty of berry fruit. Decent value."
Mr David J B McKee (05-Aug-2019)
"Lovely, fruity and easy to drink."
Mr Charles Johnstone (06-Jul-2019)
"One of the best Malbec. "
Mr Stuart Humphries (31-May-2019)
NAP VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
"Very good Malbec, with all you'd expect from it. I will definitely buy again."
Prof Roger Barton (08-Mar-2019)
Mrs Victoria Storer-Young (24-Feb-2019)
"A wonderful wine, dare I say it’s an equal to Catena Malbec at a fraction of the price"
Mrs Elissa Patterson (23-Jan-2019)
"Having this tonight to accompany slow cooked oxtail"
Mr I Shepherd (20-Dec-2018)
"Very soft, rounded dark fruit; full-ish body and big flavour. I’ve had a stinker of a cold and this is a nice way to have a drink now I feel like one again. Will be great with the pie currently in the oven. Just gotta hope the baby stops crying. "
Mr Edward Bogira (18-Dec-2018)
"Malbec is a favourite of mine. No problems here, full bodied, fruity and strong. Went well with Italian Pasta with Sausage"
Mr Charles Smiles (28-Nov-2018)
"Full flavour, velvety mouthfeel, absolute bargain for the price. Plan to order a half dozen of these at least. "
Ms Naomi Rovnick (27-Oct-2018)
"This is really delicious - smooth, rounded, packed with flavour and not too much tannin. Definitely good to drink now. Good value for money."
Mr Lucien Carey (18-Oct-2018)
2016 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
"Fruity, beautifully coloured, and a combination of young wine and tannins expressed the malbec grape perfectly. Great value for money."
Mr Peter McFarlane (08-Nov-2017)
"Deep ruby red. Very fruity on the nose. All dark fruits and rounded finish. Great value. I will buy again"
Mr Tom Rodger (28-Oct-2017)
"A faint strawberry aroma and I didn't get a chemical smell at all. I thought this was a very quaffable wine and good value for the money and I would consider buying more."
Mr Peter Maciver (27-Apr-2017)
"A go to wine for us from 2012 to 2015.
The 2016 vintage had the chemical smell and taste referred to by reviewers and we found it undrinkable and obtained refund for several bottles.
Wait for comments on next vintage."
Mr John Cook (07-Jan-2017)
"Rounded for sure, full, smooth, clean, good value for £7.50, Went well with beef ragu"
Mrs Clare R Turner (22-Dec-2016)
"On the nose there was a predominant smell of sticky back plastic, after some airing this evolved into new carpet. This must me the chemical smell that people were referring to in the 2015 vintage. I thought I'd come back to the bottle 24 hours later after it had had a good airing. It had calmed a lot but still solidly lurking on the fore palette. I don't think it's a fault as such because it nearly resolved into the frankincense/wood resin note of the outstanding 2014 vintage but it had a chlorine like element to it that says "chemical", I have it down as just an unusual complexity which I think may make it a Marmite wine. All of that aside it's a dense dark fruity high quality wine and I enjoyed every sip of it."
Mr Anthony O'Halloran (23-Nov-2016)
2015 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
"I don't usually like wines so young, but I thought this was splendid. My first Malbec. I will be trying more.
Mostly sour cherry from nose to finish, but with interesting subtle flavours of (to my vegetarian/wholefoods palate) mustard leaf and roquette.
Cinnamon and red boiled sweets too. Very nice."
Mr Peter Nelson (13-Nov-2016)
"was ok but to be honest i found a slightly chemically aftertaste spoiled the enjoyment. not one for me"
Mr Martin Prout (26-Oct-2016)
"We enjoy this Malbec and it's good value for everyday drinking. I am no wine expert, but this seems well-rounded and very palatable to us - and we do drink a fair bit of wine!"
Mrs Margaret Wallace (15-Aug-2016)
Donald Macleod Esq (11-Aug-2016)
"not up to the other Argentine Malbec's I have had, easily drinkable but disappointing."
Mr Martin Reeves (11-Aug-2016)
"I am sorry to say that I was not particularly impressed with this wine. There was a not so pleasant aftertaste which I could not put my finger on. Think this is likely to be a marmite type decision. Have to agree with all Mr Duckett said."
