Driftwood Artifacts Margaret River Malbec 2021

More stand-alone Malbec please! More Malbec that doesn’t hide behind Cabernet and its friends but works alone and proud, displaying glorious sweet plummy fruit, generosity of purpose in the glass and comes equipped with tannins firm enough to go the distance. In other words, it would be really nice to see more wines like the ’21 Artifacts Malbec from Margaret River. The Malbec grape clearly blossoms in the maritime region. The colour is deep purple-garnet and intense. Aromas of licorice, sage, violet, plum, cherry and baking spices usher in a fruit-forward, herb and spice-fuelled wine. Earthy, robust tannins help guide the wine long but never intrude. Winemaking has read the under-rated red grape well here, allowing it space to set its credentials out. A wonderful example of what the grape can do solo.