Browse by Country - Argentina
Until recently Argentina produced more wine than any other New World country. America's output has since overtaken it, but Argentina remains probably the most important wine-producing country in South America. Its potential is yet to be fully realised, but Chile no longer dominates the market as it did a decade or so ago. A great deal of the wine made is for domestic consumption and is pretty rustic and of low quality compared to some of the superb examples we see in the UK.
The economic climate of the country over the last century or so has dictated what progress and setbacks the wine industry has experienced. In boom years the industry prospered but the problems caused by economic depression meant that foreign investment declined and the industry suffered. In contrast to most other wine drinking nations, the amount consumed per head is actually declining. It is this decline that has prompted the country's better producers to improve the overall quality of their wines in order to exploit the export market, without which it would struggle to survive. Probably the most significant development in Argentina is the care now taken in the vineyards. Previously it was considered that as long as the grapes ripened the skills practised in winemaking (as opposed to vine growing) were enough to produce decent wine. In the 1990s this skill was expanded to include viticulture, and the importance of Argentina as a major player has increased to the point where some truly outstanding wines are produced. Although some decent wine was produced in the past a scant regard for thinning and reducing crops restricted the industry's progress on what was becoming a booming world market. Much more care is taken over suitability of sites for certain grape varieties, vines are maintained properly, irrigation is extensively used as the average temperature is higher than in many wine-growing countries, and the quality of materials used, such as rootstocks, fertilisers and oak, is much better than two decades ago.
A large percentage of wine grapes grown in Argentina are domestic varieties: Criolla and Cereza. These are white wine grapes and although plantings are extensive their popularity is on the wane as better quality grapes become more fashionable, and export markets beckon for those willing to upgrade to internationally renowned varieties.
It was Spanish settlers who first planted Vitis Vinifera vines in Argentina in the sixteenth century, although early plantings were of somewhat inferior grape varieties compared to those around today. Attempts at irrigation made winemaking possible, and the industry was reasonably healthy. The key event which led to the industry's development was the rail link between Buenos Aires and Mendoza in the mid nineteenth century. As more settlers arrived the expanding wine industry embraced new methods of vine growing and wine making, with the newly imported European grape varieties establishing themselves into the market. The ever-growing Argentine wine industry was founded and its value in world wine markets has never been healthier. Classic grape varieties make up a hefty percentage of wine made in Argentina; Malbec has found a particular niche in such a way that the phrase 'Argentinean Malbec' is one commonly heard in wine shops and tasting rooms across the globe.
Vineyards stretch along the backbone of the Andes Mountains with Mendoza the most important region (responsible for over 80% of Argentina's wine production), but other areas of importance are La Rioja and Rio Negro.
Search Results
Argentina :: Mendoza
Bonarda, Malbec
Body: d - Medium to Full
Ready to drink
Mendoza's long, warm days and cool nights bring out the best in these grapes, which thrive in the mountains.
Delightful expression of huge brambly Malbec. The nose offers an appealing, mixed spice, bramble fruit bomb followed by dark, damson and savoury overtones on the palate. The finish is smooth, rounded and nicely balanced.
75.0CL
In Stock
Argentina :: Mendoza
Bonarda, Malbec
Body: d - Medium to Full
Ready to drink
No myth or legend here. Instead, a real big beast of a wine from the Mendoza Valley, Argentina. Deep, brooding and dark. Big fruit, big spice, big flavours.
75.0CL
In Stock
Argentina :: Mendoza
Chardonnay
Sweetness: 2 - Dry
Ready to drink
20% OFF!
Was £16.99, NOW £13.59
This excellent Chardonnay (unoaked of course, as are all the Serbal wines) has quickly gained a reputation in the trade as a go-to wine sitting above entry level but not breaking any banks. It shows considerable elegance, varietal character and poise for a wine at this price level, perhaps elucidating the French bias in this winery.
75.0CL
In Stock
Argentina :: Mendoza
Malbec
Body: d - Medium to Full
Ready to drink
20% OFF!
Was £16.99, NOW £13.59
Wonderful purity of fruit here. Luscious and soft, dark plummy fruit with layers of damson. Unoaked with a simple appealing freshness.
