I don’t believe it to be such a ‘heavy red wine’. As the Argentine wine industry discovered the unique quality of wine that could be made from the grape, Malbec arose to greater prominence and is today the most widely planted red grape variety in the country. In Bordeaux, where the variety first gained attention, it was known under the synonym Pressac. Malbec is one of six grapes allowed in a red Bordeaux blend. Malbec grapes are susceptible to coulure and frost—the prime reason for its downfall in France. He studied the climate, the soils, the plantings, the farming. Other regions with some plantings of Malbec include north Italy,[3] New Zealand, Brazil, South Africa, the Canadian regions of British Columbia and Ontario, Peru, Bolivia and Mexico, and Southern Indiana and Israeli wine in the Negev Teperberg 1870. Luca Malbec Uco Valley (About $25) Refined, ripe and ready, and built on the back of almost 50-year … Argentinian Malbec has grip, depth, concentration, and an irresistibly velvety texture. [3], Other common synonyms for Malbec include Agreste, Auxerrois, Auxerrois De Laquenexy, Auxerrois Des Moines De Picpus, Auxerrois Du Mans, Balouzat, Beran, Blanc De Kienzheim, Cahors, Calarin, Cauli, Costa Rosa, Côt, Cot A Queue Verte, Cotes Rouges, Doux Noir, Estrangey, Gourdaux, Grelot De Tours, Grifforin, Guillan, Hourcat, Jacobain, Luckens, Magret, Malbek, Medoc Noir, Mouranne, Navarien, Negre De Prechac, Negrera, Noir De Chartres, Noir De Pressac, Noir Doux, Nyar De Presak, Parde, Périgord, Pied De Perdrix, Pied Noir, Pied Rouge, Pied Rouget, Piperdy, Plant D'Arles, Plant De Meraou, Plant du Lot, Plant Du Roi, Prechat, Pressac, Prunieral, Quercy, Queue Rouge, Quille De Coy, Romieu, Teinturin, Terranis, Vesparo. The other wine notably high is from a Tannat grape. The Malbec grape is believed to have originated in France, and is often used as a component in blended French wines such as Bordeaux. [1] In Cahors, the Malbec grape is referred to as Auxerrois or Côt Noir; this is sometimes confused with Auxerrois blanc, which is an entirely different variety. [3] In California, the American Viticultural Areas (AVA) with the most plantings of Malbec include Napa Valley, Alexander Valley, Paso Robles and Sonoma Valley. What does Malbec wine taste like? Malbec is a black-skinned grape variety native to southwestern France (specifically the area around Cahors), but now better known as the iconic wine grape of Argentina.Through its success in the vineyards of Mendoza, in a few short decades Malbec has shot from relative obscurity to international fame, simultaneously bringing newfound attention and respect to Argentina as a wine-producing nation. Malbec is a full-bodied and acidic, deep purple-red wine with juicy fruit flavors like plum and black cherry. [3], Though the grape was historically a major planting in Bordeaux, providing color and fruit to its blends, in the 20th century it started to lose ground to Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Malbec Wine Flavor at a Glance. On April 17, 1853, Sarmiento tasked Michel Aimé Pouget, a French soil expert, to bring new vines to Argentina.Among the varietals Pouget brought was Malbec. However, there’s more to Malbec than just value. According to sommelier Kevin Cornish, Malbec is a lush, ripe wine with dark concentrated flavors. I believe the work being done in the Catena Wine Institute is vital to the continued success of Argentine Malbec. While sherry has a bit of a milder flavor, it is a fairly similar wine in terms of cooking. [5] It ripens mid-season and can bring very deep color, ample tannin, and a particular plum-like flavor component which adds complexity to claret blends. Too high a yield, as was the circumstance in Argentina until recently[when?] The Malbec of the Cahors region is much more tannic with more phenolic compounds that contribute to its dark color. Yorkville Highlands, Oakville, Paicines, Clements Hills, Fair Play, Willow Creek, North Yuba, and Yountville. Malbec wines from Argentina tend to have fruit flavours of black cherry, plum, and blackberry. Malbec is mostly produced in Argentina, however it is also known as Auxerrois, Côt Noir, or Pressac, depending on where you are in the world. French Malbec is mainly grown as a single varietal in Cahors, and is also known as Côt in regions of the Loire Valley. Malbec grapes have a dark, purplish, inky color that leads to a strong, dark red or violet wine. Malbec. Although malbec-based wines can fall all over the flavor profile spectrum, these wines are generally inky, dark-hued and marked by robust tannins. Malbec is one of the very few grape varieties, like Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay, that has become a brand name familiar to non-wine buffs. Additionally, there are some plantings in Missouri and Georgia outside of federally delineated appellations. Malbec originated in the Bordeaux region of France and is one of the red wine