2022 Black Cabra Malbec Mendoza 750 ml

We always love to uncover a great value for under $20, but a stellar wine for under $15? That’s a rare thrill. And if it‘s backed by member praise and the expertise of a former Petrus winemaker—well, that’s Black Cabra.

Argentina is a gold mine for value, and this bottle strikes it rich. The Black Cabra label shares ownership and a winemaking team with the renowned Bodegas Zolo and Tapiz, whose $100 wines Wine Advocate has called “top-of-the-range.” The crew includes Jean-Claude Berrouet, the winemaker at Petrus for 44 vintages, who has tons of experience crafting collectible masterpieces.

Ruby-hued and ready to enthrall, this 100% Malbec boasts fruit-forward density and graceful tannins that had us singing its praises before we even saw the label. Born of estate-grown grapes from the foothills of the Andes, our members have bestowed scores of five-star reviews on Black Cabra through the years, making it one of our best-selling bottles of all time.

In the 2022 Black Cabra, Berrouet, along with 30 year winemaking veteran Fabián Valenzuela, shows that he’s as skilled at producing overdelivering values as he is crafting auction-house favorites. The wine bursts with aromas of violets, bramble, and lilacs, highlighted by red-cherry and tobacco notes. Juicy and clean on the palate, it showcases bright acidity and a long finish that will keep you primed for another sip. 

The grapes hail from the sustainably farmed Zolo and Tapiz estate vineyards, which lie at a range of altitudes and terroirs, weaving a captivating tapestry of Mendoza. The grapes are hand-harvested and manually sorted twice. After fermenting in stainless-steel tanks, the wine spends a half-year’s rest in oak, deepening and rounding out its flavors.