75.0CL
In Stock
Argentina :: Mendoza
Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
Body: d - Medium to Full
Ready to drink
20% OFF!
Was £16.99, NOW £13.59
From Finca Mangato vines in El Paral, Tupungato at 1,200 metres above sea level, planted on shallow sandy-loam soils, this delicious blend bears testament to Estela’s eye for detail and insistence on absolute precision. A blend of 70% Cabernet Franc with 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. Intriguingly, 70% of the Cab Sauv parcel is co-fermented with the Cab Franc, and the remaining 30% of Cab Sauv is aged for 9 months in second use French oak. Still with us? There is a very strong sense here that nothing is left to chance and the results are fabulous. The nose screams neither varietal on its own but, rather, offers up an holistic approach to blending as can be seen in Estela’s other wines. The effect is harmonious throughout from notes of hibiscus flowers and spice on the nose through to plump cassis and juicy redcurrant in the mouth. A superbly crafted blend representing fantastic value for money.
75.0CL
In Stock
Argentina :: Mendoza
Malbec
Body: c - Medium
Ready to drink
Everything you could ever want from an entry-level Malbec, and more!
75.0CL
In Stock
Argentina :: Mendoza
Bonarda
Body: d - Medium to Full
Ready to drink
Brand new in from Mauricio Lorca – a perfect example, showing that Argentina has much more to offer than Malbec. This 100% Bonarda from Vista Flores in Mendoza has an abundance of fresh red fruit character; cherry, raspberry, redcurrant and cranberry. Along with good structure, soft tannins and a long finish, this is another classic entry into our Recoleta range.
Wonderfully delicious on its own, but pairs really well with lean meats, red meats and dishes with creamy sauces.
75.0CL
In Stock
Argentina
Riesling, Torrontes
Sweetness: 4 - Off Dry
Ready to drink
All the Amalaya wines are fruit driven in style, with a finesse that unites them. The trophy winning Torrontes/Riesling is silky on the palate, refreshing and bursting with aromas of citrus, blossom and grapefruit.
75.0CL
In Stock
Argentina :: Mendoza
Cabernet Franc
Body: c - Medium
Ready to drink
Classic Cab Franc notes of fresh capsicum and pencil shavings on the nose, fresh and clean on the palate with delicious red berry fruits.
75.0CL
In Stock
Argentina :: Mendoza :: Uco Valley
Petit Verdot
Body: d - Medium to Full
Drink now, but will keep
A real lovely alternative to an Argentinian Malbec. This big hitting red is smooth, soft and packing bucket loads of red fruits and spice. One for you Cotes-du-Rhone lovers! Wonderful notes of roses and graphite on the nose. A palate full of fine red fruit character with lovely firm tannins and long, pepper and spice-laden finish.
75.0CL
In Stock
Argentina
Malbec
Body: d - Medium to Full
Ready to drink
Inviting smoke and spice on the nose is complemented by redcurrants and ripe, lush cherries. Everything you could want in a malbec; plum jam, tobacco, dark chocolate and vanilla come together in this medium to full bodied wine with a long lasting finish.
75.0CL
In Stock
Argentina
Cabernet Sauvignon
Deep ruby red with purple hues, clean and brilliant. Intense aromas of varietal typicity that disclose black fruit and cherries and soft notes of eucalyptus, pepper and toast. Soft and friendly on the palate with balanced, soft and ripe tannins. Herbacious in the end showing again some eucalyptus notes. Medium to long length.
75.0CL
Out of stock
Argentina :: Rio Negro
Pinot Noir
Body: a - Light
Ready to drink
Ripe red summer fruits and forest floor notes; light, fresh and juicy on the palate. It's from Patagonia, of course, widely regarded as the country's best source of Pinot.
75.0CL
In Stock
Argentina
Malbec
Body: e - Full
Drink now, but will keep
20% OFF!
Was £23.99, NOW £19.19
Produced in tiny quantities this wine is layered with heady notes of violet, plum, red currant, and chocolate. It is silky smooth and bursts onto the palate with a bounty of ultra ripe dark fruits and wild herbs. Its location at such an altitude ensures the wine is ultra fresh with racy acidity to hold this glorious wine together.
