5th March 2007 2003 Malbec, Festivo, Bodega Monteviejo, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina, £6.50, Friarwood An increasing number of people from Bordeaux are getting involved in Argentina, excited by the prospects of working with personality-packed fruit. This time it's a guy from Pomerol, where they make big juicy Merlot-based reds, leaping at the chance to make big juicy Malbec wines right under the brow of the Andes. And this is good Malbec. It has just the right level of ripeness – in other words there's a touch of European restraint. It isn't pretty or lush, and I suppose I'd like a touch more violet perfume if it was on offer, but the texture is soft and mellow, there's a whiff of smoke in the air to go along with the smell of good, clean leather and the flavour of damson jam, stones and all. Taken from Oz Clarke's Wine Buying Guide 2007 Printable Tasting Sheet