Mr Gordon Allan (10-Jul-2016)
"I am either not as discerning as Mr Brown or else drinking a different wine! I bought three bottles in my last order. Having drunk 2 I found the wine to be overly tannic and dry (even for a Malbec). It also had a chemical like after taste which failed to recede even with adequate breathing. A rare miss from the society"
Mr Stephen Duckett (05-Jul-2016)
"As Mr O'Hallaron said of the last vintage "A fine everyday Malbec for the discerning drinker." Give it an hour in a decanter and its quite sublime, and at £6.75 it's an absolute steal!"
Mr James Brown (02-Jun-2016)
2015 VINTAGE - PRESS REVIEWS
Tamworth Journal (24th May 2016)
"
Full-bodied,
soft and smooth, but with intense black fruit and no shrinking violet at 14%
abv. Only £6.75 bottle from the Wine Society. - Rob Price
"
2014 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
"Some really intense flavours: Dark fruits, wood, patchouli, frankincense, big savouriness, violets but not unapproachable at all. Certainly blows any supermarket Malbec I've tried out of the water. A fine everyday Malbec for the discerning drinker."
Mr Anthony O'Halloran (01-Dec-2015)
"Tried this on a visit to the Cellar Showroom, and thought wow! This isn't too bad, it was fresh and fruity and a good price. It's an easy drinking wine, in fact quite quaffable no need for food, I would class it as an everyday drinking wine."
Mr Colin Steele (04-Oct-2015)
2013 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS
"Spiffing!"
Mr Jonathan Rippon (02-Aug-2015)
"I'm stunned you can turn out a wine of this quality at this price. Berry fruit, nicely restrained and a reasonable finish. This is my new everyday wine."
Mr Royston Beale (29-Mar-2015)
"The Society's Argentine Malbec is a good value and thoroughly quaffable wine! I recommend it for everyday drinking."
Mr Mark White (05-Feb-2015)
"A really nice smooth Malbec full of fruit. Just as nice to drink on its own as with food. A few more bottles of this will be in my next order."
Mr David Marshall (22-Dec-2014)
"I started a bottle of this last night after letting it stand and breathe. I found it very coarse with a bitter finish. Tastes as though it needs five years in the bottle. A bit too young for me."
Mr Ross Braithwaite (20-Dec-2014)
"This has been a real favourite as an everyday wine, but the latest I have ordered is less to my taste; it is paler and less full-bodied. Sadly I'll need to find an alternative."
Mr Robin Spicer (12-Dec-2014)
"I like this wine for everyday drinking. Full-bodied, lovely berry flavours, a hint of spice. Good value for money."
Mr Michael Pinhorn (13-Mar-2014)
"I bought the 2010 vintage for a party 2 years ago. Many of my guests said how much they enjoyed it. I now have only a few bottles left but they get better and better. The wine has become fuller and fruitier, still with a hint of oak. I hope the 2012 will do as well."
Dr Simon Cooper (31-Aug-2013)
"I commented negatively after my first bottle of this wine finding it very coarse, but I have just opened the second bottle and found it a delight. Is it me???"
Mr Anthony Waite (23-May-2013)
"I intended to drink half a bottle of this for World Malbec day. Ended up polishing off the whole lot! This is a really good wine, spicy and cherry red fruit running throughout, and very smooth wine, very expressive, a real bargain at the price.
I will be buying plenty more of this. Excellent."
Mr Asa Joseph (18-Apr-2013)
"It's an ok wine, but nothing to rave about. About worth the money."
Mr Richard Morton (14-Apr-2013)
"I bought a couple of bottles of this because of so many positive reviews. A beautiful deep ruby colour and plenty of fruit, but I am afraid I found it anything but soft and velvety. Not for me nor indeed my wife."
Mr Anthony Waite (11-Apr-2013)
"I was a bit unimpressed by this wine which I feel tastes cheaper than its price tag. It does improve after several hours of being left to breathe but it's not one I'll be re-ordering."
Mrs Dale McGain (06-Mar-2013)
"Recently bought more of this. Continues to be an excellent malbec, full of ripe fruit with a good backbone of acidity to balance it out. Great for BBQs."
