Catena High Mountain Malbec 2024 75cl

Here's the everyday Catena, and it might be the best £16 you spend on Malbec this year. The clue is in the name — the fruit is blended from a spread of high-altitude Mendoza vineyards, some as high as 1,450 metres, which is what gives this wine its freshness and lift rather than heavy, sunbaked fruit.

The Catena family are the standard-bearers for Argentine Malbec, and even their entry-level bottling carries that DNA. Grapes ferment with wild yeast after a cold soak, then spend around a year in a mix of new and used French oak — enough to add polish without smothering the fruit.

In the glass it's all black cherry, blueberry and raspberry, edged with violet and a touch of lavender. The palate is silky and rounded, the ripe berries kept honest by that mountain freshness, with just a hint of vanilla and mocha from the oak. The finish carries a little spice over dark cherry. It's smooth and generous, the kind of red that disappears quickly around a table.

At £15.99 this is your reliable weeknight red — dependable, characterful and a clear cut above most Malbec at the price. No need to cellar it; drink it young and juicy over the next couple of years.

How to Serve

Serve at 16–18°C, or even a touch cooler in summer. No decant needed, though it opens nicely after ten minutes in the glass.

Where to Drink It

Dandy on Maltby Street for a relaxed bite. Planque in Haggerston for a fun list. Or Brat in Shoreditch if you're after something off the grill.

Food Pairings

Burgers, grilled sausages, a midweek shepherd's pie — anything hearty and unpretentious. It's also a fine match for a Tuesday-night steak frites.