Awesome Facts About Malbec
- Argentina ‘Saved’ Malbec
- Today, Argentina leads production of the grape with over 75% of all the acres of Malbec in the world. In a way, Argentina reinvigorated Malbec as one of the top 18 noble grapes. Now it grows in seven countries and continues to grow in popularity.
- Malbec’s Blind Tasting Tell
- Look for a magenta-tinged rim. Malbec wine is a deep purple-red that is nearly opaque, similar to Syrah and Mourvedre. However, Malbec wines will often have a bright magenta rim.
- Malbec Loves High Elevation
- In lower elevations, Malbec grapes struggle to produce the acidity they need to create great tasting and long lasting wine. High elevation areas with a wide diurnal temperature shift (i.e., hot days, cold nights) make the grapes produce more acidity.
- Not As Much Oak as You Might Think
- Because of Malbec’s bold flavors and richness, many wine tasters believe that industrious use of oak is employed. Not true! In the £7-10 range you’ll find most Argentine Malbec to have only about 6 months of oak aging. 10-12 months of oaking Malbec will give it that classic ‘blueberry’ smell. Some Malbec wines are aged for a long time and are incredibly rich and complex, with one example being the absolutely phenomenal 'Flores' Malbec from Particio Gouguenheim.
- Old World Origins
- Malbec may now be most commonly found in Argentina but historically they came from the Cahors region of France and were described as 'black wines’ as they were charcoal in colour and high in tannin. Drunk as a varietal and also as a blend in Bordeaux wines, the grape was almost wiped out entirely due to the phylloxera plague in the 19th century but thankfully due to improvements in viticulture and processes in the winery, new horizons beckoned and a broader style was born.