This month, 11 bottles of Malbec from Total Wine battle it out for Value Champion!

Malbec is a great focus for this type of challenge. It is popular enough to ensure a wide selection of bottles at most stores, the wines are widely distributed and accessible, and the Argentinian source of many Malbecs helps to keep the prices right in our value range. If you’re not familiar with Malbec, I suggest checking out Wine Folly to learn more! http://winefolly.com/review/what-is-malbec-wine/

•  11 bottles
• Priced from $6 to $15
• 3 from France and 8 from Argentina
• All purchased at retail from Total Wine in Minnesota

UPDATE March 14, 2017: Click here to skip to the results and see the winners!

The Competitors:

Trapiche Malbec – Argentina – $6.79 @ Total Wine

• Ratings: 86 points on Cellar Tracker, 3.2 on Vivino, 4 out of 5 on Total Wine
• Bronze medals at International Wine Challenge
• $7 average on Wine Searcher

Alamos Malbec – Argentina – $6.77 @ Total Wine

• Ratings: 86 points on Cellar Tracker, 3.5 on Vivino , 91 points by James Suckling, 4.5 out of 5 on Total Wine
• $9 average on Wine Searcher

Colores Del Sol Malbec – Argentina – $8.29 at Total Wine

• Ratings: 87 on Cellar Tracker, 3.7 on Vivino, 4.5 out of 5 on Total Wine
• Average price of $9 on Wine Searcher

Bodegas Gascon Malbec – Argentina – $8.47 at Total Wine

• Ratings: 87 on Cellar Tracker, 3.8 on Vivino, 4.5 out of 5 on Total Wine
• $12 average price on Wine Searcher

Piattelli Vineyards Premium Malbec – Argentina – $8.97 at Total Wine

• 5 out of 5 by Total Wine buyers
• 86.5 on Cellar Tracker
• 3.7 on Vivino
• $14 average price on Wine Searcher

Luc Pirlet Classique Malbec – France – $9.99 at Total Wine

• Ratings: No rating on Cellar Tracker, 3.3 on Vivino, No rating on Total Wine
• Ratings are hard to come by on this one, and I’m concerned that a $10 French wine isn’t going to show well, but the options for value French Malbec are very limited!
• $10 average on Wine Searcher

Georges Vigouroux Cahors Pigmentum – France – $9.99 at Total Wine

• Ratings: 84 on Cellar Tracker, 3.5 on Vivino, 4.5 out of 5 on Total Wine
• $10 average on Wine Searcher

Bodega Piedra Negra Ruta 22 Malbec – Argentina – $9.99 at Total Wine

• Ratings: 85 on Cellar Tracker, 3.7 on Vivino, 4.75 out of 5 on Total Wine
• $11 average on Wine Searcher

Finca Flichman Malbec Tupungato – Argentina – $10.99 at Total Wine

• Ratings: No rating on Cellar Tracker, No rating on Vivino, 4.75 out of 5 on Total Wine
• Bronze and Silver medals at International Wine Competition
• $17 average on Wine Searcher

Atrevida Malbec – Argentina – $13.99 (sale price) at Total Wine

• Ratings: 81 on Cellar Tracker (only 1 rater), 3.6 on Vivino, 5 out of 5 on Total Wine
• $14 average on Wine Searcher

Georges Vigouroux Antistio Cahors Malbec – France – $14.99 at Total Wine

• Ratings: No rating on Cellar Tracker, 3.5 on Vivino, 2 out of 5 on Total Wine
• $15 average on Wine Searcher

Can’t wait to start digging into these starting on February 1!  Follow VinCrush to see our tasting notes, research, and recommendations as we go!