Malbec Wine
For most novice wine drinkers, their only experience with red wine is drinking a Cabernet blend, a Merlot, or an occasional Chianti in an Italian restaurant. But, as consumers become more knowledgeable about wine and the demand for more choices increases, other varietals are becoming increasingly available. One red varietal that has become a new favorite for many oenophiles is Malbec.Malbec is a black grape that originated in France. It had been grown primarily in the Loire Valley as one of the six grapes used to make the famous Bordeaux wines. In the late 1800s, a French agricultural engineer began experimenting with growing Malbec in the South American country of Argentina. It was a success, and in fact, the grapes grown in Argentina produced a softer, less tannin-driven flavor that was perfect for blending or for producing a single varietal wine.
Malbec is now considered the premier grape of Argentina. Referred to there as "Fer," the best examples of these wines are produced in the Mendoza Valley region. Malbec is also widely grown in Chile, where it is frequently mixed with Merlot, and in smaller amounts in the United States and New Zealand. Ironically, it is no longer grown in large amounts in France because of its susceptibility to frost damage.
Because Malbec is a mid-bodied wine, it is a perfect choice with roast meats such as turkey or chicken. The flavors of a good Malbec should include: cherry, plum, raspberry, and occasionally chocolate. Aging in oak barrels can also bring out aromas of vanilla and leather. It has a limited cellar potential of approximately five years and is ideally poured at 58F degrees.
Sales of Malbec have dramatically increased in the last five years. Exported primarily from Argentina, consumers have taken to the wine because of its reasonable price, food pairing capabilities, and its fruity flavor. In fact, because of the success of Malbec, Argentina is now the fifth largest producer of wine in the world. The future development of Malbec looks to be very bright as consumers are increasingly demanding good value in their wines and are willing to experiment with new varietals from lesser-known winegrowing regions.
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