(2024) In Asda, this is a wine from Mendoza that is a multi-variety blend. It majors on Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah which make up 97% of the blend, plus a splash of Tannat. It is assembled after separate fermentation of the components, and it is unoaked. Plummy and spicy stuff, a little bit of prune but also a distinct olive/herb lift. The palate has sweetness - maybe a touch of residual sugar, but also ripe berry fruit. The finish is spicy and fruity finishing gently.
(2023) From Argentina's biggest producer of organic-certified wines, this Fairtrade blend is 70% Malbec, 30% Cabernet Franc coming from the high-altitude Luján de Cuyo district. Twenty percent of the wine was fermented in French and American oak, with 30% of the Cabernet component also aged in new French oak. The Cabernet Franc adds a really pleasing leafiniess and green olive herbaceousness on the nose, over plummy black fruit aromas. There's a smoky, light char from the barrels. In the mouth the sweetness of the fruit powers through, glossy blackcurrant and plump black cherry, with creamy tannins, good balancing acidity, and the oak in-filling bass notes in the finish. Really well done at such a modest price. Watch the video for more information. (In 400 Sainsbury’s stores and online)
(2023) A deeply saturated colour for this high-altitude wine (vineyards at 1,200 metres),l the nose offering plums and spices, a little gravelly background. On the palate there's initial sweet fruit, but quite firm and rustic tannins interrupt rather abruptly. The finish is just a touch rough and aggressive. Down to £6.99 until 24th January 2023 in Waitrose improves value for money from it's usual tenner.
(2021) A Malbec from the Uco Valley of Mendoza in Argentina, this is a big, dark and plummy wine with some spicy fruit cake character and a hint of chocolate. That, says its producers, makes it a perfect candidate as a mulled wine base. On offer at £7.00 at time of review. Watch the video for more information.
(2020) The largest producer of organic wines in the Mendoza province with 305 hectares of its own vineyards certified organic, Bodegas Argento's new wine blends 70% Malbec with Cabernet Franc. 20% of the Malbec is aged in French and American oak, and 30% of the Cab Franc in French oak. The wine is also Fairtrade accredited. Saturated and dark in colour, there's a touch of coffee and gravy browning, solid and spicy black fruit, and with swirling a little hint of something floral and violet-like. In the mouth it is dense and rich, sweet curranty fruit bolstered by a roughening edge of tannin. Powerful stuff, that really has to be matched with robust foods. Watch the video for more information and food-matching ideas.
(2018) From the clay soils of Lucán de Cujo, at 1,050 metres in the Andes foothills, this is 100% Malbec. The colour is dark, but not opaque, a glimpse of light leading on to a vibrant, zingy aromatic, fresh with blueberry and cherry, lifted notes sage and violet too, which are all very pure and appealing. In the mouth there's a mineral character to this, stony and graphite-like, the savoury fruit is there too, in a pert and agile wine that benefits from its directness. Herby, tangy and fresh in the finish.
(2017) A certified organic Malbec from vineyards at 1200 metres altitude in Mendoza, this is a lovely expression of Malbec's floral, Parma violet-scented personality, kirsch like black cherry fruit and a touchy of meaty reduction. On the palate it is really juicy and vivid, that black fruit core ripe and sweet, but with a liveliness to the cherry skin acidity and tug of tannins. With a moderate 13% alcohol it also feels unforced and balanced. The Chocolate Officer's match here is with a milk chocolate flavoured with fig, smoke and pink peppercorn. It's one of the more subtley flavoured chocolates in the range until, that is, you crunch into a peppercorn. Then the wine and chocolate combination really sings, quite luxurious and balancing sweet fruit and peppery spice. Wine price is for a half bottle.
(2016) Real violet and kirsch lift. A fine, elegant fruit, a strawberry sweetness but lovely bite of plum and cherry, taut with its tight tannins and cherry skin acidity, smoothed by some of that creamy, chocolaty depth.
