Kaiken, Ultra Malbec

€21.99

This is truly rich, structured and delicious Malbec with a brooding power that delivers glass upon glass of generous warmth and dark flavours of plum, damson, coffee and cocoa. A must-try for Malbec fans, this will certainly please those of us who like well-balanced New-World wines, but will also open the eyes of Bordeaux drinkers and devotees of the modern European wine style.

This is big, full-bodied and tasty. Structured with fine tannins and a long finish, it is the quintessential reserva-style Malbec that is a shoe-in for lovers of large wines.

Kaiken is a really interesting winery; established by the Montes family (of the very famous Montes winery in Chile [possibly the benchmark Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon being Montes Alpha], which is actually just a stone's throw away over the Andes...), it is a winery that does things in a very considered if conservative manner, but that is no bad thing! Established in 2002, the winery was given one task by Aurelio Montes, which was to mirror the quality of winemaking that he had achieved on the other side of the Andes.

Set in Mendoza and with vines in the Uco Valley and specific plots in Lujan de Cuyo, the winery has access to the areas that have consistently produced the best fruit for decades. The Malbec vines are grown in even more specific zones and for the this Ultra range they are taken from very high-altitude vineyards: Vistaflores, which is 1,400 metres above sea-level; Gualtallary, which is 1,300 metres above sea-level; and Altamira, which is 1,100 metres above sea-level.

It's not that this means it's necessarily better than anyone else's, only that the quality of fruit is as good as it could possibly be: the winemaking then performs the alchemy and - pop - the results are in the deliciousness of the bottle in your hand. It appears to be simple... but there's nothing simple about doing the simple things well!

Oh and the label has a goldy-looking flattened v-shape. It's the profile of the Kaikenese geese from whom the winery takes its name - these indigenous geese fly high over the Andes to nest and are native to the south, in Patagonia. Can't help but think there might be easier spots to find shelter...

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Grape(s): Malbec

Style: Vibrant, Svelte, Structured, Smooth, Round, Rich, Organic, Juicy, Intense, Full, Fruity, Elegant, Dark, Complex, Broad, Bright

Best food matches: Wild Boar, Veal, Tapas, Steak, Soft Cheeses, Roasts, Red Meats, Poultry, Mature Cheeses, Lamb, Grills, Grilled Vegetables, Game, Cheeses, Charcuterie, Casseroles, Beef, Barbecue

Alcohol: 14.5%

Why buy from us?

When you buy wine from The Allotment Wine Co. you're helping a small Irish company that in turn supports small, sustainable wine producers who grow the grapes and make amazing wines. We only work with partners who share a deep respect and connection with the land and its traditions, witnessed in a firm commitment to quality and sustainability. All of which makes for better wines.

Delivery & Returns

You'll get free delivery when you buy 12 x 75cl bottles of wine online from The Allotment, saving you €7.99.

We charge €7.99 per delivery for quantities less than that.

Our hours for processing orders are between 9am - 6pm Monday to Friday.

We pack your online wine order along the following timelines:

Wine orders for delivery in Dublin, received before 12pm on weekdays are prepared so that delivery should be expected the next working day.

Wine orders for nationwide delivery, received by 12pm on weekdays are prepared so that delivery should be expected two working days later.

Customer reviews

★★★★★
Great choice and excellent service. Received my delivery the next day.
Paul H.
★★★★★
Amazing service from the get go!
I emailed Chris looking for wine recommendations for a birthday gift. Got a really speedy, helpful reply and not only that but he hand delivered it on time to the birthday girl wishing her a happy birthday. Absolutely bowled over by the service. Cannot recommend highly enough.
Michelle McM.
★★★★★
Could not recommend The Allotment enough. The selection is fantastic and each wine that I've drank from them has been utterly phenomenal. Delivery was no hassle and I had the wine at my door in 2 days. Couldn't have asked for a better experience.
Luke B.
★★★★★
Good range of interesting wines. Good personal attention to their orders. Very customer focused. I would be happy to recommend this company to any prospective customer.
Jim D.
★★★★★
A great experience ordering from The Allotment Wine Company. A wide variety of wines to try something new and at good prices with super quick delivery! Really convenient too as opposed to trying to find parking!
N. Dowling
★★★★★
Delicious and interesting range of wines delivered promptly to my door. Not far off that lovely feeling of coming back laden from a good wine store but without any of the traffic or the worry of breaking the wine en route (very impressive travel wrap).
M. Dorman
★★★★★
Chris fields a fine range of excellent, keenly-priced wines. Orders are safely packaged and dispatched efficiently and promptly. Strongly recommended.
David M.
★★★★★
Great selection of wines, hassle free ordering, payment and delivery. Highly recommended.
Patrick H.
Hi, I'm Chris Gifford.

And you're very welcome to The Allotment Wine Co.

When you wine from me, you're supporting a small Irish business which in turn supports small, sustainable wine producers, as well as other small, dedicated Irish wine importers.

When selecting wines, I look for partners who share a deep respect and connection with the land and its traditions, witnessed in a firm commitment to quality and sustainability. All of which makes for better wines.