Mr Robin D Smith (18-Aug-2012)
"Frankly, delicious. If you like red wine you will never grow tired of drinking this. Actually, having just had a glass of this wine, I am wondering why I bother drinking anything else."
Mr Mark Jones (07-Jul-2012)
"My wife and I loved this one too. Great value for money."
Mr John Cook (10-May-2012)
"I have had a number of cases of this. I consider it excellent value and a most classy everyday drinking wine. I have introduced a number of non- members to it and they all now ask me to bring a bottle of the wine to dinner parties. Hope the Falklands crisis does not interfere with supplies!
"
Mr Philip T Murphy (02-Feb-2012)
"Another good Argentinian wine from the Society at a very competitive price. Good depth of fruit. Great with roast beef. Most importantly, mother-in-law loved it!"
Mr Robin D Smith (29-Dec-2011)
"Velvety, plummy, soft."
Mr Ricky Reemer (17-Nov-2011)
"My wife and I both loved this wine - classic malbec and excellent value for money. It is young and high in alcohol so be sure to open it a couple of hours before drinking in order to let the lovely fruit and spice notes develop. I will buy more (and perhaps lay a couple down for a year or so) - the quality of this wine has prompted me to order a bottle of the Exhibition Malbec."
Mr James Maylam (03-Jun-2011)
"Dark ruby in colour, good nose. Very quaffable, with plenty of fruit, lots of vanilla and cream and some oakiness as well. Surprising and very easy to drink. Recommended."
Dr Aref Dyer (15-May-2011)
"Garnet colour. On the nose, there are some plums, jammy berries and a little eucalyptus; oak is just a fraction too aggressive. Brambliness on the palate to go with the berry fruits. Again, the buttery creamy oakiness is a bit too OTT for me, but others may like it. Decent acidity and structure helped by some lovely delicate tannins. This is very drinkable for the price."
Mr William Davies (18-Apr-2011)
"For the money, this wine offers fantastic value. It is full and deep yet has a softness about it as well. It's a great introduction to the Malbec grape and I will invariably add two or more of this to every order I put in."
Mr Nigel Davies (14-Jan-2011)
"A promising, bold cherry-fruit nose, complimented appropriately by a gorgeous blood-red colour is let down by a soupy mouth feel and an overcrowded palate which forces fuggy spices and muddy fruits to jostle for supremacy before a whack of tannins towers intimidatingly over everything around it.
For me, a quality Malbec should be oakier than this whilst its layers of fruit and spice should be balanced and clearly defined. Whilst perfectly quaffable, I found this a little disappointing especially considering the 'benchmark Malbec' tag in the description."
Mr William Davies (19-Dec-2010)
"Lovely wine. Plenty of round and lush fruit (not sure it's plum or cherries as others have suggested). Good with or without food. Full, soft but expressive. Well balanced. Perhaps a bit of liquorice in there and some spice."
Mr Michael Sherwin (12-Dec-2010)
"My problem with this very good wine is precisely that I don't like the taste! Has anyone here tried the Temporada version? Their Chardonnay is drinkable."
Mr John L Moles (04-Sep-2010)
"I would say at the outset that if you like big brambly new world wines and search for value for money-then try it. I found it closed so I decanted it and eventually shook the decanter to add some more oxygen. The chalkyness receded allowing a glimmer of serious extracted fruit. On the plus side it's velvety smooth and cleverly made. If it's to be a food wine then it needs serious spicy meaty rustic cooking. If drunk on it's own you'll need to like the taste because it's all over your senses. Susana Balbo is going to be a name to watch before her wines become very expensive. It certainly tasted just as good the following day so yes I will buy some more to try and understand this wine a little better."
Mr Chris Barclay (22-Aug-2010)
"Rich, deep fruit, round. A winter wine for me, great with roasts. Fantastic value."
Mr Ken Barker (17-Jul-2010)
"An extraordinarily good example of the Mendoza malbec for this kind of money. Rich plum fruit on the nose, admirable balance and fair tannic structure. One of the best wines I've ever had at this price. There will definitely be at least a couple of bottles in every order from now on.
