Earlier this week, I asked a co-worker what she would like to read about on the blog. She mentioned that she and her husband recently wandered the aisles of the neighborhood liquor store and were intrigued by the Malbec selections. What is Malbec? What does it taste like? What should they purchase? They were curious and needed more information. Her husband is a Merlot fan, but is interested in exploring other wine.
Of all the responses, I didn’t expect that she would give this one! Last week, at my weekly virtual tasting at My Wine School, www.mywineschool.com, our selection was a… French Malbec from Cahors! And as I write this, I have opened (and had already planned to do so with dinner) a…Malbec from Argentina for comparison purposes! Mon Dieu! So, let’s take a brief look~
What is Malbec?
- purple grape variety~
- thick skinned grape which, in general, needs more sun and heat that Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot to mature~
- grown in the Cahors appellation of southwest France where regulations require that the minimum content of Malbec in a blend of wine is 70% (but its overall popularity in France has declined since a 1956 frost in the Bordeaux region devastated the vineyards there – Cahors replanted and it’s still popular in that region…)
- introduced to Argentina around 1868 by a French agricultural engineer who wanted to improve the quality of Argentine wines…(and this is such a long story about economic reversals, Eva Peron mandating the dilution of wine with water *don’t cry for Eva, cry for the wine drinkers* , etc., etc., and the revival of the quality and reputation of Argentine wines around twenty years ago) and finally Malbec is one of the predominant varietals of that country~
- grown in the United States where Malbec is most widely used in blending, but the California Malbec is garnering more attention~
The Taste of a Malbec Wine~
- Argentine Malbec has a deep ruby color, floral aromas, intense dark fruit flavors, and a smooth texture
- A French Malbec from Cahors tends to have tobacco, raisin, and red fruits on the palate with soft tannins
- One wine expert, Janice Robinson, feels that the French style of Malbec is a “rustic” version of merlot – soft tannins, lower acidity. An Argentine wine importer, Nick Ramkowsky, thinks of Malbec a “meatier, manlier version of Merlot” which is “straightforward” and “the best Malbecs also have a lively acidity and approachable tannins”. In essence, a Malbec is not a “little” wine, but a pretty darn good one (those are my words)!
What Should I Purchase?
- Find a Malbec within your price range and that will be easy to do. There are plenty of good selections from Argentina which are well under $20.00 and some nice California choices with Malbec as a blend.
- Try a Malbec from Cahors in France and compare it to one from Argentina.
- A smooth, deep fruit Malbec will pair successfully with red meats, Italian food, and perhaps roasted turkey or chicken.
- Perhaps you will enjoy my selections below! And if you try another, I’d love to know your choice~
2008 Chateau LaBrande – From Cahors, this Malbec had a deep (and I mean deep) ruby color since apparently the vintners heat the grapes before fermentation. The blend was 90% Malbec and 10% Merlot and it worked for me. With intense red fruits (I felt that it was fruitier than the Argentine style), medium acid, and medium tannins, this was a nice wine which I will purchase again. It was balanced but not too complex which was fine with moi. At $13.00, this should be on your list to try with a juicy steak – maybe on the grill during the holidays.
2009 Alma Andina Reserve Malbec – Again with a deep ruby color, this Malbec from the Uco Valley in Mendoza, Argentina was very smooth and paired nicely with our Italian food which had rich tomato sauces. It was aged for six months in French and American oak barrels and I tasted dark fruit flavors such as raspberry and blackberry with cherry and vanilla on the finish. At 14% alcohol and $14.00 price tag, you may love this with the Grinch’s Roast Beast for dinner.
If you would like to try something different or have been curious about Malbec, just try it! The price is spot on and you just may have a new “grape experience”! So, have yourself a merry not-so-little Malbec tonight!
Cheers ~ Cindy
Have Yourself a Merry (little?) Malbec~
