The best Argentine wines of the year according to critic James Suckling

Last month there was a breakthrough: in his

, American critic

had rated two with the highest score (100): a 2019 Cabernet Franc and a 1959 Semillon. Now the Californian published

Suckling is, together with his compatriot Robert Parker (the pioneer and creator of the points rating system) and the British Tim Atkin,

and regularly publishes his comments and assessments.

The reports are the result of a

.

On this occasion, the taster was one of the envoys from Suckling's team, the Chinese Zekun Shuai, who visited the country on behalf of the American, who lives in Hong Kong for most of the year.

The Gran Enemigo Cabernet Franc 2019 got the perfect score.

Photo: jamessuckling.com

The 100 best wines from Argentina 2023 according to the report by James Suckling

As we anticipated, only two wines reached the "perfect score", but another six were very close, with 99. As usual -and also not surprising, as it is the largest producer- the province that obtained the most recognition was Mendoza, although there were also

What is worth highlighting, in the case of a category such as high-end, is

, which before seemed to be the only protagonist

"Some say that Malbec is king, but these scores that we are giving send a very strong message:

," says Zekun Shuai in one of his articles.

Among the one hundred wines chosen, there is much to observe: the usual ones in this category (great labels that maintain the level vintage after vintage),

, many specimens from small plots, bottles icon of wineries that are also.

Norton's 1959 Semillon, a rarity not for sale.

Photo: James Suckling.com.

The following is the list of the top 100 tags with the corresponding scores.

For those who want to see the comments of each wine (in English, under paid subscription), you can consult them at www.jamessuckling.com.

100 points

• Norton Semillón Fine White Wine 1959 - Mendoza

• El Enemigo Cabernet Franc Gran Enemigo Single Vineyard 2019 - Mendoza

99 points

• Pioneer 2019 Bemberg Estate - Gualtallary Valle de Uco, Mendoza

• Adrianna Vineyard White Bones 2021 Catena Zapata - Mendoza

• Adriana Vineyard Mundus Bacillus Terrae 2021 - Mendoza

• Chacra Pinot Noir Patagonia Treinta y Dos 2022 - Río Negro

Terrazas de los Andres Parcel Malbec, high-end parcel wines.

El Espinillo (right) got 100 points from Suckling.

• Terrazas de los Andres Malbec El Espinillo Parcel N1E 2020 - Mendoza

• Zuccardi Malbec Uco Valley Paraje Altamira Finca Canal Uco 2020 - Mendoza

98 points

• Adrianna Vineyard White Stones Chardonnay Catena Zapata 2021 - Mendoza

• Adrianna Vineyard Fortuna Terrae Malbec 2021​ Catena Zapata - Mendoza

• Adrianna Vineyard River Malbec 2021 Catena Zapata - Mendoza

• Nicolás Catena Zapata 2020 Catena Zapata - Mendoza

• Chacra Chardonnay 2022 - Río Negro

• Gran Enemigo Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2019 - El Enemigo - Mendoza

• Matías Riccitelli Malbec Cabernet Franc 2020 - Mendoza

We Single Vineyard Nomad.

The 2020 vintage, among the best for Suckling.

• About Us Single Vineyard Nómade 2020 - Susana Balbo - Mendoza

• Terrazas de los Andes Malbec Lican Parcel N 125S 2020 Los Chacayes - Mendoza

• Trapiche Iscay Malbec Cabernet Franc 2019 - Mendoza

• Zingaretti Estate Chardonnay 2022 - Viña Cobos - Mendoza

• Malbec Los Árboles Chañares Estate 2020 - Viña Cobos - Mendoza

• Cobos 2020 Malbec - Viña Cobos - Mendoza

• Zuccardi Malbec Finca Las Cerrilladas 2020 - Mendoza

• Zuccardi Malbec Finca Piedra Infinita Paraje Altamira 2020 - Mendoza

• Zuccardi Malbec Finca Piedra Infinita Gravascal 2020 - Mendoza

Zuccardi Finca Piedra Infinita Supercal.

• Zuccardi Malbec Finca Piedra Infinita Supercal 2020 - Mendoza

97 points

• As Bravas Malbec El Cepillo 2016 - Mendoza 

• Bemberg Estate Wines Malbec Gualtallary Valle De Uco El Tomillo Parcela 5 La Lanterna 2019

  
  

•  Bemberg Estate Wines Malbec Valle De Pedernal La Yesca Parcela 13 La Linterna 2019 - San Juan

• Catena Zapata Malbec Paraje Altamira Nicasia Vineyard 2020 - Mendoza

Patagonian wines from Chacra, among those chosen by Suckling.

• Chacra Chardonnay Patagonia Mainqué 2022 - Río Negro

• Chacra Pinot Noir Patagonia Thirty Two 2021 - Río Negro

• Chacra Pinot Noir Thirty Two Sulfur Free 2022 - Río Negro

• Cheval Des Andes 2020 - Mendoza

Cheval Des Andes, the Mendoza grand cru distinguished by Suckling.