"
Mr Yoel Brightman (11-May-2010)
"This an excellent wine for the money hence I always seem to be re-ordering it. The quality is remarkably consistent and it seems to go well with many foods. I thoroughly recommend!"
Mr Andrew J P Crisp (09-May-2010)
"Colour: deep, vivid, purplish - when I poured it out it reminded me of Keats's 'beaker full of the warm south with beaded bubbles winking at the brim'. Nose: strong, warm, spicy. Mouth: Full vibrant fruit but perhaps only just holding its own against fourteen degrees of alcohol. But fantastic value and fresh as a daisy thanks to screw cap closure.
"
Mr Simon Wilson (09-May-2010)
"A gorgeous deep red, but not much in the way of bouquet. Very smooth drinking however providing it is brought gently to room temperature, and a splendid accompliment to roasts. It is ''moreish'', great value and 'grows on you!"
Maurice O Hindle Esq (06-May-2010)
"An enjoyable, full bodied wine, with perhaps a hint of liquorice ?"
Mrs Elizabeth Shiel (28-Apr-2010)
"A lovely wine and good value for money."
Mr Neil Hunter (23-Apr-2010)
"I'm a big fan of Malbec and this is a great example at a brilliant price. Smooth, rich, but not too overbearing, this is an excellent wine."
Lt Conor O'Neill (16-Apr-2010)
"Our daughter visited Susan Balbo's winery and recommended her Malbec. We tried it and were not disappointed."
Mr Richard Lory (16-Apr-2010)
"A rich and smooth red, full of soft black cherry fruit, with agreeable tannins on the finish, reminiscent of cabernet. A wine to match with food; in this instance, enjoyed with Angus beef and grilled vegetables."
Dr Mark Carew (16-Apr-2010)
"I found the Argentinian Malbec a very balanced wine with depth but also a smoothness and rich taste. Highly recommended."
Mr Tony Murphy (15-Apr-2010)
"A very robust wine. Appropriate plum and spice for Malbec. Full of fruit and sunshine. A sound buy."
Mr Thomas Pellow (14-Apr-2010)
"The best malbec I ever had was last October in the Catskill Mountains in Upper New York State. We had gone there to visit the site of the Woodstock festival and found a quaint but friendly community of ageing hippies. After a strenuous day on the hills the local inn offered classy filet steak, eaten with a wine improbably called ‘the ant and the grasshopper’. This Argentinian malbec was dark, rich and had tones of chocolate and vanilla. I have been unable to source it in the UK but the Society’s Argentinian malbec comes close and is better, in my opinion, than the Society’s Exhibition malbec."
Dr Philip S Helliwell (12-Apr-2010)
"An excellent wine. My daughter-in-law is Argentinian and my wife is an excellent cook so we had this wine with Sussex stewed steak (Elisabeth David) and the whole family thought the combination excellent. I have tried a number of Argentinian malbec wines and this is, without doubt, my favourite.It is amazing value. Highly recommended."
Dr L S Illis (12-Apr-2010)
"I very much enjoyed this wine, it was full bodied with big forward fruits. I will say though that it does go well with food, but not necessarily a wine you might simply enjoy on it's own of an evening perhaps. Great value for money, great flavour and to my mind a lovely alternative to an Aussie Shiraz."
Mr Paul Stewart (12-Apr-2010)
"On first opening, i thought it a bit garrulous - but with a bit of air, it was consumed quite quickly .;o) It went very well with a curry, but that might be my predilection for red wine with everything."
Mr John Crawford (11-Apr-2010)
"This Malbec is one of the best value wines that I have had the delight in quaffing ! It is robust enough to be interesting and is yet very easy drinking and, if I have to drink it with any kind of food - it's really just as good !!!
I love most European and especially the French but my interests, after experiencing this wine, have now wondered off towards the South Americas!"
Mr Harvey Harrison (11-Apr-2010)
"Malbec the fantastic forgotten grape of Bordeaux and delightfully presented by the Wine Society at such fantastic value.
Very nice full bodied red, with nice ripe tanins, plush texture and juicy with violet aromas.
Outstanding wine at this price."
Mr Nicholas P Felton (10-Apr-2010)
"Absolutely loved this wine. Good value for money. Thoroughly recommended!"
