Out of 18,244 wines entered at the 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards, just 50 were named Best in Show. One of them was a Malbec that costs KES 2,895 a bottle. Meet Altosur Malbec 2021 from Finca Sophenia, and find out why the judges loved it.
What “Best in Show” means
The Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) in London is the world’s largest wine competition. In 2022, expert judges blind-tasted 18,244 wines from around the world. Medals go Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Above them all sits Best in Show: just 50 wines, or 0.27% of the entries, are chosen as the very best of the whole competition.
Altosur Malbec 2021 was one of those 50, with 97 points, and the judges picked it out as a value wine, which makes it one of the great wine bargains of recent years. It also received 92 points from James Suckling.
What the judges said
Decanter’s judges said no country delivered value to match Argentina that year, and that this wine made the point “admirably”. They described a dense, dark Malbec from the prized highlands of Gualtallary. At first it is bold and meaty on the nose, then pure plum and sloe fruit open up with time in the glass. On the palate there is real weight, but also lift and freshness: in their words, Gualtallary “is never clumsy”. Instead of hard tannins or sharp acidity, the wine has a juicy, sappy freshness that gives it energy and charm. Their verdict: value Best in Show wines “rarely exceed the appeal you’ll find here”.
Where it comes from
Altosur means “high south”, and the name says it all. The grapes grow on Finca Sophenia’s own estate in Gualtallary, at 1,200 metres in the foothills of the Andes, in Mendoza’s Uco Valley. Up here, intense sunshine by day and cold mountain nights let the grapes ripen fully while keeping their natural freshness. The loose, stony, free-draining soils keep yields low and the fruit concentrated.
Finca Sophenia was founded in 1998 by Roberto Luka and was one of the first wineries to plant in Gualtallary, which is now one of the most celebrated places to grow wine in South America. In November 2025, Forbes ranked Finca Sophenia No. 23 in “The World’s 50 Best Wineries 2025”. Read the full Finca Sophenia story here.
How it’s made
- Grape: 100% Malbec, estate grown and bottled.
- Harvest: March and April.
- Fermentation: in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures, to keep the fruit pure and bright.
- Ageing: 3 to 4 months in contact with French oak, for a gentle touch of spice that never hides the fruit.
- Alcohol: 14%. Fully dry.
Tasting notes
- Colour: deep red with violet hues.
- Nose: fresh cherries, blackberries and plums, with spice and floral notes.
- Palate: dense and full-bodied, with sweet, rounded tannins and a lively freshness.
- Finish: long, with lingering dark fruit and spice.
What to eat with it
Malbec was made for the grill. Pour Altosur with nyama choma, steak, lamb chops, mbuzi or burgers. It is just as good with beef stew, mushroom risotto, pasta with a rich ragu, or grilled portobello mushrooms for a meat-free meal.
Serving tips for Nairobi
- Temperature: 15 to 16°C. Give the bottle 15 to 20 minutes in the fridge before opening.
- Breathing: open it 20 to 30 minutes before pouring, or decant it. The judges noticed the fruit opening up beautifully with air.
- When to drink: at around five years old, the 2021 is drinking beautifully now. Enjoy it over the next year or two.
Get a Best in Show wine for KES 2,895
It’s rare to find a wine with this kind of recognition at this price, and once the 2021 vintage is gone, it’s gone. Shop Altosur Malbec 2021 →
Order online for same-day Nairobi delivery on orders placed before 2pm, ship anywhere in Kenya, or visit us at 291 Loresho Ridge, next to Tribal Gallery, and enjoy a glass on our terrace. Questions? WhatsApp us on 0718 003 302.