91

2018 Riccitelli Wines Hey! Malbec, Mendoza

( £10.99, 14%, Majestic )

Unwooded for the first time in 2018, but as full of bounce and blackberry fruit as ever, Hey! combines grapes from Luján and the Uco Valley in a juicy, supple bundle of fun. Sweet and appealing, this is Malbec at its immediate best: the kind of thing that makes you want to pour a glass into a tumbler and put on some of your favourite music with the sound ramped up to 11.

BuyDrinking window: 2020-24Similar Wines: £10-15, 90-94, Argentina, Red, Malbec
91

2017 Riccittelli Wines Hey! Malbec, Mendoza

( £12.99, 14%, Majestic )

Hey! is a wine that grabs your attention with its super hero label as it caresses your palate with the supple tannins of a delicious Argentinean Malbec. Made with old vine fruit from Mendoza’s Luján de Cuyo sub-region, it’s a plush, perfumed juicy red with violet perfume, a kiss of oak and lashings of bramble and blackberry fruit. Wonderfully gluggable.

BuyDrinking window: 2019-2022Similar Wines: Argentina, Red, Malbec

Bad times in Buenos Aires

by Tim Atkin
Every year at the end of my three-week tour of Argentina, I sit down with Dr Nicolas Catena of Bodega Catena Zapata for breakfast. He, inevitably, wants to talk about...

Floral testimony

by Matt Walls
In the car park on my street there is a rose bush. Every so often when walking past I pause to cup one of the red flowers in my hand,...
93

2014 Zorzal, Eggo Malbec, Tupungato, Mendoza

( £15.95, 13.5%, Corkingwines.co.uk, Slurp )

Fermented and aged in concrete eggs, as its name suggests, this is a wonderful blend of Malbec with a little Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon from the Michelini brothers. Typically light and refreshing, with sappy, tangy, black cherry flavours, bright acidity and no wood at all. Modern Argentina at its refreshing, spicy best.

BuyDrinking window: 2017-21Similar Wines: £10-£20, 91-95, Argentina, Red, Malbec

On top of the wine world

by Tim Atkin
In his wonderful book “BAD: Or, the Dumbing of America”, the late Paul Fussell developed a theory about altitude: the higher the restaurant, the worse the food. It makes a...
89

2012 Bodegas Tonel Malbec, Mendoza

( £5.99, 14, Lidl )

Hard to beat for its sheer exuberance and gluggability, this is a brilliantly priced Argentinean Malbec with classic violet perfume, a touch of smoky oak and oodles of plum, blackberry and liquorice fruit. Made for a juicy steak, but this is smooth enough to work with spring lamb, too.

BuyDrinking window: 2016-18Similar Wines: £5-£10, 86-90, Argentina, Red, Malbec
88

2014 Santa Ana Malbec, Mendoza

( £5.99, 12.5%, Majestic )

Aromatic, attractive and showing all the exuberance and fruit sweetness of Mendoza Malbec at its most appealing, this is all about fruit rather than power, alcohol and oak. There’s enough tannin and structure here to partner a Christmas roast or a thick steak.

BuyDrinking window: 2014-16Similar Wines: £5-£10, 86-90, Argentina, Red, Malbec
90

NV Chandon, Rosé

( £15.99, 12.5%, Majestic )

An unusual but (for Argentina) rather appropriate blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Malbec, this bronze-tinged rosé is savoury and flavoursome with notes of summer fruits, toast and leesy richness. A very drinkable bottle of bubbles at the price. 

Drinking window: 2014-16Similar Wines: £10-£20, 86-90, Argentina, Sparkling, Malbec, Chardonnay