Is Alamos Malbec good?
Yes, Alamos Malbec is a good, easy red for about $10: juicy, plummy and smooth, and one of the best cheap Malbecs on the shelf.
Alamos Malbec · Malbec · Mendoza, Argentina · nearly everywhere
- Alcohol
- About 13% to 13.5%
- Sweetness
- Dry (under 3 grams of sugar per liter)
- Grapes
- Malbec
- Made by
- The Catena family; Gallo sells it in the US
- From
- Mendoza, Argentina
- Price
- About $9 to $11
- Calories
- About 120 to 125 in a 5 oz glass (estimate)
What it tastes like
Plum, black cherry and a hint of chocolate and spice. Medium-full and smooth, with gentle grip.
- Bodylight → big
- Sweetnessdry → sweet
- Zingsoft → zippy
- Gripsmooth → grippy
Is it worth $10?
Yes, it over-delivers for ten dollars. If you want the same style with more depth for a special dinner, step up to Catena Malbec.
Who it’s for
For weeknight dinners, taco night and anyone who wants a bold red without the price. If you only drink light reds, it may feel heavy.
How to serve it
Serve slightly cool, about 15 minutes in the fridge.
The backstory
Alamos is the Catena family's everyday label, started in the early 1990s, and E. & J. Gallo handles it in the US, which is why it is on nearly every shelf. The grapes come from vineyards about 900 to 1,500 meters up in Mendoza, and the wine spends a few months in French and American oak. That is how a $10 bottle gets that chocolatey plum flavor and smooth finish.
How it compares
- Alamos Malbec vs Catena Malbec
Catena is the big sibling from the same family, deeper and more polished for about $8 more, so save it for steak night.
- Alamos Malbec vs Columbia Crest Cabernet
Columbia Crest Cabernet is a little firmer and more structured, while Alamos is plusher and softer, both great at the price.
- Alamos Malbec vs Bogle Zinfandel
Bogle Zin is jammier with more spice and a bit more alcohol, so pick it for BBQ and Alamos for tacos and burgers.
What to eat with it
Questions people ask
- Is Alamos Malbec sweet or dry?
- Dry. A recent vintage measured under 3 grams of sugar per liter, which counts as dry, though the ripe plum and chocolate notes make it feel smooth and friendly.
- Where is Alamos Malbec made?
- In Mendoza, Argentina, by the Catena family, who have made wine there for more than a century. Gallo is the US distributor, not the maker.
- Is Alamos the same as Catena?
- Same family, different label. Alamos is the budget everyday line and Catena is the step-up range with grapes from higher, cooler estate vineyards.
- How many calories are in Alamos Malbec?
- The label does not say, but a dry red at about 13% alcohol is usually around 120 to 125 calories per 5 oz glass, or about 600 for the whole bottle.
- Does Alamos Malbec go bad?
- Unopened, it tastes best within two or three years of the year on the label, so do not sit on it too long. Once open, recork it and it stays good for three to five days.
If you like this, try
- Catena MalbecMalbec · about $18Drink this one
- Columbia Crest CabernetCabernet Sauvignon · about $12Drink this one
- Bogle ZinfandelZinfandel · about $12Drink this one
Where Moxie recommends it
- What wine goes with tacos?
- What's the best cheap wine?
- What is the best wine for sangria?
- What is Malbec?
- Malbec vs Cabernet Sauvignon: what's the difference?
Last checked 2026-10-04. Moxie Vino isn’t affiliated with Alamos; this is our honest take. Bottle photo: Alamos (E. & J. Gallo).