Knappstein Unearthed Malbec 2025

From the inaugural release of Knappstein’s new “Unearthed” range, which explores the less familiar elements of Clare Valley’s varietal makeup. Malbec has a strong affinity with the region as a major component in some of its most famous red blends, so to see it here as a single variety is a confident move – and well repaid. Dark colours, crushed dark blue fruit and floral aromas, some ink and iodine as well. When the nose and palate tell the same story you know you are in good hands, and so it is here, with an extra note of blood lip, saline and savoury, buoyed by neatly threaded acidity and solid structural tannins holding the firmish finish in place. Red meat – Aussie/Asado style – to show the Argentines they’re not the only Malbec masters in the world.