IT’S the kind of establishment that finds itself featured in weekender magazines as one of “13 best independent bars in Yorkshire” or “11 hidden gems in York”.

Victor Js Art Bar, half-hidden away on Finkle Street, little more than a snicket off St Sampson's Square, also has claims to be York’s first cafe-bar and the first to showcase artists’ exhibitions.

So what’s all that got to do with this column?

Well, it offers “a friendly ambience, good food, premium beers, and...” (this is where we come in) “...fine wines”.

A new arrival among its small, select offerings of reds, and one we wanted to try, is a 2014 Casa Bonita Malbec, the 2013 vintage of which happened to win a gold award in this year's London Sommelier Awards. Ooh, very posh.

Now, the Malbec grape originates in France but these days is probably more widely known as an Argentinian varietal (a wine made primarily from a single grape variety). This Casa Bonita, though, hails from Spain.

Call me odd but I’ve always liked Malbec with cumin-rich Indian food. However, it generally goes well with steak so it’d be worth having with one of VJs’ quality burgers off their global comfort food menu. Ooh, with blue cheese on top.

Priced at £16.95 (obviously more than you’d pay in a supermarket but about par in a city-centre bar), it is rich in colour and has intense fruity flavours - which in worst cases can be overbearing but here doesn't go too far.

It's powerful but smooth on the palate so it's also a decent tipple to sip while chatting away - or perusing the art around VJs’ walls.

On another note, given we haven't got much of summer left (what summer?!), it might be worth mentioning a couple of economical rosés before autumn sets in for good.

Two are on offer at Waitrose until September 15: Italia Pinot Grigio Rosé, hailing from Pavia, is down to £5.99 from £7.49, and Mirabeau from the Provence region of France, which is famous for its rosés given its beneficial sunny climate and conditions, is down 20 per cent to £7.39.

The former is easy to swig down so it’s probably a good thing it’s only 11.5 per cent.

Dry, light and reasonably fruity, it’s largely inoffensive (but not uninteresting, as shown by it's International Wine Challenge Best Value Rosé award) and will go well with any seafood or cold pasta picnic if the weather ever befits a day in the park.

A wine with a bit more fruity kick is the International Challenge Silver award-winning Mirabeau.

It is just as refreshing but more fragrant with a pleasing oomph.

It's said to go with a wide variety of cuisines but it’s arguably better as an aperitif or a standalone tipple outdoors.

Assuming it’s not raining again.