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.

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From vines averaging 25 year old vines in Maipú. Red and black-berried fruit, peck of spice,...
OriginArgentina
RegionMendoza
ColourRed
ABV14%
Bottle75cl
CodeDEN121
GrapeMalbec

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Carinae, Malbec, Odile, Mendoza, 2020
Medium-bodied
Under a new, somewhat revolutionary label. From 90 year old vines at Cruz de Piedra, Maipú,...
OriginArgentina
RegionMendoza
ColourRed
ABV14%
Bottle75cl
CodeCAE120
GrapeMalbec

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Carinae, Tannat, Harmonie, Mendoza, 2020
Medium, Full Bodied
From vines at 1100m. of altitude in the Uco Valley, given a few months in a mix of French and...
OriginArgentina
RegionMendoza
ColourRed
ABV14.3%
Bottle75cl
CodeCAE320
GrapeTannat

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Carinae, Malbec, Harmonie, Mendoza, 2018
Medium, Full Bodied
From the ancient vines around the Carinae cellar winery in Maipú, given a year in French oak....
OriginArgentina
RegionMendoza
ColourRed
ABV14%
Bottle75cl
CodeCAE218
GrapeMalbec

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Carinae, Malbec, Hommage, Mendoza, 2014
Full Bodied
Amazing old-vine Malbec from 93 year old vines in a high altitude vineyard at Calle Cobos,...
OriginArgentina
RegionMendoza
ColourRed
ABV15%
Bottle75cl
CodeCAE414
GrapeMalbec

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Carinae, Kanobos, Mendoza, 2014
Full Bodied
New name and snazzy new label, was known as Prestige. About 60% Malbec, 30% Cabernet...
OriginArgentina
RegionMendoza
ColourRed
ABV15%
Bottle75cl
CodeCAE514
GrapeMalbec, Cabernet Sauvignon & Syrah

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Finca Vista Malbec, Mendoza, 2021
Medium Bodied
Mendoza Malbec at a very fair price; uncomplicated and fruity with sweet oak notes. Now-2024
OriginArgentina
RegionMendoza
ColourRed
ABV13.5%
Bottle75cl
CodeFIN121
GrapeMalbec