grapes allowed in the production of Bordeaux wines, although its use today is not that prominent. Malbec seems to be able to produce well in a variety of soil types but in the limestone based soils of Cahors it seems to produce its most dark and tannic manifestation. [13][14] Today, there are several Malbecs from the region scoring over 95 points in Wine Spectator and Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate. While Malbec is the name most commonly known to wine drinkers, Galet suggest that Côt was most likely the grape variety's original name and the frequent appearance of Auxerrois as a synonym suggests the northern reaches of Burgundy as being the possible home of the varietal. The success and popularity of Argentine Malbec has made Australian winemakers sit up and take note. $21 | Rating: 14.5/20. [1] There are distinct ampelographical differences in the clones of Malbec found in France and in Argentina, with Argentine Malbec tending to have smaller berries. By 1968, plantings in the Libournais were down to 4,900 hectares (12,100 acres) and fell further to 1,400 hectares (3,460 acres) by 2000. Australia’s international success with blockbuster reds means there is a growing interest in adding Malbec to the portfolio with Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. Malbec is a dry red wine that appeals to the masses due to its affordability and approachable, juicy fruit flavors. [3] The Mendoza region is the leading producer of Malbec in Argentina with plantings found throughout the country in places such as La Rioja, Salta, San Juan, Catamarca and Buenos Aires. So we’re getting a good wine for half the price it might otherwise be if wrapped in a different label. Yes, apart from Mendoza, the southern Uco Valley has great wines made by O. Fournier. 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). There are different degrees of complexity in Malbec depending upon the winemaker and the region it is made in. [13][17][18][19] In 1994, he was the first to plant a Malbec vineyard at almost 1500 m (5,000 feet) elevation in the Gualtallary sub-district of Tupungato, the Adrianna Vineyard. Some may be very robust and masculine, with others slightly softer and feminine. Chile has about 6,000 hectares planted, France 5,300 hectares, and in the cooler regions of California just 45 hectares. Cahors wines must have a minimum of 70% malbec, and they’re hoping to capitalise on the grape’s growing popularity. Sometimes used for red wine blends, the grapes are also used to make a luscious wine of the same name. 2007 Malbec. The spice, leather and smoky flavor backed by berry notes allows for a wide array of food pairings. [12] While they lack the tannic structure of French Malbecs, being more plush in texture, Argentine Malbecs have shown aging potential similar to their French counterparts. While Malbec has since become a popular component of New World meritages or Bordeaux blends, and although it is still a permitted variety in all major wine regions of Bordeaux, its presence in Bordeaux has dwindled; the only significant plantings are in the regions of the Côtes-de-Bourg, Blaye and Entre-Deux-Mers. Originating in Cahors in the Bordeaux region of France, malbec (also known as côt) is now the iconic grape and signature red wine of Argentina. Malbec goes incredibly well with pork loin or lechon, as well as with flank steak and beef stew. Among the vines that Pouget brought were the very first Malbec vines to be planted in the country. [4], The Malbec grape is a thin-skinned grape and needs more sun and heat than either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot to mature. It contains beautiful black fruit flavors and aromatics of spice and some floral notes at times. Malbec Wine Flavor at a Glance. Subscribe to our mailing list and get interesting stuff and updates to your email inbox. Malbec is a fickle grape and a bad frost in 1956 caused many vintners to give up on it. The grapes tend to have an inky dark colour and robust tannins, with relatively low acidity. Georges Vigouroux 2016 Château de Haute-Serre (Cahors); $24, 92 points. Interestingly, Malbec has a much higher concentration of these healthy antioxidants than other varieties. Dry Sherry. The grape was first introduced to the region in the mid 19th century when provincial governor Domingo Faustino Sarmiento instructed the French agronomist Michel Pouget to bring grapevine cuttings from France to Argentina. Grown throughout the Central Valley, Chilean Malbec tends to be more tannic than its counterpart and is used primarily in Bordeaux-style blends. Although malbec-based wines can fall all over the flavor profile spectrum, these wines are generally inky, dark-hued and marked by robust tannins. On the valley floor, there are different methods of harvest, different pruning and different vine training. This non-alcoholic option is a good call if you’re trying to be booze-free or if you … Malbec (pronounced [mal.bɛk]) is a purple grape variety used in making red wine. We respect your privacy and take protecting it seriously. [30], Phenolic Composition of Malbec: A Comparative Study of Research-Scale Wines between Argentina and the United States, Pierre-Antoine Rovani's Wine Personalities of the Year, Nicolás Catena honoured as Decanter Man of the Year, "The Might of Mendoza: the romantic tale behind Argentina's booming malbec grape", This £4.37 Asda red wine has been named best in show by industry experts, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Malbec&oldid=993077989, All articles with vague or ambiguous time, Vague or ambiguous time from October 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 8 December 2020, at 17:50. [7] The varietal is sensitive to frost and has a propensity for shattering or coulure. I believe you can find a varied range, all having similar characteristics in fruit and aroma, but some more elegant than others. Malbec is a team player. Copyright Wine Traveler, LLC © 2020. 85% Malbec … Known for its plump, dark fruit flavors and smoky finish, Malbec wine offers a great alternative to higher priced Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. The future of Malbec Wine. The grape is blended with Cabernet Franc and Gamay in some regions such as the Loire Valley. 1. Malbec is one of the six wines used to make Bordeaux wine. I feel that movement of the greater winemakers to allow their Malbec wine to become the ultimate expression of Argentine soil and culture is well on its way. It is renown for its full-bodied flavor and notes of floral licorice. Malbec is also known as Côt in France's Loire Valley. 00 ($55.00/Count) There are different degrees of complexity in Malbec depending upon the winemaker and the region it is made in. [8] Malbec grown in Washington state tends to be characterized by dark fruit notes and herbal aromas. Sometimes, especially in its traditional growing regions, it is not trellised but is instead cultivated as bush vines (the goblet system). Limestone, Clay, Forest Floor, Underbrush, Smoke, Tobacco, Mushroom, Leather Saddle, Cracked Black & Red Pepper, Cacao. Notable Regions of Production: Bordeaux | Nevada | South West France | Languedoc | New Zealand | Mendoza. This wine pairs well with cheeses like Monterey Jack, Colby, and Asiago. Bodega Catena. The health benefits of red wine are proven, and in moderation, all alcohol has protective effects on the heart and cardiovascular system especially. This mighty Malbec is luxuriously lush with refined, dark berry flavors of raspberry, plum and dark cherry that glide into a seriously smooth, sultry finish that lasts and lasts. Argentina has adopted Malbec as its national grape whereas the popularity and total plantings of Malbec in France has declined over the past century. 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France plus Italy and Spain wine regions these bacteria can impact different,... Began a wine revolution in Argentina until recently [ when? bacteria can impact different flavors, and... Similar to the portfolio with Shiraz and Cabernet sauvignon in Eng and NI or in! Leap in quality and taste many acres of Malbec in France and Argentina good wine half... This … Malbec is one of the six grape varieties that can be mixed Bordeaux! With full, rich taste the South West region of France the hottest categories... Method are rich, dark red or violet wine and four times Merlot! ( Cahors ) ; $ 24, 92 points for Cahors require a of. Chile has about 6,000 hectares planted, France is responsible for just 8 of. That 25 years ago the word ‘ Malbec ’ was almost unknown has great wines made by wineries such the. Inky, purple-red hue wine for half the price it might otherwise be if wrapped in cheaper. Relatively low acidity known to contain more antioxidants than other varieties of grape milder flavor, it is a grape. A wide array of food pairings their heavy use of flood irrigation, produces wines that are simplistic... High a yield, as elsewhere in France and Argentina it to be characterized its! In quality and taste mid to late 20th century as the Loire Valley the foothills the... Tobacco flavour on the grape’s growing popularity be characterized by its deep color intense! Dominant red varietal in Cahors where the variety first gained attention, it is made in HUGE in! Soft and elegant the vineyards of Mendoza floral licorice and taste a plusher texture and riper tannins Argentina is a! Dark purple wine that appeals to the portfolio with Shiraz and Cabernet sauvignon ) to help how... Other areas of the southwestern French grape Abouriou, plantings of Malbec in France has declined over the profile. And Attilio Pagli there are different degrees of complexity in Malbec depending upon the winemaker and the it! Getting a good wine for half the price it might otherwise be if wrapped in different!

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