Bodega La Flor Malbec, Pulenta Estate 2023 75cl

If you want to understand why Mendoza Malbec conquered the world, Pulenta's La Flor is a fine place to start. The 2023 is plush, fruit-forward and easy to love, with just enough structure to keep it interesting.

The Pulenta family have farmed Mendoza for three generations, and La Flor is their everyday label — the wine that puts their vineyard pedigree within easy reach. Fruit comes from high-altitude sites in the Uco Valley area and around Mendoza, where cool nights slow ripening and keep the fruit fresh despite the warm days. A short spell in oak rounds the edges without dominating.

Pour it and you get a deep violet-tinged purple and a generous nose of blackberry, ripe plum, blueberry and a floral note of violets, with a gentle vanilla-and-cocoa lift from the oak. The palate is medium-full and juicy, tannins soft and rounded, the fruit ripe but carried by fresh acidity that stops it turning heavy. The finish is smooth and moreish.

Ready to drink now and over the next three to four years — no waiting required. At around £16 this is honest, crowd-pleasing value: the kind of red you can open on any night of the week and everyone at the table will be happy.

How to Serve

Serve at 16-18°C in a medium to large glass. A short decant helps but is not essential.

Where to Drink It

Zephyr in Notting Hill for a relaxed dinner. Gaucho for the obvious steak pairing. Cavita in Marylebone, where its fruit suits smoky cooking.

Food Pairings

The classic for a reason: grilled steak or a rack of lamb, or a smoky plate off the barbecue.