Amancay Malbec Reserva – Simple and Easy

A solid Trader Joe’s Malbec for $7, the Amancay Malbec Reserva.

Malbec from Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina.

The Amancay Malbec Reserva is available exclusively at Trader Joe’s in the US and sells for $6.99. It is imported by Americal Beverage Group, Inc.

This is not to be confused with the Amancaya lines of wines also from Argentina, like the previously reviewed Amancaya Gran Reserva which comes from Bodegas Caro, a joint venture between Domaines Barons de Rothschild and Nicolas Catena.

This Amancay (missing the last a) comes from VSPT Wine Group (according to the cork), which includes several other Argentinian and Chilean wineries like Graffigna and San Pedro.

The Reserva label here is apparently just marketing spin, as it is in most parts of the world outside Spain and Italy.

The 2018 Amancay Malbec Reserva begins with aromas of dark fruit, a little mint, a little spice and a hint of a green vegetal note. Tasting reveals a simple, basic, Malbec with sweet fruit, a little spice and a little tobacco. It’s a bit thin but easy to drink. And while it’s perfectly acceptable for $6.99, you can also step up the quality quite a bit by spending a few dollars more. It does also sound like the quality of previous vintages have been all over the board so this isn’t necessarily one of those always reliable buys. It ends with a dry, medium length, slightly bitter finish.