Wine of the week: Artesano de Argento Organic Malbec Cabernet Franc 2018

In the past Fairtade Fortnight has been nothing to get excited about in wine terms, so much so that I’ve tended to give up writing about it but - hallelujah - here is an absolutely cracking Argentinian red I’d be happy to snap up, Fairtrade or not.

It’s a blend of malbec and cabernet franc from Bodega Argento in Mendoza in which the cabernet franc, a grape variety that is growing in popularity in the country, adds a welcome dash of freshness and zip to the smooth plummy malbec so that it tastes more of wild berries than commercially grown fruit. And it’s organic to boot.

What would I pair it with? Steak is an obvious option but the cabernet franc makes it a bit more versatile than that. I'm thinking grilled lamb, the spicy sausage the Argentinians call chorizo and morcilla (black pudding) but also hearty dishes with beans, lentils or chickpeas. Actually it would be pretty good with a selection of tapas.

The best thing however is that it’s a very reasonable £10 (at Sainsbury's), a price that not only gives something back to the growers but is pretty easy on the wallet.

Buy some!

If you’d like be able to check out all the food and wine pairings on the site you can buy a bundle of credits here to access my premium content.

And/or for regular updates on what and where I’ve been eating, drinking and travelling sign up for my weekly newsletter Eat This, Drink That, Live Well.