Vicioso Malbec 2015

Vicioso is an Argentinian dialect word which translates both to 'vicious' and 'party animal'. However, Vicioso Malbec is named in honour of the punk rock hero Siddhartha Vicioso, a party animal, a vicious political beast and a former member of Los Sexy Pistoleros. His band's biggest hit was a jolly cross number called 'God Shave The Queen', which topped the hit parade while causing the collapse of the monarchy.

With its Queen-adorned currency now worthless, Siddhartha's country emerged as a moneyless anarchist collective where people live in mansions made of cake and ride to work on unicorns. They also drink this beautifully succulent and robust red wine, thick with cassis and leavened by a touch of lavender, while listening to Los Sexy Pistoleros only album, 'Never Mind The Cojones'.

Dominio del Plata was founded in 1999 by Susana Balbo, one of Argentina's most esteemed oenologists. Ultra-modern and devoted to making only premium quality wines, DPP has swiftly become one of the country's most highly-regarded prestige wineries. DDP is staffed by a young and dynamic team, who share a continual excitement about their products and embrace constant innovation.

DDP is situated in Agrelo, at the foot of the Andes in the department of Jujan de Cuyo, Mendoza. It makes a large number of single vineyard batches, although it may be best known for its pioneering role in making wines from a variety of soils, altitudes and terroirs, offering the best possible expression of Argentina's resources.

Susana Balbo became Argentina's first ever female oenologist in 1981, when she graduated from Don Bosco University. Beginning her career in the northern city of Salta, she made a name for herself by producing some of the country's finest Torrontés. By the early 1990s she was in great demand throughout Mendoza as a consultant, working with a number of wineries including Catena Zapata and Michel Torrino. Since 1999 she has been making wine at her own winery, Dominio del Plata, but she still works elsewhere in the world if time allows. In 2012 The Drinks Business listed Susana as one of the 50 most influential women in the wine world, and she was recently elected for her second term as President of Wines of Argentina, 2014 - 2016.

Vicioso Malbec is made from hand-harvested fruit vinified between 28-31C. maceration lasts between 15 and 20 days, and the wine is aged for nine months in French oak.

A deep purple colour, with a pronounced cassis nose and a concentrated and succulent yet silk-textured palate.