Malbec Mixed Half Dozen

Vintage: 2013

Deeply figgy, intense Argentinean red with blackcurrants, redcurrants and bramble-fruit ending with violets and a twist of black pepper. This is a dark-fruited, smooth, delicious wine, which manages to be complex and lively at the same time.

About this bottle: This highly praised Malbec was made by Argentinean winemaker Gonzalo Bertelsen. Gonzalo has tried and tested the world’s most prestigious wine regions (Bordeaux, Napa, McLaren Vale among them), and now, could not be happier making wine in his home country where he can display the wine knowledge he has earned. From the high, cool vineyards of Mendoza’s Uco Valley, this Malbec benefits from ageing in a combination of French and American oak barrels for six months.

Vintage: 2013

Robust Malbec with pronounced black plum and parma violet notes on the nose, then juicy dark fruit and herbs coming through on the palate. This is rich, dark, ripe red wine – sumptuous and palate-pleasing to the finish.

About this bottle: Sol de Mayo or ‘Sun of May’ is a representation of the Inca sun god – one of the national emblems of Argentina. This red is full of sunshine too: the region of San Juan was discovered by Jesuit missionaries who sought out these vineyards not only for their sunny warmth (with more than 300 days of sunshine a year) but for the high (680m) altitude which afforded the vines some coolness too. Winemaker Fabian Miranda today lets his Malbec fruit show this sunshine itself, with no oak needed for embellishment.

Vintage: 2012

Wonderfully textured red, brimming with blackberry and pepper aromas and layers of coffee and sweet red pepper flavours on the palate. Lush, ripe and generous right to the finish.

About this bottle: These Malbec grapes have been sourced from the prized Tupungato and Barrancas regions of Mendoza in Arentina, areas famed for their high Andean elevations (as high as 4,000 feet above sea level) and the fine pure flavours of their wines. Winemaker German Berra is Mendozan born and bred, and has worked with Malbec grapes all his life. He gets the best from these by maturing their wine for six months in French and American oak barrels.