Stick to it

When I retire I want to write fridge magnets for women of a certain age. Fridge magnets that say things like “Oh look, it’s wine 30 …”

ALMA NEGRA GRAN ALMANEGRA MENDOZA MALBEC 2010 $83

Impenetrably inky and dense to look at, this wine is mysterious and meaty, yet beautifully elegant and feathery. Layered with leather and tobacco-laden spices, this is Argentinean malbec supersized. Think pepper and cocoa and a warming, textural mouthfeel unveiling hints of soy and graphite alongside its gripping tannins. This wine will comfort you and cuddle your tonsils on the way down but prepare for an explosion of belly-warmth as it hits your gizzard. Velvet fist in iron glove malbec from one of Argentina’s aristocratic producers and glorious to drink. Sip with: oxtail casserole. accentonwine.co.nz

DRY RIVER LOVAT VINEYARD MARTINBOROUGH GEWURZTRAMINER 2017 $50

A generously sexy 20g of residual sugar projects serious lusciousness and swoon-inducing power over all who sip this. Notes of turkish delight and peach abound alongside cleansing acidity and indulgent baked apple flavours. So balanced it’s like Gabby Douglas doing a beam routine on your tongue. Beautifully spicy, the musky, peachy tones on the palate are an absolute joy. Want to know what NZ’s greatest gewurztraminer tastes like? This is it. Sip with: fig, blue cheese and bacon salad. dryriver.co.nz

OLD HANDS JOVEN YECLA MONASTRELL 2016 $19

“Joven” means “young” in Spanish and this organic monastrell from the team at Bodegas La Purisima is about as perky as a poodle puppy with pepper on its paws. Monastrell is sometimes known as mourvedre or mataro and its inky-dark colour and intense spiciness make it a favourite style of mine. The Old Hands also has an earthy base and tannins that tear across your tongue, leaving a comet tail of furry, frisky textures. Sip with: sizzling pepper and mustard lamb chops. stvincentscave.com