The Uco Valley is one of the more prestigious subzones of Mendoza, and one of the most dramatic. The vines are planted at exceptional altitudes, exposed to the sun but softened by the winds. The fruit here is powerful but full of freshness. Andeluna takes full advantage of the altitude - their 1300 Malbec is loaded with black plum and ripe dark cherries. There's violet and a meatiness to the wine as well, along with really complex flavours of tar, some gravelly tannins and a lick of oak. Rich and lingering.

It’s not difficult to get very, very excited indeed from the fine wines coming out of Argentina’s Mendoza region. There, you’ll find talented winemakers who’ve decided the sky is the only limit when it comes to quality, innovation, and the kind of excellence they can achieve through viticulture… and Andeluna Winery is among the best producers in Mendoza right now. In fact, this winery is so good, the world Sommelier Wine Awards named it ‘Producer of the Year’ in 2010, and other awards and recognitions have come thick and fast since then. Spearheaded by visionary winemaker Silvio Alberto in 2003, Andeluna was set up to explore the possibilities of the high altitude vineyards of Mendoza. Here, the air is thin, the soils are dry and loose, and the weather is unforgiving… but the grapes which grow do so in tiny yields, which offer up truly incredible flavours and aromas. When Alberto’s first vintage was released, it became clear to him that his mission was to bring the flavours of Mendoza to the world, and continuing exploring the incredible potential that his Malbec vines displayed so strongly. Over the past 15 years, Andeluna has grown from strength to strength, and continues to innovate with the land, the grapes, the climate, and the constantly evolving equipment and technology at Alberto’s disposal. Argentinian wine continues to ascend to ever-greater heights, and it’s wineries like this one providing the rocket fuel.