Another Malbec cracker from the Catena stables.

The Alamos Malbec has a dark purple colour with violet highlights. The nose offers bright black berry aromas with light floral notes and a touch of toast. The mouth-feel is full and rich, with ripe, concentrated cassis and black raspberry fruit interwoven with a touch of chocolate and sweet spice from light oak aging. The finish shows ripe, silky tannins."

Argentina does Malbec better than anyone on a mass scale, much of it due to the plentiful vineyards planted at altitude in the foothills of the Andes Mountains where sunshine enhances ripening and cool night temperatures elongate the ripening season to accentuate much needed acidity in this grape. These factors combine to provide growing conditions that are unmatched anywhere else in the world that Malbec is planted on a large scale. Wines like this one are testament to the dense fruit character, spicy notes and complexity of good Malbec, often at a relatively modest price.

We love this wine and it also carries organic certification, another thing the dry climate in Argentina allows for with relative ease, but that's another story. 

If you love big reds, try this one out for size. 

Belasco de Baquedano is a leading winery located in the Mendoza region of Argentina. The winery is lucky enough to have very old vines of original Malbec vines first planted in 1910 - these old vines are the secret to Belasco De Baquedano's success. The old vines consistently produce wines that are full-bodied, juicy and complex with layers of flavour development.

100% Malbec from vines that are over 100 years old.  6 months in oak barrels.

This blend boasts an elegant aromas and flavors of plums, cherry, and violet flowers. It is ripe with strawberries and dark fruit. This full-bodied red finishes with well integrated tannins and moderate oak.

This blend can pair with a handful of dishes but a few we highly recommend trying are: baked ham with a honey, Dijon and thyme glaze or an old fashioned meat loaf.

Belasco de Baquedano is a leading winery located in the Mendoza region of Argentina. The winery is lucky enough to have very old vines of original Malbec vines first planted in 1910 - these old vines are the secret to Belasco De Baquedano's success. The old vines consistently produce wines that are full-bodied, juicy and complex with layers of flavour development.

Here we find Torrentes, Argentina's flagship white grape, made in  a juicy fruit forward style.

This cuvee takes its name from a small parcel of the Adrianna Vineyard that is completely covered with oval white stones and was the site of an ancient riverbed. The abundant stones provide optimal drainage and extreme temperatures. They absorb heat and moderate the nights, but also function like ice cubes after a very cold night. Stony soil Malbecs tend to be extremely aromatic, rich and luxurious, just like the River Malbec from Adrianna. This wine can be enjoyed young or aged for decades.

"Once upon a time, a bee (or two) went from the flowers of a Cabernet Franc vine to the flowers of a Sauvignon Blanc vine, and a seedling child began to ripen inside the mother grapes. Then came war, and the vineyard was abandoned. Years later, the vintner returned to his land and found a new vine. He tasted the grapes and fell in love. It was Cabernet Sauvignon. Our allegory of the vines as animals gives a whimsical rendering of the story. The fox - Cabernet Franc - has attributes of Cardinal Richelieu, the first famous lover of the said grape. The siren - part woman, part bird - represents Sauvignon Blanc in all her savage glory. On the right, their
child - Cabernet Sauvignon- is depicted as a world traveller, adventuring from the French Pyrenees to the Catena Zapata pyramid, at the foothills of the Andes, in Argentina."

James Suckling 96 points

This outstanding Malbec is made from grapes grown high altitude vineyards in Mendoza, which were fermented with wild yeasts for 12 days with post ferment maceration for 19-22 days followed by 12 months aging in barrel, including first, second and third use barrels. It tastes smooth, dark, full bodied, fleshy, succulent and complex… An incredible red wine.

Argentina’s signature grape, Malbec, was introduced to the country’s biggest wine region, Mendoza, by Frenchman Michel Pouget in the mid 1850s, but it has since been discovered that not all Malbec vines brought into the country were exactly the same. And the family that has done more to advance the understanding, high quality expression and understanding of Argentinian Malbec is the Catena family, whose Zapata Malbec is one of our favourite wines in store; big, bold and full bodied but with elegance to burn, thanks to its silkiness. 

The Catena family has arguably done more for the quality and reputation of both Malbec and the Argentinian wine industry than any other company, advancing the understanding of growing grapes at altitude, high up in the foothills of the Andes where hot days, high sunshine hours and cool nights ripen the grapes and retain elegance.

The Payada is a competitive composing and singing of verses native to Argentina, usually accompanied by guitar. The performer is called a Payador and in performances two or more payadores will compete to produce the most eloquent verse, each answering questions posed by the other, often insulting. 

El Payador is a contemporary and fruit driven Argentinian Malbec created in partnership with third generation Mendoza wine-maker Jorge Daniel Falasco. The wine is sourced from a single high altitude vineyard at over twelve hundred metres above sea level and primarily matured in season French oak.

Chillable red from one of Argentina's most famous wine families.

Violet tones, Intense aroma of fresh red fruits, such as raspberry, cherry, and strawberry.
Freshness with a smooth finish. Fruity flavors and a silky texture.
Elegant on the palate.
Variety: 100% Criolla.

Dark, dry and full bodied Argentinian Malbec made from a blend of grapes from two great Malbec vineyard areas, Agrelo and Lulunta. This accessibly priced, drink-me-now red has no oak maturation, which accentuates the bold fruity flavours of this wine. 

Agrelo is situated 35 km south of Mendoza city and considered to be a great area for intensely flavoured Malbec grapes. Lulunta is another well regarded sub region of Mendoza area.

South America is known for many things, including dark and spicy Argentinian Malbecs, such as this one by winemaker Ernesto Catena. He is the man responsible for this tasty  Malbec from Mendoza; the heart of the country's wine industry and a region equally renowned for its spectacular beauty at the foot of the Andes Mountains.

The fruit for this succulent Malbec is 50% from the Uco Valley, with a majority of calcareous soils and 50% from Luján de Cuyo with loam clay soils. The vineyards are located between 950 and 1.400 metres above sea level. In our vineyards, we do not use any herbicide or systemic product, managing it in an agro-ecological way.

The wine is vinified with 20% whole clusters grapes, and the rest is destemmed. Fermentation is in small concrete vats with indigenous yeasts and at temperatures between 24º and 26ºC. Maturation continues in small concrete vats until next harvest.

This is a succulent juicy expression of Malbec (as it should be) with red fruits combining with floral aromas and black pepper. Ripe tannins lead to a soft and opulent finish.

Structure and purity of blackberries, ripe currants and concentrated ripe fruit all intermingle in this beautiful Argentinian red wine. Full bodied and intense with the balance of fresh acidity and ripeness all add up to a great red wine with presence. Drink now or keep for another 9 to 10 years. This wine will last the distance. 

Argentinian Malbec is one of the best winter wines around with its dark smooth full body, richness of black plum flavours and spicy notes adding delicious complexity to every sip. This one is certified organic and offers a lively, lovely complex expression of the great Malbec grape.