Malbec
Malbec grapes
Species:	Vitis vinifera
Also called:	Auxerrois in Cahors, Côt, Pressac
Origin:	France
Notable regions:	Argentina, Chile, Cahors

Malbec is a black grape variety originally brought to France by a Hungarian peasant, where it was grown in the Loire Valle and Cahors. Long known as one of the six grapes used in the blending of red Bordeaux wine, it is increasingly celebrated as an Argentine varietal wine. It is also grown in Chile, on Long Island, New York, and in the cooler regions of California.

Description

The Malbec grape is a thin skinned grape and needs more sun and heat than either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot to mature. It ripens “midseason” and it can bring very deep color, ample tannin, and a particular plum-like flavor component to add complexity to claret blends. Sometimes, especially in its traditional growing regions, it is not trellised and cultivated as bush vines (the goblet system). Here it is sometimes kept to a relatively low yield of about 6 tons per hectare. The wines are rich, dark and juicy.  As a varietal it creates a rather inky red (or violet), intense wine, so it is also commonly used in blends, such as with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon to create the renowned red French Bordeaux “claret” blend. Other wine regions use the grape to produce Bordeaux-style blends. The grape also needs a high differential between day and evening temperatures, a minimum fluctuation of 27 degrees Fahrenheit in a day. The varietal is sensitive to frost and has a proclivity to shatter or coulure. The grape is also blended with Cabernet franc and Gamay in some regions such as Loire Valley.

Called Auxerrois or Cot Noir in Cahors, called Malbec in Bordeaux, and Pressac in other places, the grape became less popular in Bordeaux after 1956 when frost killed off 75% of the crop. However, Malbec continued to be popular in Cahors where it was mixed with Merlot and Tannat to make dark, full-bodied wines, and more recently has been made into 100% malbec wines there. Despite a similar name, the grape Malbec Argente is not Malbec either but rather the southwestern France grape Abouriou. The grape is also confused with Auxerroirs blanc, which is an entirely different variety.

Regions

Malbec leaves

Malbec is the dominant red varietal in Cahors where the Appellation Controlée regulations for Cahors require a minimum content of 70%.

Introduced to Argentina by French agricultural engineer Michel Pouget in 1868, Malbec is widely planted in Argentina producing a softer, less-tannic driven variety than the wines of Cahors. The best examples of these wines come from the Argentine region of Mendoza. In Argentina, where Malbec seems to have found a natural home, the grape is used to produce very popular varietal wines. It is now thought that the variety known as Fer in that country is a clone. Although the grape is currently Argentina’s premier grape, wine makers tried to remove it from the vineyard. In the 1980s Argentina a “vine pull” program was initiated until there were only 10,000 acres (4000 ha) of the grape left. In the 1990s, Malbec’s potential and the increase of wine exports from South America saved the grape.

There were once 50,000 hectares planted with Malbec in Argentina; now there are 25,000 hectares. Chile has about 6,000 hectares planted, France 5,300 hectares and California just 45 hectares. In California the grape is used to make Meritage. Malbec is also grown in Washington State, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, British Columbia and northeastern Italy.