Red Wine Finder

You probably know that Argentina is Italian for 'made of of silver'. What does that have to do with Argana's bright, vivacious, and juicy 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon? Because in Argentinian hands the grape known by American winemakers as 'the iron fist in a velvet glove' is more the velvet fist in the silver gauntlet.

It has all the richness and manners of Cabernet but with the unmistakeable ripple of fresh red fruit that comes from the grapes growing and sweetening in the country's unique elevated and often extreme terroir. If you're a fan of international Cabernets it may sound like 'Terroir Incognita'. We say: pick up your corkscrew and explore.

Cabernet Sauvignon is so robust that it plants well almost anywhere, so one of its treats lies in just how different it can be depending on where on the planet it's grown. Under expert winemaker Rubén Arroyo's keen eye, the Argana Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 is a reminder that, outside of its traditional French and Australian grounds, Cab Sav can still surprise. 

The sensation of drinking this particular Cab Sav can best be described as 'jolly'. On the nose there are the scents of strawberry jam and butter, and octane. On the tongue there's licorice, apricot, lime, and - yes, really - brand new wellington boots, with a finish that's a playful reminder of the last Wine Gum snatched from the bag. It's a Cabernet to put a smile on the face, and a refill in the glass...

Alcohol 14%

When you think of Argentinian Malbec you tend to think of big, bold, South American heavy hitters, but the Argana Malbec Reserve 2019 is far more European in its elegant flavour and structure. After a 14 month ageing, well-honed notes of vanilla, coffee, chocolate, and in particular cherry, create a wine that feels like an Argentinian take on Amarone. It's a Malbec that still has the postcards from Verona in its pocket. 

Perhaps it's the soils of San Rafael, or perhaps it's winemaker Rubén Arroyo's skill with the grape, but there's a distinct hint of Mediterranean winemaking to the Argana Syrah 2020, a medium-bodied wine with Italian sensibilities. Scents of sour cherry and leather continue on the palate, joined by fresh notes of orange peel, sweet red vermouth, and black olives. It's a delightful, playful ruby-red combination that will make you think of aperitifs taken in the sunlight on the promenade while the suave cat-burglar at the table next to you enjoys a Negroni.

Alcohol 14%

A wine its creator Rubén Arroyo is rightly proud of Argana's Cabernet Sauvignon is a sweet and ripe affair – ruby red and with intense violet tones. On the nose it's a vibrant, peppery Cabernet Sauvignon, with notes of plum, oak, and vanilla. While on the tongue there are the long-finishing flavours of fruits and wood.

Cold, dark evenings call for warm, dark, fruity reds. The kind of wine that feels like a restorative after a day in the bracing cold. Sat in front of the fire, a generous supper perched on your lap...all you're missing is a glass of Bournett Corbeau Roble IG 2015 to complete the scene. Balanced tannins and a lovely long finish make this a wine to savour. An intense ruby red wine contains layers of vanilla, red fruits, and nougat.

Showing tremendous depth and refinement for a young wine - a mark of the skill of its maker - the Calathus Cabernet Franc 2020 is an Argentinian take on a French favourite; slightly drier and more medium-bodied than the  huge, plump Malbecs from Bodega Finca Don Carlos. 

Scents of strawberry jam and oak continue on the tongue, blending with notes of leather, chilli pepper, and a light minerality, with the whole mouthful leaving a warm, strong finish on the palette. The tannins are particularly pronounced. We recommend a pairing with a French cassoulet or a hearty Spanish stew. 

Alcohol 14%

A delightful blend of Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. On the nose there are strong scents of liquorice and ripe autumnal berries. Clean on the palette and with a smooth finish, this is a wine that's even more than the sum of its considerable parts. We often cite the Gran Corte as a wine to impress guests at a dinner party.

85% Malbec, 10% Cab Franc, 5% Petit Verdot, and 100% the wine to pour as you out the cheeseboard, this is not a wine for beginners nor the shy when it comes to robust reds. It's almost a Port-like in profile, and a worthy partner to a Stilton.

Decant at least four hours before serving, as it requires the time to breathe and release its many wonderful layers. In doing so, you'll be rewarded with scents of leather, oak wood, and Camembert, chewy, unctuous flavours of hazelnuts, raspberry, and black cherry, and the sound of a lot of guests saying 'Where did you say you bought this...?'

