A classic, countryside red from an ancient producer in an unfashionable region. No wonder it's not widely known. And yet this is Malbec par excellence - it mixes elegance, rusticity and drinkability. Black fruits violet, pepper and earth, with serious weight and tannin. Excellent.

With the astonishing rise of New World Malbec wines from Latin America, it’s easy to sometimes forget that this fine red wine varietal has an ancient heritage of quality French winemaking. Clos de la Coutale is the perfect reminder of that heritage - this ancestral winery, situated in the stunning Lot Valley in the Occitane region of France, has been working with Malbec and other indigenous varietals for six glorious generations. The Bernede family currently oversees 38 hectares of prime land in one of southwest France’s premier appellations. Here, the warm and dry summers result in beautifully ripened grapes, and the complex soils guarantee heaps of expression and a rainbow of fascinating flavours. Clos de la Coutale, like so many contemporary wineries, perfectly blends respect for tradition with forward-thinking winemaking techniques, ensuring that sustainability remains at the heart of their practices, and that the end result - those gorgeous, elegant, and full-bodied wines - upholds their peerless reputation. Santé!