Bodegas Altolandon 'Mil Historias' Malbec 2022

Malbec isn't the first grape that springs to mind for this part of Spain, but Manchuela's high-altitude vineyards make a strong case for it. The sunny days and cool nights bring a perfect balance of ripeness and freshness to the fruit. In the winery, they're keen on minimal intervention, so they leave it to undergo spontaneous fermentation before ageing it in a mix of seasoned French oak barrels and clay amphorae. The result is a bold, characterful red with layers of blackberry, plum, and bittersweet cocoa. There's a floral lift of violets and rose, a savoury twist of wild rosemary, and subtle hints of mint, dark cherry, and black pepper. Complex and satisfying, it's a wine with real depth and poise.

Lamb is an ideal match for this as its bold fruit and fine tannins complement the meat's savoury depth, but it also pairs wonderfully with aromatic dishes like Thai beef or Cuban pork, which bring out the wine's spice and floral notes really well.

Rosalia Molina, the owner and winemaker of Bodegas Altolandon, one of Spain's highest altitude wineries, crafts organic wines that truly capture the essence of DO Manchuela. At 1,100 metres above sea level, in central eastern Spain, her vineyards experience extreme day-night temperature swings, promoting even ripening and retaining natural acidity. Committed to biodiversity, Rosalia welcomes chickens, sheep, and pigs from local farms to roam freely, while using only natural fertilisers. The grapes are hand-harvested and vinified with minimal intervention, relying on native yeasts. Aged in clay amphora and French oak, her wines reflect a balance of texture, complexity, and the unique character of this high-altitude region. The result of all this? A range of accessible, well-made organic wines that offer great value without skimping on quality.