IT may have originated in France but it's easy to argue that Malbec has found its spiritual home on the other side of the world, most notably Argentina.

The grape was first introduced there in the mid 19th Century, although it wasn't until the late 20th Century that it truly came to the fore, as the Argentine wine industry shifted much of its focus from jug wine for thirsty natives to premium wine for export. They've done a good job if it too.

Indeed, the quality of the grapes that grow in the eastern foothills of the Andes, as characterised by a deep almost inky colour, intense fruity flavours and velvety texture, saw Malbec become the most widely planted red variety in the country.

The grape clusters of Argentine Malbec differ from their French relatives, too, having smaller berries in tighter, smaller clusters. This suggests the cuttings originally taken over were a unique clone that may have gone extinct in France due to frost and the phylloxera epidemic.

To sum up, whoever took them over there deserves a posthumous medal.

The high-altitude Mendoza Province is at the heart of it all, where vineyards sit between 600 and 1,500 metres above sea level.

And, guess what, there's an excellent one currently on discount off at the Co-op, albeit only until Tuesday.

The Trapiche Medalla Malbec, from the famed Uco Valley in Mendoza, is aged for 18 months in new French oak barrels. Along with the trademark intense colouring, there are aromas of ripe red fruits and spice, with the drink being robust on the palate and having that lovely velvety finish.

It's an award-winning tipple and is well priced at £12.99, never mind the discount deal of £10.99.

On the more economic end of the scale, but of similarly good value, comes a wine from the neighbouring San Juan region, specifically the highly-regarded Pedernal Valley.

It's the award-winning Las Moras Barrel Select Malbec, which is also on offer at the Co-op until Tuesday, down from £7.99 to £5.99.

Malbec is often the go-to wine for a steak but this one also pairs really well with an after-dinner cheeseboard.

Aged for 12 months in French and American oak, this elegant bargain has a lovely balance between ripe fruit and spice plus an excellent aromatic complexity, all lifted by vivacious acidity.