Bodega RPB El Supremo Malbec 2021 Mendoza, Argentina 75cl

Bodega RPB is a Mendoza producer working in the sunlit heartland of Argentine wine, where high-altitude vineyards and a long, dependable ripening season shape reds of real generosity. El Supremo sits at the top of the range, the label the winery uses to show Malbec, Argentina’s signature grape, at its most open and welcoming.

This bottling is pure Malbec, hand-harvested in the second half of March and fermented in stainless steel at controlled temperature. That gentle approach keeps the fruit fresh and the tannins soft, favouring a wine you can enjoy on release rather than one built for long cellaring. It is Malbec dressed for the table, not the auction room.

The 2021 is offered as a clear, fruit-led expression of its year. We hold little detail on the growing season, so we let the wine speak: ripe, rounded and true to the warm Mendoza style. It is a red to pour now, while its fruit is at its freshest.

In the glass it shows an intense dark plum colour. The nose is soft and inviting, ripe red fruits alongside raisin and violet, finished with a delicate touch of vanilla. The palate follows through warm and smooth, medium-bodied, its gentle tannins leading to a long and comfortable close.

A Silver medal at Mundus Vini is a fair measure of its easy appeal. If you enjoy a generous, crowd-pleasing Malbec, this is a dependable midweek red, best served at cool room temperature. It suits grilled steak, empanadas, a Sunday roast or a wedge of mature hard cheese.