Republica del Malbec 2018 (Matias Riccitelli)

Cellar for up to 7 years. No need to decant before serving. Maverick Argentinian winemaker Matias Riccitelli is the son of Jorge Riccitelli, one of the country’s top enologists who was chief winemaker at Bodegas Norton for many years. In 2009 Matias decided to set up his own winery and he now works 20 hectares planted in Lujan de Cuyo sub-region of Mendoza at the foot of the Andes Mountains with altitudes ranging from 980 to 1120 metres above sea level. Many of the vineyards are very old with several dating back to the beginning of the 20th century. Matias’ striking Republica del Malbec was created to honour Argentina’s long history as a nation of immigrants since the country’s wine industry was largely established by arrivals from Italy during the late 19th and early 20th century. The grapes are sourced from a stunning vineyard in Vistalba which was planted in 1908 and are carefully harvested by hand to maximise quality. Once in the winery the grapes are meticulously sorted and fermented using wild yeasts in concrete tanks. The wine is then aged in French oak barrels for 18 months to add polish and extra complexity. The result is a plush, fruit-forward Malbec bursting with ripe plum, damson and sweet spice notes from the oak ageing. Smooth on the palate with gentle tannins and a well-built structure, this is a great wine to drink alongside a prime steak, aubergine parmigiana or a generous platter of charcuterie.