On the vine, our perfectly round, plump, and violet-purple Malbec looks like blueberries. Crush, ferment, and pour into a glass… it smells like blueberries. If it looks like a blueberry, smells like a blueberry, and tastes like a blueberry pie then Violet Beauregard it must be. Best consumed without Veruca Salt or Augustus Gloop… Don’t say we didn’t warn you… every glass will jump out at you with the smells and tastes of fresh maceratedBlueberries, raspberries,Mulberry, andVioletswith a hint of muddled mint; Yum!

Sun, clear air, cool elevated vineyards and great winemaking skills give Argentina all the ingredients for world class wines. Joanna Simon says: "As a wine country, Argentina has everything going for it" (The Sunday Times). The Waxed Bat is a triumphant creation from our good friend Opi Sadler, winner of two international Trophies to date, and winemaker at Andean Vineyards. The wine's name was inspired by memories of his grandfather's cellar - wine bottles sealed with heavy red wax and an occasional bat fluttering in the lamp light. Spicy, liquorice scented Shiraz, cassis laden Cabernet and dense Malbec create power and complexity. Smooth enough to drink on its own and terrific with spare ribs, steak or kebabs. Decant an hour in advance.

Malbec fruit has produced a wine with beutiful purple to blue hues, a rose petal bouquet, red berry and cherry palate and firm tannin structure.

Built in 1898, Terrazas's winery was built by Sotero Arizu, one of the pioneers in the creation of the wine production market in Argentina. The oldest vineyard Las Compuertas was planted in 1929, designed to produce the ultimate expression of Malbec. Today, Argentina dominates the world in Malbec production and has helped popularize the grape around the world. Surrounded by the high peaks of the Andes, Terrazas's vineyard is located in the heart of Mendoza's Lujan de Cuyo and Uco Valley. With the extremely high altitude, low rainfall and rocky soil, wines made in the region are pushed hard for hydration and nutrients. The results of successful wine in this region develop intensely vivid flavours. The climate also assists in lowering acidity, which assists in the winemakers in producing the purest expression of each wine.

Don’t know Torrontés? This really is a white to try. Founded in 1963, Zuccardi is the most highly awarded winery in Argentina. It was originally set up to illustrate a new method of irrigation that founder Alberto Zuccardi had invented. Today it is run by the second and third generations – José Alberto Zuccardi, given a Lifetime Achievement Award for his pioneering work, as well as the the ‘Legend Winemaker’ prize from Tim Atkin MW, while his son Sebastián, was named Decanter’s Top Winemaker of South America. “Zuccardi keeps going from strength to strength with their top-level wines” wrote Wine Advocate, while Tim Atkin MW declared, “The quality of the wines ... has never been better … great wines, not just of south America, but the world”. Finca Beltran Torrontés is crisp, aromatic, fresh, with citrus & minerality.

Sevenhill was originally set up in 1851 when the Jesuits who settled in the area planted the Clare Valley’s first vines to produce sacramental wine. The estate’s wines, along with its old stone winery, stately St Aloysius’ Church, College building and spacious gardens has made the Sevenhill name famous. So much so that they have recently won the Gourmet Traveller Award for best Large Cellar Door in the Clare Valley! Ray Jordan gives their 2021 Malbec a solid 92pts, "Malbec is a variety that does rather well in Clare, especially as a major blending component with cabernet. Still this one does it solo, and it does it well. Lots of the distinctive red floral fruits on the nose have that stamp of malbec. Bright and alive on a high energy palate with plenty of ripe red fruit characters with chalky tannins and understated oak in support."

"Big and gold, lots of chocolaty plum fruit, cassis, tobacco, liquorice. An extremely polished effort" (Decanter World Wine Awards). The legendary Opi Sadler has triumphed again! His Waxed Bat Reserve edition had taken Gold and Platinum medals, then Best in Show Trophy at the highly prestigious Decanter World Wine Awards. That was beating 17,000 other wines from around the world. Perhaps it should be of no surprise when we know it has so much intense ripe black fruit and creamy oak. It clearly shows that Malbec and Cabernet from Argentina's high altitude Mendoza region is a match made in heaven. Even better when the wines are aged in barrel, too. It's a sumptuous mouthfilling red, smooth enough to drink solo but at its very best with garlic studded roast lamb, a juicy steak or a warming casserole. Decant early if you can.