Mr Scott Lourie (09-Apr-2010)
"Wonderfully full tasty red and superb value for money.
Too high in alcohol for me but otherwise no adverse comments,
Well done Ms Balbo!"
Mr David R McCallum (09-Apr-2010)
"An excellent full bodied wine with a fruity flavour and good finish. Not too heavy.
Easy to drink with any meat dish or on its own,very pleasant with cheese.
Good value at the price, will certainly be buying more."
Mr Teddy Prentice (09-Apr-2010)
"Perfect Malbec/Cot, balanced and delicious. Wonderful value for a very good wine."
Dr Stephen Birch (09-Apr-2010)
"Having been fortunate enough to holiday in Argentina we developed a fondness for Malbec. There is nothing better to accompany the ubiquitous steaks and empanadas that constitute most Argentine meals. And the Societies Malbec is a very good example. Full bodied with plenty of currant flavours this wine represents very good value and after the winter venison casseroles should follow on for the summer barbecues."
Dr Nicholas L Bishop (09-Apr-2010)
"Very nice for the price. Malbec in general is definitely an underrated grape so this is a decently priced, typical example for anyone unfamiliar with it. Not outstanding though. Also lasted well, which is very nice for anyone not wishing to drink a whole bottle in one go."
Miss Eva Marschewski (09-Apr-2010)
"Strong and intense aroma, very nice indeed. Full body and fruity, very easy to drink. I will buy more."
Mr Filippo Molinari (25-Mar-2010)
"Drank this with 4 friends and 4 large rib eye steaks! Went down a storm all round. Excellent value, flavour and finish. Definately be ordering more."
Mr Damian Bullimore (20-Feb-2010)
"This wine featured in our informal 'tasting' (penurious but bibulous) on New Year's Eve, when we were part of a small family group chiefly concerned to blunt the edge of bereavement. First up was a bottle (or two) of Concha y Toro's Casillero del Diablo 2009 Sauvignon Blanc (£5.99-ish). Decent (Concha y Toro never rip you off), with some minerality, though not as expressive as the Society's Chilean Sauvignon Blanc or the el Polilla Sauvignon Blanc. Next, Lascar Carmenere 2008 (£4.95). Initially, rather closed and 'mean'. Opened out after about 30-45 minutes (note: we don't generally decant, as if a wine is ageing or fading, it just kills it). Decent, well worth £4.95, pleasurable within fairly strict limits. Then, Chatau Eulalie 2007. Great expectations in view of consistent write-ups by 'the Buyers' and the alleged excellence of 2007. Attractive, jammy, typically Minervois nose. Then ... OK. No one really liked this. Certainly not great for £6.50. Lastly (within THIS session), the Society's Argentine Malbec (£5.95). Everyone thought this was by far the best of the reds and the best of all including the initial white. It's great value - if you actually like the taste (I don't really).
The following night just two of us drank a bottle of Chateau Franc Couplet 2006 (claret in 'clarets for Christmas' package), say about £7. Different vinous level altogether: dark, elegant nose; wonderful porosity and length. Are supplies exhausted?"
Mr John L Moles (06-Jan-2010)
"Plenty of fruit. Juicy. Good length. 'Holds' for over an hour, unusual in a cheap wine and not automatic in more expensive ones. In that period it certainly develops and mutates. Some may find some of its manifestations over-plummy or over-redolent of eucalyptus (think Euthymol). Needs food. Certainly not negligible."
Mr John L Moles (12-Dec-2009)
"This is a lovely, robust flavoured, easy to drink wine. I would recommend it to anyone wanting something reasonably priced that is suitable for everyday drinking. Very nice indeed."
Mr William Hiscock (26-Nov-2009)
"I've purchased several cases of this wine over the last few months. It's a tasty and dependable table wine for mid-week that tastes a lot more expensive than it is. Tremendous value for money."
Mr Mark Baker (10-Sep-2009)
2013 VINTAGE - PRESS REVIEWS
Birmingham Living (12th May 2014)
"Argentine malbec has
taken the UK by storm and this ... is a very good example. It's powerful with
soft black fruits. - Rob Price"