• Domaine Nico Pinot Noir Valle De Uco Soeur Et Freres Le Paradis 2021 - Mendoza

• The Enemy Cabernet Franc Agrelo Luján De Cuyo - Mendoza

• Gran Enemigo Single Vineyard 2019 El Enemigo Cabernet Franc Mendoza

• Gran Enemigo Chacayes Single Vineyard 2019 El Enemigo Chardonnay Mendoza 2021

• El Esteco Valle Calchaquíes Chañar Punco 2019 - Salta

• Matervini Malbec Impossible Calchaquí Valleys 2021 - Salta

• Matias Riccitelli Flor - Old Vines from Patagonia - Río Negro

• Otronia Chardonnay Patagonia Block Iii & Vi 2020 - Chubut

• Terrazas De Los Andes Malbec Paraje Altamira Uco Valley Los Castaños Parcel N 2w 2020 - Mendoza 

• Trapiche Cabernet Sauvignon Uco Valley La Consulta Terroir Series Finca Laborde 2020 - Mendoza

• Trapiche Malbec Cabernet Franc Mendoza Iscay 2020 - Mendoza

• Trapiche Syrah Viognier Mendoza Iscay 2020 - Mendoza

• Viña Cobos Cabernet Franc Los Arboles Mendoza Chañares Estate 2020 - Mendoza

• Viña Cobos Perdriel Luján De Cuyo Cobos Volturno 2020

• Zuccardi Uco Valley Gualtallary Alluvial 2020

96 points

• Achaval Ferrer Chardonnay Mendoza Tupungato Singular 2021

• Bemberg Estate Wines Chardonnay Gualtallary Valle De Uco El Tomillo Parcela 1 La Lanterna 2021

• Benmarco Malbec Valle De Pedernal Unlimited 2021 - San Juan

• Bodega Noemía Malbec 2019 - Río Negro 

• Norton Winery Valle De Uco Gernot 2019 - Mendoza

• Wanted Dead Or Alive Gualtallary Mendoza El Cerro 2021

• Wanted Dead Or Alive Mendoza The Truth San Pablo 2021 - Mendoza

• Cadus Mendoza 2019

• Catena Zapata Malbec Mendoza Argentine Malbec 2021

• Chacra Pinot Noir Patagonia Fifty-Five 2022 - Río Negro

• Chacra Pinot Noir Sulfur Free 2022 - Río Negro

• Domaine Nico Pinot Noir Valle De Uco Soeur Et Freres La Savante 2021 - Mendoza

• Uspallata Igneo Ranch 2021 - Mendoza

Cielo Arriba, a blend of red grapes from Huichara Vineyards, a winery from Jujuy.

• Huichaira Vineyards Cielo Arriba 2020 - Jujuy.

• Kaiken Malbec Mai 2020 - Mendoza

• Marcelo Pelleriti Uco Valley La Consulta Blend Grand Cuvée 2015 - Mendoza

•  Matervini Malbec Valle De Cafayate Highness 2021 - Salta

• Matias Riccitelli Cabernet Franc Gualtallary 2021 - Mendoza

• Matias Riccitelli Cabernet Franc Los Chacayes Uco Valley Mountain Vineyards 2020 - Mendoza

• Matias Riccitelli Las Compuertas Luján De Cuyo Malbec Republic 2020 - Mendoza

• Rutini Valle De Uco Anthology Lxii 2020 - Mendoza

• Susana Balbo Wines Malbec Paraje Altamira Valle De Uco Signature Limited Edition 2021 - Mendoza

• Tapestry Valle De Uco San Pablo Portrait By Jean Claude 2018 - Mendoza

• Terrazas De Los Andes Malbec Las Compuertas Luján De Cuyo Los Cerezos Parcel N 10w 2020 - Mendoza

• Trapiche Chardonnay Gualtallary Uco Valley Terroir Series Finca El Tomillo 2021 - Mendoza

• Trapiche Malbec Gualtallary Valle De Uco Terroir Series Finca Ambrosia Single Vineyard 2020 - Mendoza

• Viña Cobos Cabernet Sauvignon Perdriel Luján De Cuyo Hobbs Estate 2019 - Mendoza

• Viña Cobos Chardonnay Uco Valley Zingaretti Estate Villa Bastias 2021 - Mendoza

• Zorzal Malbec Tupungato Uco Valley El Barba 2019

• Zuccardi Cabernet Sauvignon Paraje Altamira Finca Los Quinces 2020

• Zuccardi Chardonnay Gualtallary Botanical 2022

• Zuccardi Chardonnay San Pablo Finca Las Cuchillas 2021

• Zuccardi Chardonnay Uco Valley San Pablo Fossil 2022

• Zuccardi Malbec Uco Valley Los Chacayes Alluvial 2020

• Zuccardi Malbec Valle De Uco Paraje Altamira Alluvional 2020

95 points

• Abremundos Eighth High 2019 - Mendoza

• Achaval Ferrer Mendoza Chimera White 2021 - Mendoza

• Quebrada Cachi Warehouse 2020 - Salta

• Quebrada Pucará Warehouse 2020 - Salta

• Alta Vista Malbec Las Compuertas Luján De Cuyo Single Vineyard Alizarine 2019 - Mendoza

• Alta Vista Alto 2019 - Mendoza

• Argento Chardonnay Finca Gualtallary Single Vineyard 2021 - Mendoza

• Argento Malbec Mendoza Finca Gualtallary Single Block 11 2021 - Mendoza

• Bemberg Estate Wines Pinot Noir Los Arboles Valle De Uco Las Piedras Parcela 12 La Lanterna 2019 - Mendoza

• Benmarco Valle De Uco Expressive Gualtallary 2021 - Mendoza

• Bressia Last Sheet Winery 2018 - Mendoza

• Bodega Norton Malbec Private 2020 - Mendoza

• Bodegas Bianchi Malbec Los Chacayes Valle De Uco IV Generation Single Block Gran Malbec 2020 - Mendoza

• Cadus Malbec Los Chacayes Tunuyán Uco Valley Finca Viña Vida 2019 - Mendoza

• Casa De Uco Malbec Uco Valley Flora And Fauna 2018 - Mendoza

• Catena Zapata Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza Angelica Zapata Alta 2019 - Mendoza

• Catena Zapata Malbec Angelica Zapata Alta 2019 - Mendoza

look also

The wines of the province of Buenos Aires are growing: are they as good as those of Mendoza?

From "Resero Blanco" to the high range: how San Juan wines have changed