Free of the susceptibility to disease that harmed its reputation in France, it flourished and prospered, often in some of the world’s highest vineyards. It’s made on the other side of the Andes in Chile. Away from the cool, high-altitude vineyards of Mendoza, an increasing amount of malbec is being produced in the San Juan area – part of a region that the Native Americans called the Cuyo, the “land of the deserts”. It's a big wine with big flavours. Aged in French oak for six months for a deliciously moreish toasted flavour profile, we’ll be enjoying ours with a juicy cheeseburger straight off the barbecue this summer. Malbec Despite having French roots in Bordeaux, Malbec is now most famous in Mendoza in Argentina, where it produces deep, full bodied wines. Fabre Malbec from Laithwaite’s with its tantalising dark fruit flavours and hints of liquorice. £6.99, Ocado The reviews are compiled through a mix of expert opinion and real-world testing. The Best Malbec Under $20 - The 2020 Reverse Wine Snob Picks! There’s quite a lot of Malbec in South Africa too, this example will impress even the best Argentinian producer. But what you get for your money is an absolute top-notch wine made from grapes grown at a height of 1,350m above sea level. Intense and rich, thanks to the concentrated black fruit – think ripe blackcurrant, raisins and plums – it has the perfect dose of acidity, which stops it from being overly sweet. Exquisite Collection Malbec … In bond, Berry Bros & Rudd Many producers have found a crowd-pleasing formula, and stuck to it, and who can blame them? You can trust our independent reviews. But behind the bluster is a more than decent Argentinian malbec from renowned Mendoza winemaker Matias Riccitelli. Malbec is a purple-skinned grape variety, which typically produces full-bodied, concentrated red wines. This was somewhat serendipitous as the land for this particular vineyard was bought by a group of pals for a great price during the Argentinian financial crisis – and now it’s considered one of the most premium wine regions in the Mendoza Province. THE BRAND Malbec has a fresh and fruity nose with hints of plums, blackberries and a touch of vanilla from gentle oak ageing. £60 (for case of six), Marks & Spencer If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk. Available from: Waitrose (£7.99) Naturally balanced by the high acidity levels found in the grapes, this typically fruit-forward style can also be more complex, with spice and even chocolate notes found in many bottles. The verdict: Malbec wines We think the best buy has to be the already acclaimed H.J. A luscious and soothing red wine that will brighten any dull winter’s day. £8.99, Majestic Wine It had become a common blending grape as one of Bordeaux's original five main wine grape varietals.