Argentine Red Wines
Malbec. Lots of Malbec…offering gorgeous brambly fruit, whether fresh and unoaked or dense and given barrel-ageing in new barrels.
Malbec’s original home is in south-west France, and specifically in the appellation of Cahors. There (known as Cot) it makes a strongly flavoured wine which is, all too often, tannic, rustic and needs several years ageing to show its best. Introduced to Argentina in the last third of the 19th century, Malbec, like Carmenère in Chile, delivers much better wine when transplanted than in its homeland.
Malbec gives a forward, perfumed wine with delicious brambly fruit, and with real stuffing, character and ageing potential too. It blends well too: the addition of a little Cabernet Sauvignon, for example, lends more structure for keeping; and Syrah can give spice and blackcurrant notes. The great advantage Argentina has over new world rivals like Chile and South Africa is a high proportion of old vine plantings.
The second most important red grape in the country is Bonarda. We now know that Bonarda is genetically the same as an obscure Savoie variety called Douce Noire (and no relation at all to Bonarda Piemontese). Just as with Malbec, this grape has proved far more successful in Argentina than in its much cooler home. From old vines in can make a bittersweet, black-fruited, rather Italianate wine.
Argentina is a hot and dry country. As a result altitude is very important in preserving finesse in their wines: most vineyards around Mendoza, the premier wine region, for example are at 800-1300 metres. New volume plantings - of both Malbec and Syrah / Shiraz - on lower sites often do not give great results.

Buy 12
Save £11.94
Fruity, ripe and well-made Malbec from highish altitude vineyards in Mendoza. Now - early...
OriginArgentina
RegionMendoza
ColourRed
ABV13.5%
Bottle75cl
CodeCHK119
GrapeMalbec

Buy 12
Save £14.34
Carinae, Malbec, Odile, Mendoza, 2019
Medium-bodied
This may be Carinae's first wine, but it's no entry level product. It's a youthful...
OriginArgentina
RegionMendoza
ColourRed
ABV14%
Bottle75cl
CodeCAE119
GrapeMalbec

Buy 12
Save £16.74
Carinae, Malbec, Harmonie, Mendoza, 2017
Medium, Full Bodied
Deep and inky. Intense aromas of black cherries with coffee, vanilla and toast nuances. With...
OriginArgentina
RegionMendoza
ColourRed
ABV14.5%
Bottle75cl
CodeCAE217
GrapeMalbec

Buy 12
Save £15.54
Carinae, Cuvée Philippe, Mendoza, 2018
Full Bodied
A sumptuous, lightly oaked blend of 37% Malbec and Syrah and 26% Cabernet Sauvignon. Each...
OriginArgentina
RegionMendoza
ColourRed
ABV14%
Bottle75cl
CodeCAE918
GrapeMalbec, Syrah & Cabernet Sauvignon

Buy 12
Save £16.20
Carinae, Tannat, Harmonie, Mendoza, 2020
Medium, Full Bodied
A new wine for us, from vines at 1100m. of altitude in the Uco Valley, given a few months in a...
OriginArgentina
RegionMendoza
ColourRed
ABV14.3%
Bottle75cl
CodeCAE320
GrapeTannat

Buy 12
Save £20.34
Vicien, Plenilunio Malbec, 2016
Full Bodied
Deep and opaque. Quite a toasty, oaky aroma; then lushly fruited, raspberry and blueberry -...
OriginArgentina
RegionCatamarca
ColourRed
ABV14.5%
Bottle75cl
CodeVIB616
GrapeMalbec

Buy 12
Save £27.00
Carinae, Malbec, Hommage, Mendoza, 2014
Full Bodied
Amazing old-vine Malbec from 95 year old vines in a high altitude vineyard at Calle Cobos,...
OriginArgentina
RegionMendoza
ColourRed
ABV15%
Bottle75cl
CodeCAE414
GrapeMalbec

Buy 12
Save £30.00
Carinae, Prestige, Mendoza, 2014
Full Bodied
About 60% Malbec, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Syrah, a selection of the best grapes of the...
OriginArgentina
RegionMendoza
ColourRed
ABV15%
Bottle75cl
CodeCAE514
GrapeMalbec, Cabernet Sauvignon & Syrah

Buy 12
Save £9.54
Finca Vista Malbec, Mendoza, 2019
Medium Bodied
Mendoza Malbec at a very fair price; uncomplicated and fruity with sweet oak notes. Now-2022
OriginArgentina
RegionMendoza
ColourRed
ABV13.5%
Bottle75cl
CodeFIN119
GrapeMalbec