![]() The Reserve is in French oak for six months, and a further six months in bottle. The Premium Malbec has no oak contact and four months bottle-ageing. This accounts for some of the cost increase, but there are other factors such as oak- and bottle-ageing that will affect the price. The grapes are sorted according to quality, and fewer bottles are made of the more expensive wines. The wines are all made at Domaine Bousquet in Tupungato, in the Andean foothills outside of Mendoza, where the grapes benefit from plenty of sunlight and temperature swings, said to add extra flavour and freshness. Their ‘Premium’, ‘Reserve’ and top-level ‘Gran’ Malbecs are great examples of what you get as you spend a bit more. Why not do your own test on Good, Better, Best?įeaturing two bottles of each of the popular organic Malbecs from Domaine Bousquet. Known for its plump, dark fruit flavours and smoky finish, Malbec wine offers a great alternative to higher-priced Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.Ever wondered what you get for spending extra on your bottles of wine? Then try these three superb Malbec wines which go from £12.50 to £15.50 to £21.00 per bottle. On the spice front, earthy or smoky flavours such as sumac, thyme, smoked paprika, cumin, coriander, juniper berry, vanilla bean and garlic work well.įor vegetarians, Malbec pairs beautifully with mushrooms, roasted vegetables, green and red bell peppers, rocket, kale, chard, grilled chicory, onion and beetroot. Malbec pairs especially well with dark meat, game and poultry, and lean red meat. Because of this, Malbec is great with leaner red meats and does extremely well with blue cheese. When it comes to pairing, unoaked Malbec doesn’t have a super long finish. ![]() No oak is used, letting the pure fruit of these special grapes shine. Owners Julien and Sophie use a traditional short fermentation to obtain maximum fruit extraction. The Ilberts have been farming vines in Cahors since 1901 on the region’s famed limestone plateau. Most of France’s Malbec is found in Cahors, a small town on the switchback River Lot that gently flows towards Bordeaux. Recognisably a Malbec, yet at just 12.5% alcohol, it’s a genuine easy-drinking red wine – you could even serve it slightly chilled in warmer summer months. We carry the 2021 vintage which is widely regarded as the best year for this wine. Produced by Château Combel-la-Serre, this wine is suitable for vegans and it’s organic too. The second contender is the Château Combel-la-Serre Le Pur Fruit de Causse from France, priced at £16.00. It’s an easy-drinking Malbec perfect for a weekend afternoon. You’ll smell red currant, cassis, blackcurrant, and plums with a little smokey finish. This Argentinian Malbec is really fresh, ripe, and juicy with a lick of mintiness and a puff of oak smoke on the way down. If you’re looking for a good Malbec to try, we’ve picked out two really strong contenders, one from Argentina and one from France.įirst up is the Malma Esencia Malbec from Argentina, priced at £10.40. However, Malbec wines will often have a bright magenta rim.Īlthough some people have strong opinions about whether French or Argentinian Malbec is the best – we think they’re both outstanding and each holds its own. ![]() Malbec wine is a deep purple-red that is nearly opaque, similar to Syrah and Mourvedre. Many wine tasters believe oak ageing is best, but most Argentine Malbecs only have about 6 – 12 months of oak ageing, which gives it a classic ‘blueberry’ smell. One of the reasons for its growing popularity is because of Malbec’s bold flavours and richness. Now it grows in numerous countries and continues to gain popularity. In a way, Argentina reinvigorated Malbec as one of the top 18 noble grapes. Today, Argentina leads the production of the grape with over 75% of all the acres of Malbec production in the world. Although Cahors in France now produces incredible Malbec (more on this later) it found a new home in Mendoza, Argentina, where a nostalgic French botanist planted it by order of the mayor in 1868. Although it quickly became common as a blending grape, it never surfaced as a top French variety due to the grapes’ poor resistance to weather and pests and a tendency to suffer in Bordeaux’s changeable climate. The Malbec grape is originally from France, specifically a natural cross of two varieties that grow in the southeast. This special day commemorates the founding of Argentina’s first agronomy school in 1853, to study European soil and grapes, including the Malbec grape. ![]() Are you a Malbec lover? If so, you’ll be happy to know that World Malbec Day is right around the corner on Monday 17th April. ![]()
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