Who says sequels are never as good as the originals? Finca Don Carlos' 2017 blend is a delicious and intricately structured drink. On the nose there's the aroma of leather, pepper, and rose petals, and on the tongue come the surprisingly Proustian flavours of childhood remade for grown-up tastebuds: the purple and green fruit pastilles, the beachside vanilla ice cream drenched in raspberry sauce.

Yes, really. It's tremendous. 

Vibrant, full-bodied, and beautifully structured, the Calathus Gran Reserve 2017 is a Malbec that's been perfectly calibrated to show off the nuances of the grape. Rich but not as dense as many Argentinian Malbecs, it's brimming with more playful flavours than the traditional hefty dark and black fruits.

On the nose there's the rich aromas of leather, salted licorice, raspberry, and crème anglaise, giving way to flavours of crisp red apples, watermelon, strawberries, and sherbet in the mouth. A wonderfully rounded wine, it is a grand representation of Argentinian winemaking skill, and a worthy successor to our wildly popular Calathus Gran Reserve Malbec 2013. 

Alcohol 14%

We labelled Finca Don Carlos' Malbec 2015 '...a complete flirt of a bottle', and their 2018 vintage is just as seductive, earning a coveted 95 points at the 2021 Decanter World Wine Awards.

There are the classic velvety aromas of ripe red fruits and plums, while on the tongue the familiar soft, rounded tannins indicative of a great Malbec, and the mouth-filling flavour of succulent Autumn berries.  

Carmelo Patti's Cab Franc is a feast for the senses: vanilla, raspberry sorbet, blueberry, and tobacco all sing through every sip. If you're a fan of Carmelo Patti's dedicated approach to winemaking, this is yet another of his wines that will delight. 

Alcohol 14%

A long-time favourite with our customers and those fortunate enough to have experienced Carmelo's generous hospitality first-hand, the '07 Cab Sav is a full-bodied wine with real finesse. If you've never tried one of Carmelo's wines before, this will make for a memorable introduction. 

Scents of red and green peppers and woodsmoke fill the nose and continue to unfold on the tongue with dark Autumn fruits. Beautifully-rounded, and with some of the smoothest tannins you'll taste this side of the Equator, it's not as sweet as it's European counterparts, making it a superior pairing to a good steak. This is a truly singular wine.

We could just say this is a beautiful Cab Sav worthy of Carmelo Patti's awesome reputation and leave it at that, but that wouldn't do it justice. Connoiseurs of Carmelo will note that the green and red pepper notes present in the Cab Sav '07 (still in stock) have been replaced by juicy red fruit flavours, and the overall profile of the wine is both fruity and playful. It's best described as a Cab Sav with French panache and Argentinian punch. Another Carmelo classic. 

Alcohol 14%

Very much the 'El Jefe' of Carmelo Patti's wines, his Gran Assemblage is the bottled embodiment of his decades of skill as a winemaker: a mixture of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Malbec, 20% Merlot, and 8% Cabernet Franc carefully selected from the finest quality grapes by Carmelo himself. 

It's then aged in French oak for 12 months, giving it strong tannins and the classic green pepper and smoky notes indicative of Carmelo Patti's wines, but also the finesse and tannic structure of a fine Bordeaux. The result? Imagine if Margaux mastered the Argentine Tango in your mouth...

In December 2011 master winemaker Carmelo Patti bottled 6,092 bottles of The Gran Assemblage 2009 (see below for his description of its creation). It's a precision blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Malbec, 20% Merlot, and 8% Cabernet Franc. 

6,092 bottles. That's all. Once it's drunk, it's gone forever. 

You should probably get at least one bottle. We only managed to get a small initial supply but have just been able to increase our stock level due to our longstanding partnership with Carmelo and his family.

We've already tried one ourselves.

It's superb. 

On the nose there are the expressive aromas of ripe hedgerow fruits, and hints of smoke. On the tongue it's surprisingly smooth, with a strong vanilla flavour that brings an almost creamy quality to the wine.

It's Carmelo. The Master of Malbec. So if you know, then you know. You're in the best of hands. This vintage is no exception, with flavours of ginger beer, leather, and cassis. A truly unique example of the grape, with a flavour profile that once again makes the big wineries look clumsy by comparison. 

Alcohol 14%

Richer and more full-bodied than our immensely popular Kilhix Pinot Noir 2015, the 2020 vintage is more kirsch than strawberry, with notes of luscious dark cherry among the traditional floral and raspberry notes, and just a hint of black pepper.

