The estate El Enemino [‘The Enemy’] is based in the high-altitude wine region of Valle de Uco, Mendoza with rocky, sandy, free-draining soils, not very easy to work. T. is produced from grapes in Uco Valley, a famed region within Mendoza, with Mendoza being the most renowned Malbec territory in Argentina. This wine is packed with crunchy blackcurrant, red plum and red cherry fruit and cigar box overtones. The majority of the wine spends 12 months ageing in a mix of French and American oak, with about a third maturing in stainless steel.

El Esteco Don David Reserve Malbec 2021 - Noble Green

I always like to try and mix things up a little, which is why I’m showcasing a wine that has fewer than 10 bottles left to purchase. It is full bodied while having fresh tartness and lovely flavours of dark fruit and plums, cedar, cinnamon, and a sharp espresso finish. Intense redcurrant, Victoria plum, and tobacco aromatics lead to a rich, yet mid-weight and balanced palate of defined flavours supported by racy acidity and linen-textured tannins. The Michel Torino range of wines from Bodega El Esteco, come from the high altitude vineyards of the Calchaqui Valley, located in northwest province of Salta. At that time it was known as La Rosa Winery, but following its acquisition by Grupo Peñaflor, one of Argentina's largest wine producers, in recent years they've been known as Bodega El Esteco.France may be the birthplace for this grape but over in the southern hemisphere, Argentina is producing some stunning malbec wines. It’s oozing with delicate oak and the tannin structure is just sublime, rolling long into the finish. Bright acidity and silky tannin give a nicely balanced wine in a restrained style with integrated fruit, wood and structure and good length.

Malbec Don David Reserve 2019 | Frederick Wildman

These elevations ensure a diverse variety of microclimates that, in addition to the different soil types, imbue unique expressions in the wines. For that reason and given the high elevation (670 to 960 metres above sea level), we’re talking super-low yields and super-high quality. Part of the Georges Vigouroux stable of Malbecs from Cahors, the Geron Dadine de Haute-Serre is a wonderful taste of this grape from its native home in France. Large diurnal swings in temperature contribute zippy acidity and textured tannins to give structure, and an herbal lift adds interest to the sappy finish. For most young malbecs I’d advise letting them sit in a decanter for about 30 minutes to an hour before drinking to allow them to open up.Note: pair this beauty with a smoked ham hock dish for one of the best food-and-wine duets I’ve ever experienced. There’s a great spice and slight smokiness that hit the senses just before the tannins roll in on the finish. Join 323,746 thirsty wine lovers who get access to all of her wine reviews by becoming a member of her site. The winery was a pioneer when it began in Uco Valley (1996), planting 800 hectares of vineyards on four estates – El Tomillo, El Oasis, La Pampa and San Pablo – at elevations between 1,050m and 1,700m altitude. Dark chocolate and black fleshy plums on the nose and palate of this full-bodied Argentine red wine made from the country's classic Malbec grape.