Malbec: Are you Team France or Team Argentina?
Last week I told you that Malbec is spicy, tangy, and punchy, like a donkey kick.
This is generally true (especially compared to other familiar grapes like Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot).
However, what’s much more important in influencing the taste of wine is not necessarily the grape itself, but the place in which it’s from. The idea of terroir is one of, if the the most important concepts in wine. (Read a quick primer on terroir here.)
For example, that Malbec will taste worlds different depending on whether it’s a Malbec from SW France (where the grape originated centuries ago) or Argentina (the current, iconic home of modern-day Malbec).
Argentinian Malbecs are fruitier in general. The fruit notes are plump and juicy. They are fuller in flavor and their tannins tend to be softer and more velvety in texture.
On the other hand, Malbecs from SW France (eg, Cahors) will be much more subtle in their fruitiness. The fruit notes are underripe, tart, and might be described as “green.” They have more herbaceousness and their tannins are rougher and more rustic (ie, they have a higher astringency).
All you really have to remember is this: where a wine comes from is often more important than the grape itself.
That’s one of our top three tips to remember when shopping for wine. Want to know our other top tips to be a full-on wine-shopping pro? We got you. Read our top three wine shopping tips here.
The two grapes that really steal the show in your Bordeaux reds are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. There’s a big difference in style between the two. So, how do they taste different, and how do you know which one you’re getting (cause it won’t say on the label)?