Red Single Varietal over £10

And the winner is...

Bodegas dos Andes, Chaltén Malbec Colección,

Neuquén, Patagonia, Argentina 2009 (14.5%)

Full, strong and finely tannic with an attractive ripe

and fleshy raspberry character. Suave, textural and

sensuous palate: understated and mellow in style,

with great potential to develop.

Not available in the UK. US: $9.99; USTOT

A representative from the Old World did manage to lever itself into this final Regional Trophy line-up, but nevertheless this contest was a very New World affair. In the end the Trophy remains in Argentina, going for the second year in a row to a stunning Malbec. A decade ago Argentinians would have laughed if anyone had told them that a Malbec from San Patricio del Chañar in Neuquén would win this International Trophy. As a wine region, itdidn’t exist, and was known instead for fruit trees and local excavations of some of the world’s oldest dinosaur fossils. Bodegas dos Andes, owned by Chilean CórporaGroup since 2008, is one of just six estates in Neuquén today. It saw the potential of a wine region still to be fully discovered, and took advantage of the cooler climate via Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Malbec.

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