While most people think of Argentine wines when referencing Malbec wine, French winemakers have quickly caught up over recent decades by reviving old vineyards or continuing plantings within favorable pockets of soil composition (e.g., Cahors Malbec). The plantings were spread throughout central regions of Mendoza where they found ideal climates for growing grapes with results unlike anywhere else in the world. It wasn’t until Argentina adopted it as their national wine in 1883 that Malbec saw significant growth and recognition. In France, this grape was historically blended and had little presence on its own. In wine, the term Malbec is used to describe a grape varietal that has been grown around the world. It has dark fruit flavors while retaining dryness which allows it to be paired with many foods.īut where did this unique, dry red wine come from? And how does it compare to other wines?Īll these questions and more will be answered in this blog post! History of the Malbec Grape Malbec wine is the full-bodied red wine of the moment. Today, it’s now Argentina’s most important grape.The wine industry is an ever-changing one, and it’s important to understand what wine you are drinking. It was first planted by a nostalgic French botanist in 1868 who hoped to improve wine quality in the region. The grape really didn’t rise to fame until it was brought into Mendoza, Argentina. Malbec is an important blending grape in Bordeaux but, because of its poor resistance to fungal diseases and pests, it never surfaced as a top grape. The thick-skinned grape was a natural cross of two esoteric varieties: Prunelard from Gaillac and Magdeleine des Charentes from Montpellier (the mother of Merlot!). Malbec, which is also called Côt (“coat”) or “Auxxerois,” comes from Sud-Ouest, France. Cahors on the left and Uco Valley on the right. Outside of Argentina, look to Cahors, France and Walla Walla on the Oregon / Washington border. Region Specific: The Uco Valley and Luján de Cuyo in Mendoza consistently produce top-rated Malbec wines. Also, residual sugar is little to none (less than 1 g/L). Tech Notes: Acidity (sourness) is usually between 5–7 g/L and pH ranges from 3.65–3.75 in the top-rated wines we found tech sheets on. It’s not uncommon to see quality Malbec wines age for 15–24 months prior to release (regardless of whether it’s oaked or neutral oak/tank-aged). Typically, the more time a wine spends in the cellar, the higher investment the winery is making into giving the wine ample time to develop before it hits the market. Here’s what to look for when seeking out high quality Malbec wine:Įxtended Aging: Good Malbec can handle cellar aging. Malbec grows particularly well in sunny climates with cool nighttime temperatures. When you compare that to the icon wines of Burgundy – which start at $250,– Malbec offers incredible quality for the price. The icon producers in Sub Regions of Mendoza charge well above $100 a bottle, but you can find top-quality Malbec for around $50 from lesser-known producers.

Extended aging (in tank or oak), brings out rich chocolatey flavors and velvety textures. This is what you should expect to spend for higher-end reserva, or select vineyard wines from high-quality producers of all sizes. Entry level wines, which are usually produced in large quantities, tend to focus on Malbec’s smooth, juicy-fruity style without much oak. There are essentially three unofficial quality tiers of Malbec from Argentina based on price.

Price Quality Pyramid of Malbec Wines in 2017 How Much Should I Spend?

Affordable Malbec wines may only get 4–6 months in oak whereas, top-shelf Malbec get as much as 18–20 months in oak. Malbec is so fruity and smooth, it often doesn’t need as much oak-aging.

Mark your calendars! World Malbec Day is April 17th (add wine days to your calendar – iCal link).

Malbec is a blending grape in Red Bordeaux Blends.

Single-varietal Malbec wines are tasty, but be sure to try a Malbec blend with Cabernet Sauvignon. Malbec struggles to maintain acidity in lower elevations but does fabulously in higher elevation spots where there is a large diurnal temperature shift (cold nights and sunny days).

Blind tasting clue! One of Malbec’s classic “tells” in blind tasting is its bright magenta rim and opaque purple color.

Today, Malbec makes up three quarters of Argentina’s vineyards and is spread throughout the world. Before Argentina took on Malbec, it was just a minor grape in South-West France. These skins have high levels of the color pigment (anthocyanin). Sunshine helps ripen Malbec’s thick skins. It is a great choice with leaner red meats (ostrich anyone?) and does wonders with melted blue cheese. Try pairing it with a burger! by Mikko Kuhna Blue cheese brings out the fruitiness in Malbec.

Malbec wine grapes