One of my favorite varietals to show up at a dinner party or BBQ with is Malbec. Whether it’s French or Argentine Malbec, it’s dark, velvety, and always a crowd pleaser.
Malbec is lighter in tannin than Cabernet Sauvignon, and brings more weight to the table to match red meat, than Pinot Noir.
You can score a delicious bottle of Malbec for $15-$30, and an iconic high end producer’s best for $120. This quality makes it very party friendly. You can pick up a few bottles for a larger group, and not break the bank like you can on wines from Napa or Burgundy.
What Is Malbec?
Malbec is a thin skinned, dark berry varietal that has survived in Bordeaux for over two millennia but is now being perfected at the foothills of the Andes in Argentina.
Qualities And Aromas Of Malbec:
- Black Fruit (Blackberry, Cherry, Plum, Currant, Raisins)
- Red Fruit (Raspberry)
- Blue Fruit (Blueberry)
- Black Pepper
- Smoke, Meat
- Purple Flowers
- Intense Purple Color
- Medium To Medium Plus Tannin
- Medium To Medium High Alcohol
- Velvety Finish
- Slow Ripening Needed
A Brief History Of Malbec:
Malbec is thought to have been brought by the Romans to Southwest France close to 2000 years ago. It settled in Cahors in Southern Bordeaux on limestone.
Malbec was enjoyed on it’s own, or blended with it’s cousin Merlot, and Cab Franc just a few miles north.
In 1868 famous French agricultural engineer Michel Pouget brought cuttings of Malbec to Argentina and a new home was founded.
It’s a good thing Malbec was successfully relocated to the New World because in 1956 a frost in France killed a majority of it’s Malbec vines.
Malbec is now grown in over a dozen countries around the world. It’s enjoyed as a single varietal grape or blended with Bordeaux style grapes to soften them and bring it’s own seductive charm.
Countries Where Malbec Is Grown:
- France
- Argentina
- United States
- Brazil
- Italy
- New Zealand
- Australia
- Bolivia
- Peru
- Chile
- South Africa
Many of the countries listed above, are mountainous with some high altitude points, and valleys. Cold, high altitude air helps Malbec maintain it’s acidity.
Malbec In Argentina
Malbec found it’s home in Mendoza, Salta, La Rioja, San Juan, and Catamarca, Argentina. It moved it’s way to higher and higher plantings. In 1994 Catena planted high altitude grapes in Uco Valley and Lujan de Cuyo (3800-5000 ft.) at the base of the Andes.
Consistent sunshine and cool nights provide perfect ripening, while sand and clay mixtures help with drainage and prevent rot. Argentina proves to have ideal conditions for Malbec.
Weather and soil differences tend to make Argentinian Malbec less tannic and gamey than French Malbec, and more fruity and floral. (And boozy by almost 1 or 2 percent.)
What Foods Pair With Malbec?
Malbec has medium to medium plus tannins and nice acid, so it’s fantastic with lean red meat, BBQ, and mushrooms.
Lamb and mint actually bring out the depth of Malbec as the savory and spicy ingredients resonate. Malbec has a touch of fennel, garlic, and pepper on the nose at time and it shines here.
Steak is very carefully taken care of and widely appreciated throughout Argentina. It’s a good thing they’re growing the perfect grape to enjoy with all sorts of cuts of steak!
The surprising pairing for Malbec is the BBQ Chicken Pizza. Tangy, spicy, peppery sauce meet the bright red, black, and blue fruit to create this wild jamboree of fun complexity!
(Props to California Pizza Kitchen/ Caioti Pizza for creating the BBQ Chicken Pizza!)
Tight relationships and collaborations between Old World French Malbec winemakers and New World Argentinian producers result in expertly crafted bottles that you could hardly tell the home of.
In California you can find small parcels of Malbec blended into Chalk Hill red Bordeaux blends and famous Meritage.
Let’s hear it for Malbec, and what some call the “rustic version of Merlot!”
Cheers!
