Luca Wines Luca Old Vine Malbec Review

This was an easy drinking Malbec that, because of the quality level, didn’t require production tricks resulting in a sweet, flabby red wine. It’s made from 50-year old vines in a high-altitude vineyard (3500 feet) and comes with myriad high ratings (92-95 points) from Wine Spectator, James Suckling, and Wine Advocate.

Wine review by: Jessyca Frederick

Luca Old Vine Malbec
Luca Old Vine Malbec: front of bottle with wine in glass

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About this Wine

Wine: 2019 Luca Old Vine Malbec
Blend: 100% Malbec
Region: Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina
Retail price: $35
I consumed it: September 2022
My source: The Bold Reds Series by International Wine of the Month Club

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From this wine club: The Bold Reds Series by International Wine of the Month Club

From this winery: Luca Wines

Region: Argentina

Wine color/style: Red wine

Grape variety or blend: Malbec

Tasting notes: Smooth tannin, Espresso, Violet, Black fruit, Blue fruit

Luca Old Vine Malbec: What I think

Malbec is produced to be sold at a variety of prices. While many of us are mostly familiar with large-production Argentinian Malbec sold for less than $15 a bottle, there are some great options when you’re ready to upgrade. Many Reserve level and premium Malbecs can be had at a great value when compared to similar-quality red wines made from other grapes.

This Luca Old Vine Malbec is a great example. It’s made from 50-year old vines in a high-altitude vineyard (3500 feet) and comes with myriad high ratings (92-95 points) from Wine Spectator, James Suckling, and Wine Advocate. The affordable price of $35 for such a well-regarded wine can be chalked up to a generous production of 7000 cases per year.

Rather than call this a Bold Red, I’d call this a smooth red. This was an easy drinking Malbec that, because of the quality level, didn’t require production tricks resulting in a sweet, flabby red wine. It has delicate spice, hints of espresso and violet, and enjoyable notes of black and blue fruits.

Last updated: March 21, 2023

Notice: I hold no formal wine credentials. I am a wine geek who has consumed 1000+ of bottles from 100+ different wine clubs and 1000s more bottles that didn’t come from those wine clubs. I do not accept payment for wine reviews, and I do not accept payments to influence my opinions. I happily accept free wine (and I buy wine).

Why read my wine reviews: Wine taste is subjective. What I like may not be what you like. I try to leave room for you to form your own opinions, so I don’t provide a score or a rating. I do point out wines that are an incredible value or truly not worth the money. I note flaws, wines that don’t have typicity (because this matters if you are buying wine without having tasted it yourself), when wines are out of balance, and when wines lack appropriate body.

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