Here & There Malbec

£10.99

£14.65 per litre · incl. 20% VAT

In Stock

Looking for something off the beaten track? South African Malbec is a rare find, and this Swartland bottling from Boutinot is a brilliant introduction. Juicy redcurrant and raspberry, a whisper of spice, and a supple, easy finish that makes it a genuine midweek treasure. Bold enough to be interesting, friendly enough to open on a Tuesday.

Not for sale to persons under 18. Adult signature required on delivery.

Region

Swartland, South Africa

Grape

Malbec

Oak

Once fermentation is complete, the wine is pressed and returned to tank for Malolactic fermentation, with 15% of the wine undergoing Malo in older 300 litre barrels

Drinking Window

An approachable, fruit-forward red built for early drinking, best enjoyed on release and over the following 2-3 years.

UK wide delivery

Expert curated

Sourced direct

Our Verdict

We listed this because South African Malbec is still a well-kept secret, and this is one of the most charming examples we have tasted. What won us over was the balance: plenty of ripe red fruit, but never heavy or jammy, with a freshness that keeps you coming back for the next glass. It has quietly become a customer favourite, with good reason. Perfect for anyone who loves discovering something a little different without spending big, and a reliable crowd-pleaser for casual suppers. Honest opinion: it punches well above its modest price.

Tasting Notes

Lighter and fresher than the inky Malbec you might expect, this is all about juicy red fruit. The nose is warm and welcoming, with ripe redcurrant and raspberry lifted by a gentle waft of spice. The palate follows through with a core of sweet red berry, kept lively by bright, fresh acidity that stops it feeling heavy. Tannins are soft and rounded, the whole-bunch fermentation lending just enough structure to give shape without grip. It finishes supple and easy, the kind of red you can drink on its own or across a whole meal.

Ripe Redcurrant

Fresh redcurrant and raspberry lead the way, juicy and bright rather than dark or brooding, keeping the wine light on its feet.

Gentle Spice

A subtle peppery spice threads through the nose and palate, a quiet lift that adds interest without dominating the fruit.

Fresh Acidity

Cool-year freshness gives the wine real drinkability, balancing the sweet berry core and keeping every sip moreish.

Supple Finish

Soft, rounded tannins from whole-bunch and whole-berry ferment lead to a smooth, approachable close with no hard edges.

About This Wine

Everyone knows Malbec from Argentina, but very few have tried it from South Africa. That is exactly why this one is worth your attention. Grown in the Swartland, on granite-rich alluvial soils that keep yields low and berries small and concentrated, this is Malbec with a distinctly Cape personality: generous fruit, gentle structure, and an easygoing charm that wins people over fast.

There is real craft in the glass here. The grapes are fermented naturally in stainless steel, using a clever mix of whole bunch and whole berry to build complexity and a fine tannin frame, with daily pump-overs drawing out colour and flavour. A portion is then settled in older large-format barrels, which rounds everything off without smothering the fruit.

Expect a warm, inviting nose of ripe redcurrant and raspberry with a flick of spice. The palate is juicy and approachable, all bright red berry fruit lifted by fresh acidity and a smooth, supple finish. It is wonderfully versatile at the table: pour it with a vegetable lasagne, a Friday night pizza, a bowl of rich tomato pasta, or a simple weeknight roast.

At this price it is a smart everyday red and an easy gift for the curious drinker in your life. We deliver across the UK, single bottles or by the case, straight to the door.

Food Pairing

This is a brilliantly flexible midweek red. Its fresh acidity and gentle tannins make it a natural with tomato-based dishes, so reach for it with a vegetable lasagne, a Margherita pizza straight from the oven, or a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs. It also handles a Friday-night burger or a roast vegetable tart with ease. Nothing fussy required: just good, honest food.

—Vegetable lasagne with a rich tomato sauce
—Wood-fired Margherita pizza
—Spaghetti and meatballs
—Classic beef burger with melted cheese
—Roast vegetable and goat's cheese tart

How to Serve

Temperature

Serve lightly chilled. Fifteen to twenty minutes in the fridge brings out the fresh red fruit beautifully.

Decanting

No need to decant. This is an approachable, fruit-forward style that drinks well straight from the bottle, though a quick swirl in the glass helps the raspberry and spice aromatics open up.

Glass

A medium bowl works perfectly, gathering the bright red fruit without letting the freshness blow off.

Behind the Wine

The Swartland is one of South Africa's warmer corners, and that shapes everything in this glass. Dry, warm winters give way to growing seasons where moderate spells let early and mid-season grapes ripen fully at gentler sugar levels, with the occasional summer heat spike to keep things honest. Low-yielding old vines and small, concentrated berries do the rest. The result is the bright redcurrant and raspberry fruit, fresh acidity and supple, easy-going character you taste here.

Ageing Potential

Built for early enjoyment rather than the cellar. Drink it now and over the next two to three years, while the bright redcurrant and raspberry fruit is at its juicy, fresh best. There is little to gain from holding it longer.

The Land

The Malbec vines here are rooted in the Swartland's granite-rich alluvial soils, free-draining ground that keeps vigour in check. Yields stay naturally low and the berries small and concentrated, packing flavour into every grape. That hard-won intensity is exactly why the wine feels juicy and deeply fruited yet stays fresh and balanced rather than heavy.

The Winemaking

This is hands-off winemaking with a clever twist. Around 30% of the fruit goes in as whole bunches and 70% as whole berries, a combination that builds gentle structure and lifts aromatic complexity without ever turning the wine austere. Fermentation happens naturally in stainless steel, with a single daily pump-over coaxing out colour and flavour rather than forcing it. After pressing, the wine returns to tank for malolactic fermentation, with 15% completing malo in older 300-litre barrels for a touch of rounded warmth.

The Swartland Region

Swartland, 'the black land' in Afrikaans, named for the renosterbos that darkens after rain, rolls out north of Cape Town across the hills around Malmesbury and Riebeek-Kasteel. It's hot, dry, and stubbornly characterful: a place of old bush vines, granite and koffieklip soils, and a community of growers who've made it the most quietly thrilling corner of South African wine. Concentration, freshness, and a wild streak you don't find elsewhere, that's Swartland in a glass.

About the Producer

Boutinot

Paul Boutinot spent years searching the world for a site that could make wine on his terms. He found it on the Schapenberg, a windswept ridge above Somerset West looking out over False Bay and the Atlantic. From day one Waterkloof was farmed organically, with biodynamic conversion following soon after. Cattle, sheep and goats roam the estate producing compost and grazing cover crops, and draught horses do the work tractors usually do, keeping the soil loose and alive. Cellarmaster Nadia Barnard, who joined at the very beginning and now runs the cellar, takes those naturally balanced grapes and gives them as little intervention as possible. It's farming as philosophy, and you can taste it.

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