This is a delightful, fruity rosé made especially for us by Rodolfo (nicknamed Opi) Sadler, chief winemaker at Andean Vineyards. Not only is Opi rated among the Top Ten winemakers in the country, but he also scooped ‘Best Malbec of Argentina’ in 2008 – no small feat as this is the country’s flagship red grape. His regular Malbec has long been a customer favourite, so we asked him to make a deliciously refreshing pink version.

He selected grapes from vineyards high up in Mendoza. They have piercing freshness, and abundant fruit and aroma – perfect for vibrant pinks. Irresistible as a glass solo, Opi Malbec Rosé is surprisingly versatile with food. Try with pea and pancetta risotto, chicken, poached salmon or lightly spiced Asian dishes.

Hasn't Malbec come a long way! It used to produce the tough, tannic reds of SW France, then Argentina got a hold of it and made it a worldwide star. Not to be out done, France is revisiting this grape and, with refined techniques and careful handling, showing just how appealing its wines can be. Hervé discovered a plot of 30-year-old vines in the Languedoc's Vallée de l'Orb, on soils covered with big boulder-like stones that promote grapes with lovely intensity and ripeness.
Impressed, he bagged the lot. Hand harvesting, gentle handling, and just a short time on its skins, have resulted in a silky, ripe, supple wine, with ample fruit tinged with herbs and liquorice. A fine choice with marinaded pork chops, roast chicken or veggie kebabs.

Château Lafite’s Barons de Rothschild in France and world renowned Nicolás Catena from Argentina – Bodegas Caro Aruma Malbec 2021.

Aruma brings together small batches of wine made from tiny parcels of premium Ucó Valley grapes – from Altamira, El Peral and San José – to create a fine, silky and complex blend. Hand-harvested, high grown, old-vine grapes provide outstanding quality, while the absence of any oak maturation ensures the wine shows great purity of fruit from Ucó terroir. Velvety smooth and deeply fruity with beautiful floral notes, this mouthfilling stunner is a delight from first sip to last.

James Suckling is impressed – he gives it a stellar 93pts. He also gave its 2020 vintage an impressive 92pts and commented: "Perfumed yet focused nose with lots of violets and deep but fresh blueberries. Very pure”.

Like most Argentine Malbecs (and indeed many fine French wines), it will match your finest cut of beef beautifully. Decant and pour into large glasses so that its full magnificent flavours can be suitably appreciated.

Like this sumptuous Malbec from the Schroeder family, named after the town of Bariloche, home to the source of several meltwater rivers that feed into the valley where the Schroeders’ vineyards lie.