ON THE GRAPEVINE

BY SAM WYLIE HARRIS

With #BreakTheBias the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day (March 8), we’re raising a glass to women at the top of the wine game.

Faldeos Nevados Malbec 2020, Mendoza, Argentina £9.50, The Wine Society

There’s lots to love about this entry level malbec from worldclass winemaker Susana Balbo – she’s a three-times president of Wines of Argentina and cited as the queen of malbec.

Made specifically for The Wine Society, it’s gloriously rich and ripe and immediately engaging with a perfumed bouquet of violets and black cherries. Velvety smooth with a luxurious, long finish.

La Chiamata 2020, Trebbiano D’Abruzzo, Italy £10.99, Laithwaites

A tip-top trebbiano, winemaker Ludovica Crugnale packs a lot of fruity freshness into this medalwinning white which won silver at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2021, as well as the International Wine and Spirit Competition 2021.

Utterly delicious with a sunny citrus, pear and stone fruit character, as well as a beautiful fresh acidity backing the pristine fruit.

M&S Notte Rossa Primitivo Di Manduria 2020, Italy

£11, Marks & Spencer, in-store

In a word: Delicious. Caterina Bellanova’s brilliant primitivo proves how rich and generous these reds can be, and just as impressive as some of the flagship wines coming out of Cantine San Marzano (the producer behind the label).

It spends six months in French and American oak and the dark cherry, plum, chocolate and lick of vanilla meld seamlessly together. Silky smooth, sun-kissed and plush.

Leyda Reserva Pinot Noir 2020, Valle De Leyda, Chile £12, Tesco

The ideal weeknight wine from an A-list producer, wine critic James Suckling awarded 91 points to Viviana Navarrete, chief winemaker at Chile’s Vina Leyda, for this expressive pinot noir.

Known for her coolclimate, fragrant pinot noir, the elegant palate opens to strawberry and cherry flavours with herbal and soft mineral notes on the lingering finish.