The new Malbec — from Uruguay

ARGENTINIAN Malbec is, for many of us, our default red wine — fruity and smooth, it works well with and without food.

Now M&S has discovered ‘the next Malbec’ — Tannat, a stone’s throw from Argentina in Uruguay. Tannat is a red wine grape, originally grown in south-west France, but now the national grape of Uruguay.

M&S winemaker Jeneve Williams says: ‘Tannat produces rich, warming blackberry and raspberry-scented wines, similar to Malbec, so we’re sure it’s going to be a hit.

‘Uruguay’s vineyards are at the same latitude as the prominent wine-producing regions of Chile, Argentina and Australia, and its wine has come on in leaps and bounds. We tasted our way across the country looking to find great-quality examples that reflected this improvement, and fell in love with a version made at the Pisano family estate 15 miles from the Atlantic.’

Pisano Estate was established by Ligurian immigrant Cesare Pisano in 1914 and is now run by his sons and grandsons, who have continued his boutique approach.

M&S tried selling the Uruguayan Tannat in 1997, but withdrew it after deciding customers were not open to such an exotic listing. Now, the store says shoppers are increasingly open to trying different varieties. Also introduced is a Uruguayan white, Juanico Sauvignon Viognier 2014, which is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, and a hint of Sauvignon Gris made by the Deicas familyowned Juanico winery in Eastern Uruguay.

Emma Dawson, M&S wine buyer, says: ‘Our customers have become more adventurous over the years, and we’re confident that they will look beyond Argentina to discover these two new wines, which are fun and unusual.’

The Pisano Cisplatino Tannat 2014 (left) is on offer at M&S, down from £9 to £7 until June 28, while the white Juanico Sauvignon Viognier 2014 is down from £7.50 to £5.50.