If this is your first foray into Argentinian Pinot Noir, you'll be surprised by how their take on the grape produces a much denser wine, unapologetic in its boldness but no less careless in its structure. This is Pinot Noir turned up to 11. 

Passion rings through every sip of the Pedro Moises 2020. It's quite literally a work of dedication; named after winemaker Andrés Nanni's late uncle and fellow viticulturist, and promises that his work 'will live on in the poetry of this land'. So pour yourself another stanza's worth and enjoy this classic Argentinian blend of Malbec, Tannat, and Cab Sav.

Elegant yet robust, and striking a wonderful balance between a cornucopia of rich red and black fruit flavours and the refined woodiness that comes from barrel ageing, it has a long finish and balanced tannins. Uncle Pedro would be proud.

Alc. 14%

Lovingly and painstakingly produced by winemaker Andrés Nanni and his team, we're proud to have secured a limited number of his flagship wine; an exquisite blend of Tannat, Malbec, and Cabernert Sauvignon.

Fermentation begins in 300 litre French and American oak barrels, and ageing takes place in new oak. The result: a wine to both celebrate and to use as celebration. Brimming with the generous flavours of plum and cherry, hints of vanilla and sweet tobacco, the oak maturation gives both great depth and subtle delicacy on the palate.

For a true treat, and a real sense of the harmony between a nation's food and its wine, pair it with a dish of locro, the hearty, delicious (and, crucially, easy to prepare) North Andean stew.

Unctuous and ripe, for fans of Argentinian wine the Pietro Marini Cabernet Franc-Bonarda '20 is like a first kiss with an old flame. Especially if that old flame tasted of vanilla, cherry, and oak, and outrageously flirted with very delicate notes of tobacco and black pepper. You'll want to make a second date with a second glass. Make it dinner: pair it with Italian or Greek, or even Argentinian empanadas, as it matches beautifully with aromatic dishes.

Another stunning wine from Andrés Nanni and the team at Bodega El Transito.

(The Pietro Marini brand takes its name from one of Andrés' ancestors who emigrated to Argentina from Italy.)

Shaped by the high altitude and dry climate of the Cafayate vineyards, El Transito has produced a wine that manages that rare feat of tasting vibrant and fresh while also being rich and velvety smooth.

New in stock and at a special introductory price of £11.99

A truly faithful reflection of the robustness and fruitiness of Argentinian cab sav, the Pietro Marini Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 is the sort of wine you'd pour as the steak sizzled over the open flames, the horses harrumphed at their water trough, and you knocked the day's dust from your boots. It's a wine with the spirit and passion of the gaucho but with European manners, so that gaucho would definitely take those dusty boots off at the door first. 

As you've come to expect from El Transito, it's another complex and beautifully balanced wine that takes French inspiration and adds Argentinian flair: spicy notes of black pepper peek through the ruby red fruits, with well-marked and sumptuously rounded tannins. France may be the home of cab sav, but Argentina is where the grape comes to earn its steak. 

Alcohol 13.5%

Another extremely popular wine from our El Transito collection.

Characterised by its intense red colour that truly catches the eye, spiced fruits and red peppers fill the mouth, while the Syrah portion of the blend brings strong tannins and a smooth roundness. Oak ageing achieves a greater complexity. 

Slightly woody on the nose, El Transito has created a wine with with a subtle flavour that seasoned Malbec drinkers will appreciate and find refreshingly new. As well as the usual notes of  vanilla and blackberry, there's a hint of plums, and a vaguely mineral flavour present which marks it out from the rest of the crowd

The higher, drier, colder terroir of the Salta region - specifically the Cafayate Valley - makes for a Malbec that is a little lighter on its feet than the big burly Malbec grapes of Mendoza, who haven't had to train quite as hard to produce such wonderful nectar. That hard work pays off and makes for a more refined Malbec.

With the Pietro Marini Malbec 2018 everything seems to be in balance, as all the senses complement one another. It has an intense ruby red colour with a lively violet halo. The gentle fragrances of plum and red cherry are clear. Then come the classic unctuous, ripe tannins of a plummy Malbec, with with a good final persistence on the palate. A wine that's worth the work. 

Alcohol 14.5%

El Transito's Malbec Rosado is a Rosé that stands out from its counterparts on other continents and is a perfect summer's drink, especially as an aperitif on a warm evening. On the nose there are delicate aromas of rose petals, vanilla custard, and a strong strawberry note that continues on the tongue. Remarkably refreshing in the mouth, there are flavours of strawberry, hints of mango and honey, and a clean, crisp finish with notes of lemon peel.

