Ormadei Assemblage 2015

If grapes were the Royal Family of Argentina, then no doubt the bold, brambly Malbec would be the hirsute, jolly King. But, much like the British Royals, this family has stars that are also very popular with the people (ahem, Harry and Kate), including Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Malbec, which are more usually found in Bordeaux.

Just like Old King Malbec, which also started off in Bordeaux, they are thriving in Argentina's Uco Valley. This example is an affordable twist on this Bordeaux blend, with a voluptuous texture, dark forest fruits and sweet baking spice.

Bodega Atamisque is a beautiful winery located in the Uco Valley of Argentina. In 2006, Frenchman, John de Monceau fell in love with the property and settled there with his wife Chantal. The property itself has roots dating back to the 17th century, at the time known as Estencia San Jose. Boasting a modern winery and state of the art equipment, the estate has quickly established a reputation for producing stunning expressions of the region’s varietals.

The picturesque estate has maintained the land's original surroundings and natural flora, including the native atamisque, chañar, piquillo and cactus. The 70 hectare vineyard produces the region’s star variety, Malbec, as well as red Bordeaux varieties, and whites including Viognier and Chardonnay. Above all the estate aims to produce only the very best quality and value, hiring only the most qualified employees and limiting yearly production. In just five years their wines have quickly grown in popularity and are available in 19 countries across the world.

Philippe Caraguel is Bodega Atamisque's head wine maker and brings with him a wealth of experience from the great regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy and Sancerre as well as many different estates within Argentina. Philippe is a great advocate of respecting the raw materials (grapes) with manual harvest and double sorting and gentle processing, to let the true fruit and character of the land shine through.

Made from a blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, the grapes undergo cold maceration to concentrate flavours, followed by fermentation in stainless steel tanks. No oak is involved, giving way to a rich palate dominated by wonderfully pure fruit flavours, assorted spices and a hint of minerality.