A World of Malbec

In celebration of Malbec World Day here’s a selection from the widening world of Malbec, with wines from France, Argentina and Chile... and, what's more, you can buy the wines below as part of a specially selected six-pack for £59, including delivery - today only!

Malbec IGP Pays d'Oc, Leduc 2014

Languedoc is fast becoming the go-to place for brilliant value wines, especially white varieties like Picpoul and Chardonnay – the ideal soul mates with local seafood. But back in Blighty, eating al fresco is not always guaranteed, except for the obligatory wind-bashed barbecue. Step forward France’s best kept secret, Malbec; barbecue’s best friend. This rich, fruity style has heaps of cassis and dark plum, with a hint of spice on the finish - the perfect wine to accompany the smoky wafts of smouldering wood and memories of long summer days in Montpellier and Beziers.

Chateau Bovila Malbec, Cahors 2012

Stepping up a gear we have Bovila’s Malbec from the grape’s homeland in Cahors, an area just below France’s famous Bordeaux region. In the old days you’d find a splash or two of Cahors Malbec propping up the lighter styles of Bordeaux, but nowadays Cahor’s deep, tannic wines have been mellowed, with more attention to using good quality oak and picking deliciously scented fruit. The rustic styles still exist, but winemakers like Bovila use altitude much like their Argentinian cousins, producing cool climate, minerally Malbec with hints if candied peel, redcurrant and Assam tea. Steak anyone?

Arido Malbec 2013

Our first Argentine Malbec is made by our good friends at Tomero, a company located in the Maipu area of Mendoza. This region is renowned for its juicy, fresh Malbec; the climate and soils supplying the perfect conditions for world class wine. This is an unoaked Malbec, made in a style designed to showcase ripe fruit flavours over spice and vanilla. It is a bright, fragrant wine with hints of blackberry, cassis and espresso on a smooth, plump palate. An excellent introduction to Argentina, and just perfect with lamb chops or rare breed butcher’s sausages –barbecued of course!

Tomero Malbec Valle de Uco Mendoza 2013

Tomero is named in honour of the hard working men who sustain the water supplies that feed the grapevines of Mendoza. Tomero’s vineyards are set in the picturesque Uco valley at an altitude of 1300m. The higher the grapes are grown, the thicker the skins become; providing essential UV protection. Those thicker skins mean intense colour and flavour, as well as more structure from the grape tannins. This Malbec has flavours of plum and blackberry, intermingled with hints of spice and vanilla -  a voluptuous accompaniment to charred meats and unctuous sticky stews.

Vistalba Corte C Mendoza 2013

A firm favourite at GWW HQ, Vistalba’s Cote C is a blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and local grape Bonarda. This is another wine hailing from the famous region of Mendoza, this time from a district called Luján de Cuyo. The grapes are hand harvested from old vines dating back as far as 1948, then treated to around a year in oak barrels. It’s a superbly balanced blend, full of rich black cherry fruit alongside complex nuances of spice (black pepper, aniseed) and herbs (dill, mint). There’s no need to remind you how good it is with a rare ribeye or sirloin is there?

Viña Falernia, Malbec Reserva, Elqui Valley

Chile is also a brilliant source of fine Malbec, especially when made by a winemaker like Giorgio Flessati in an area like Elqui Valley. Giorgio was making wine in the cool climate Trentino hills of Italy before he and cousin Aldo discovered the potential of this region in the north of the Chile. Falernia is now the country’s northernmost winery, using altitude and proximity to the sea as a way of producing fresh, vibrant, modern Malbec. Another BBQ-friendly red, packed full of kirsch, violet and dark chocolate flavours with a hint of dried herbs and vanilla oak.

 By Chris Penwarden