75.0CL
In Stock
Argentina :: Cafayate
Torrontes
Sweetness: 3 - Soft Dry
Ready to drink
This wine from Vallisto is a modern classic, retaining the scented nuances of Salta – arguably the true home of the grape – but offering pristine freshness in the mouth coupled with delightful length and poise.
75.0CL
Only 4 left
Argentina :: Mendoza
Torrontes
Sweetness: 3 - Soft Dry
Drink now, but will keep
After several years of experimentation with varying toast levels and various barrel producers, Susana Balbo has created a Torrontés that takes this varietal into a whole new sphere of influence. The exuberant floral and fruity notes that we know and love have become delicately muted and are complemented with the most ethereal and subtle oak influences. Although still distinctly Torrontés, this actually noses a little like a great Viognier, dare we say it something akin to Condrieu from a very good vintage?
75.0CL
In Stock
Argentina :: Mendoza
Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot
Body: e - Full
Drink now, but will keep
In each of the three ranges from this winery - Serbal, Catalpa and Atamisque - there is a blend, an assemblage. Catalpa Assemblage is comprised of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec in varying proportions depending on the vintage. 60% of this wine is aged for 12 months in new French oak barrels, 40% in stainless steel prior to blending and a further 6 months in bottle prior to release. Crafted in a fairly extravagant style this is a lovely, plump, velvet textured delight with clever use of oak in evidence, capable of developing very nicely for 8 - 10 years.
75.0CL
Only 1 left
Argentina
Pinot Noir
Ready to drink
On the nose, bounteous wild red fruits and the unmistakable whiff of forest floor; in the mouth silky tannins and fresh juicy fruit with a long finish. This is definitely New World Pinot Noir approaching its South American best and sees Argentina taking a seat at the top table.
75.0CL
In Stock
Argentina :: Mendoza
Malbec
Body: e - Full
Drink now, but will keep
Deep ruby red in colour, lovely aromas of plums and sweet red berries, silky-textured in the mouth with incredible length. Elegant yet intense, fresh, complex, superbly balanced and, best of all, very moreish.
75.0CL
Only 10 left
Argentina :: Mendoza
Malbec
Body: e - Full
Drink now, but will keep
This is the flag-bearing Malbec from Bodega Atamisque, a winery that has come from nowhere in recent years to gain real respect and admiration from its peers, and no wonder with wines like this on show. Winemaker Philippe Caraguel has triumphed with this wine, which is so good and consistently good from vintage to vintage, perhaps due in part to the vines being 100% owned and managed by Atamisque. We sell much more of this, not inexpensive Malbec, to the UK trade than we do many others at significantly lower prices. Excellent is the word.
75.0CL
Only 7 left
Argentina
Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec
Expresivo is harvested from Gualtallary Terroir, which translates in mineral notes, firm fine grained tannins and great length. This wine has aromas
of blackberry, peppercorn tree with balanced natural acidity.
75.0CL
Only 2 left
Argentina :: Mendoza
Malbec
Body: e - Full
Drink now, but will keep
From a high quality, old vine block in higher Agrelo, this is a serious expression of Malbec which is characterised by its rocky terroir and small batch wine making. Award winning Malbec from Argentinean specialists of this native grape. High altitude, single vineyard quality that is truly of place.
75.0CL
Only 3 left
Argentina :: Mendoza
Malbec
Body: d - Medium to Full
Drink now, but will keep
Mineral in character with a note of graphite and subtle hints of black fruits, berries and blueberries. A floral finish with rosehips, and vanilla and tobacco notes provided by French Oak barrel aging. Sweet and silky tannins; truly a wine whose structure and acidity unite in the mouth. Superb.
75.0CL
Only 6 left
Argentina :: Mendoza
Malbec
Sweetness: d - Medium to Full
Drink now, but will keep
This is an amazing thing. Top quality Malbec grapes are left on the vines after harvest for a period of up to 3 months. Over this time they shrivel up like raisins and the juice becomes very, very concentrated and sweet. The natural syrupy juice takes an age to ferment and once it has, the wine is aged for 18 months in new French oak barrels. The end result is a top-end Malbec that is 100% naturally sweet; sweet but not 'sticky', and the tannins are still there to provide staunch structure and see the wine through subsequent years of bottle age. A wonderul oddity.
50.0CL
Only 7 left