Rod McDonald One Off Hawkes Bay Malbec 2014

This Malbec is built like an Argentinian prop - let's call him Santiago. Santiago is powerful, meaty and capable of displaying amazing finesse and subtelty. He enjoys being tightheaded between a big juicy steak and a chunk of strong cheddar cheese. His nose is full and well-proprtioned to his broad shoulders and short neck, and once he's finished in the scrum and runs over for an embrace, you'll smell the spicy blackberry and black plum fruit aromas. Eau de 'Juan-off' they call it. Santiago is succulently sweet and uncomplicated and rumour has it that he has a good grip on him, with an enticing mouthfeel! The only bad thing about Santiago though is that once he's gone, he's gone. Make the most of him whilst you can.

Hawkes Bay Winegrowers is the official regional wine industry organisation representing all wineries and groweries. Their aim is to build the Hawke's Bay fine wine category in achieving international recognition as a quality and profitable wine producing region. Anthony Joseph Vidal, a young emigrant from Spain, was one of the first winemakers to appreciate the natural potential of the area and he established Vidal Estate in 1905 where his elegant wines remain an inspiration to this day. He was 22 years old when he arrived in New Zealand from Spain in 1888. He then moved to Hawkes Bay 12 years later and in 1905 he purchased a small property in Hastings. Once the stables that occupied the site were converted into a cellar, Anthony set about planting some grapevines. It was from there he became one of New Zealand’s early wine innovators and his success led to expansion with further vineyard plantings in Te Awanga and then Te Mata. Rod McDonald is also a familiar face in the Hawke's Bay wine industry and he has been a central figure since 1993. Rod’s Hawke’s Bay wine career began in the cellar at Vidal, a winery he would remain with for the following 13 years until 2006, when he left to launch his own company, Rod McDonald Wines.