Take a cold glass of the Rosado '22 in your hand and remind yourself of the flavours of Summer. Not a British Summer, obviously. Think long Argentinian afternoons ready to be quenched. This isn't 'poolside rosé' - the kind served ultra-cold to the point of flavourlessness. This is rosado, amigo. It's rosé with something to say.

Bursting with generous flavours of strawberry and watermelon, and leaving you with the crisp, lingering kiss of citrus, the passion of El Transito's four generations of wine-making is evident in every sip. An ideal accompaniment to fruit salad, sorbet, or a lavishly big bowl of strawberries & cream. It is best paired with that rarest of treats: a hot and sunny afternoon. 

If you've enjoyed the Pietro Marini Malbec Rosado 2017, then this is great opportunity to compare, taste the difference, and decide which you prefer. 

Notes of plump juicy raisins, courtesy of the Cabernet Sauvignon (30% of the blend) sing above the rich, deep rumble of plum and black cherry brought by the Malbec. Oak barrel ageing refines and adds great depth to the blend, and the European heritage of winemaker Andres Nanni means the wine has an incredibly French flavour profile that's more like something from the low, rolling vineyards of the Languedoc than the mountainous Calchaqui Valley.

Here's a wine we haven't been trumpeting enough. Why? No idea. We sell so many great wines, occasionally a great one will slip under the radar. So let's rectify that terrible error right now, because El Transito's Malbec/Cabernet Sauvignon Roble 2013 deserves to be in your next order.

It's a supremely quaffable blend of 70% Malbec, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, skilfully combining the ripe plummy ebullience of Malbec with the refined dry fruit notes of Cab Sav, and resulting in a wine with a singularly smooth finish. Winemaker Andres Nanni of El Transito is a master of the blend (if you've tried his Cab Sav/Syrah you'll know), and this is another prime example of his skill; with careful oak ageing bringing light coffee notes to the red & black fruits.

Born from the high, dry terroir of the Calchaqui Valley, 1750 metres above sea level, it's quite literally a wine that stands above the rest in its quality. 

One of the most joyous wines in our range. On the nose there are scents of ripe autumnal berries and just a hint of warm winter spices. On the tongue it's remarkably smooth, with a fresh flavour of plum jam and red fruits, and a hint of liquorice in its finish. This is the perfect accompaniment to beef dishes, or for simply savouring as you sit by a roaring fire. 
 

Refined, incredibly smooth, and ideal company at a good meal. You could say the same of us, but it also happens to apply to the Pietro Marini Tannat '21 too.

Red fruit and leather aromas gently lead you to flavours of plum and blackcurrant, with noticeably rounded tannins and a delightfully long finish. Argentina should be as renowned for Tannat as it is for Malbec, and this is a perfect example of the great things they're doing with the grape. 

It's a worthy partner to strong cheeses and rich sauces, and a smashing successor to El Transito's 2017 vintage.

An Argentinian wine that takes the tango to Bordeaux, there are clear signs of French wine-making influencing El Transito's excellent Tannat-Malbec blend. Combining two grapes that thrive in Salta's hot soil and high altitude, the confident red fruit flavours of Tannat and the bold dark fruit of Malbec dance atop the intense depth that comes from El Transito's oak barrel ageing.

With great body and smooth tannins, this is a wine made for two. Especially if you're both about to enjoy a steak. 

A magnificently rounded wine, the Vicien Bonarda Reserve of 2014 fills the mouth with flavours of ripe red & black fruits, Earl Grey tea, and vanilla. It's full-bodied yet is fresh on the palette, with a smooth and mellow finish that lingers pleasantly on the tongue.

When Vicien say their wines get better with age, they aren't kidding. The '09 Syrah has matured magnificently in-bottle, taking on a rich caramel note and amplifying the scents of red cherry and flavours of black forest fruits in this already full-bodied wine. There's the classic leathery note of a good Syrah that gives way to a long, rich aftertaste. 

And if you're a fan of organic wines, the Vicien Syrah is OIA certified. 

We've only 6 bottles of this wine remaining in stock and when it's gone it's gone. So if you fancy swooping in and buying the last case of it for you to enjoy all to yourself, this is your chance. Be quick! 

Alcohol 14%

Deep violet in colour, it has on the nose an aroma of mixed red and black fruits, and the leathery quality typical of a great Syrah. In the mouth it is far more full-bodied than expected, and carries a great balance between the body of the wine and the sharpness of the fruit notes.