Highly Recommended

(continued) 90–94pts

Zuccardi, Apelación Malbec, Vista Flores 2014 91 PC 90 PT 93 DVJ 90 £12 Waitrose Online A little tight and restrained on the nose but there is luscious fruit in the mouth set alight by lifted exotic spice. Well-integrated acidity underpins the fruit purity and persistent finish.

Drink 2016-2021 Alc 14% Bodega Estancia, Los Helechos, Gualtallary, El Peral/La Consulta 2013 90 PC 91 PT 91 DVJ 88 N/A UK

www.estanciamendoza.com.ar Serious stuff! This is perfumed and vivacious with notes of blackberries, black olives and dark chocolate. It is a little warm, but there are complex spices and an interesting floral character. A good expression of terroir.

Drink 2016-2019 Alc 14.5% Bodega Santa Julia, Reserva Malbec 2015 90 PC 89 PT 91 DVJ 89 £10

Sainsbury’s, Watermill Wines A little Beaujolais-like in style, this is fragrant, vibrant and easy to drink. A little unusual, rustic and a touch stalky, but it is filled with fresh fruits and a friendly texture that welcomes you right from the first sip. A vin de soif style, ready now. Drink 2016-2018 Alc 13% Cuvelier Los Andes, Malbec, Vista Flores 2014 90 PC 91 PT 90 DVJ 88 £17.85 Amathus Vista Flores in a sweet vein, this is soft, round and gentle. Restrained but traditional, the flavours of clove, sweet raspberry and dark cherry feel young and intense. Will blossom with decanting. Drink 2016-2020 Alc 15% Zuccardi, Polígonos, Los Arboles 2014 91 PC 89 PT 93 DVJ 90 POA

Alliance A touch reduced and muted at first, so could do with decanting, but it then shows beautiful purity of ripe, juicy fruit. Los Arboles is close to Gualtallary and shares the violets, spices and mineral character. Drink 2016-2020 Alc 14.5% Bodega Los Haroldos, Roble Malbec, La Consulta 2014 90 PC 92 PT 89 DVJ 90 £11.99 Connolly’s Wine Merchants, Cork & Cask, Harrods, Momentum Wines, Elegant Wines, The Solent Cellar An elegant example with exuberant morello cherries and wild herbs. A bit too sweet and floral but the fruit is juicy and the structure tight enough to balance, leading to a pleasant, long finish. Drink 2016-2022 Alc 13.5% Bodega Toneles, Tonel 137, Los Chacayes 2012 90 PC 92 PT 91 DVJ 88 £22.90

Copestick Murray Lovely minty, lifted fruit, with flecks of eucalyptus and raspberry. It would be easy to call this overripe, with its deep, dense liquorice and dark fruit character; but in fact the crisp acidity guides it through and leaves a refreshing finish. Drink 2016-2020 Alc 14.5% Finca Buenaventura, Aureo Ruta90, Los Arboles 2013 90 PC 89 PT 91 DVJ 89 N/A UK www.fincabuenaventura.com All flowers and fruits on the nose, with a spicy meatiness on the palate. A monster of a wine that is a big, bold, textbook version of Malbec. Balanced and refreshing, yet you can feel the power behind this. Drink 2016-2017 Alc 15% Ambrosia, Precioso, Gualtallary 2013 90 PC 89 PT 90 DVJ 92 £23.50

Berry Brothers & Rudd A forward and expressive Malbec, where oak plays a major role, giving rich vanilla aromas and flavours on top of ripe dark cherry and raspberry liqueur notes. Despite the dominant oak, there’s a lovely purity of fruit and a pleasing finish. Drink 2016-2021 Alc 15% Bodega Piedra Negra, Gran Malbec, Los Chacayes/Agrelo/ La Consulta 2013 90 PC 91 PT 90 DVJ 88 £13.99 Roberson Opulent and intense, this Malbec is quite complex on the nose. It is perhaps a little dominated by oak, but the fruit is ripe enough to take it. A style of wine you could lay down for five years. Drink 2016-2021 Alc 15% Catena Zapata, Appellation Malbec, Altamira 2014 90 PC 89 PT 93 DVJ 89 POA Bibendum PLB Here is someone making something really different and interesting from Altamira. It is a fresher, more vibrant, intense style but at the same time light and airy. Approachable with leather and dark fruits, giving way to savoury complexity. Drink 2016-2020 Alc 13.5% Finca el Origen, Gran Reserva Malbec, Vista Flores 2014 90 PC 92 PT 89 DVJ 88 N/A UK www.fincaelorigen.com.ar Roses and violets in a generous, fleshy style with sweet red fruit and spice flavours. Gentle in texture but a little rustic with an angular finish. In any case, a very good expression of Vista Flores. Drink 2016-2017 Alc 15% ➢