Renowned for producing deep, rich, and delicious wine, Malbec is one of the UK's go-to grapes accounting for 1 in every 13 bottles sold in supermarkets. Thought to have originated in the Bordeaux region of France, Malbec is now grown all across the World with regions such as Argentina and Chile producing some of the most interesting takes on traditional Malbec.
Our latest discovery pack includes 4 incredible glasses from 4 of Argentina's most prized producers -
1. Piattelli Vineyards, Premium Malbec 2021
This opulent and smooth cool-climate Malbec delivers delightful aromas of ripe blackberry complemented by a touch of spice. Beautifully balanced with bright fruit flavours, the palate is marked by its structure and has an intense, spicy finish. The grapes were hand-picked and manually sorted to ensure no green material or imperfect fruit entered the must. The grapes were then cold soaked for five days. 5% of the must was bled off from the tank of crushed red grapes. This technique increased the ratio of skins to juice in the tank and resulted in a more concentrated must, ultimately producing a richer style with more colour and tannin. Alcoholic fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks at 24° to 28°C, with selected yeasts and lasted for two weeks. The wine then underwent five days of extended maceration in order to further imbue the wine with intense flavours, colour and fine tannins. The wine was transferred to seasoned 225-litre French oak barrels where it was aged for eight months.
Producer: Piattelli Vineyards
Region: Salta, Argentina
Grapes: Malbec
Style: Red
ABV: 14.5%
2. El Camino, Malbec 2021
A well-balanced wine with inviting aromas of plum jam, through to a fresh juicy palate. The grapes were destemmed after harvesting, to obtain a fruity expression from the grapes. After pressing, 60% of the juice underwent temperature-controlled maceration to extract flavour, colour and to impart structure to the wine. The remaining 40% of the juice was fermented immediately between 20 to 25°C imparting a vibrancy and freshness to the wine. After the alcoholic fermentation and malolactic conversions were complete, the wine was then centrifuged, clarified, and filtered prior to bottling.
Producer: El Camino
Region: Mendoza, Argentina
Grapes: Malbec
Style: Red
Size: 75cl
ABV: 13.5%
3. Matias Riccitelli, Hey Malbec 2022
A stylish, cool-climate Malbec delivering aromas of wild dark fruits, vanilla, and chocolate. Complex and rich on the palate, with juicy black fruits, violet, and black pepper enveloped in soft ripe tannins through to an opulent finish. The grapes were carefully sorted, and then vinified in small concrete tanks. 80% of the fruit was traditionally fermented at controlled temperatures of 25 to 27°C, with three daily pump overs, followed by a maceration period of 25 days to extract colour, fruit flavours, and fine tannins. 20% of the remaining fruit was vinified as whole clusters, obtaining a carbonic maceration. This wine was made without oak influence, to retain the purity of fruit.
Producer: Matias Riccitelli
Region: Lujan de Cuyo, Argentina
Grapes: Malbec
Style: Red
ABV: 14%
4. Andeluna, Malbec 2021
A generous and silky Malbec, delivering rich, ripe black cherries on the nose with a touch of graphite, liquorice and more than a hint of sous bois and vanilla on the finish. After hand selecting the very best bunches, the grapes were destemmed and underwent a pre-fermentation maceration at low temperatures. Fermentation took place with natural and selected yeasts, in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks at approximately 26°C. The wine was matured in previously used French oak barrels for three months and then cellared for a further three months prior to release.
Producer: Andeluna
Region: Mendoza, Argentina
Grapes: Malbec
Style: Red
ABV: 14.5%