Malbec

Species: 

• Vitis vinifera

Type:

• Black

Origin:

• Malbec is native to the Cahors region of France.

Parents:

• Cross between Magdeleine Noire Des Charentes and Prunelard

Principal Regions:

• Argentina, France, US

Viticulture:

• Thick-skinned variety with high levels of anthocyanin (color pigment).
• An early budding variety making it susceptible to spring frosts.

Sensory Characteristics:

• Malbec yields wines with deep color, moderate tannins and acid balanced with elevated alcohol levels.
• Typical aromas are plum, blueberry, lilac, sweet tobacco and vanilla.

Food Pairings:

• Pairs with a wide variety of dishes, particularly lean red meats, and blue or soft cheeses.

History:

• Favored by France’s Francis I, it was once known as “la plante du roi”, or “the King’s plant”.
• First brought to Argentina in 1853, it gained focus due to the historic 1855 Bordeaux Classification in France where it played a large part in the Premier Cru Classé wines of the region.  This spurred Argentina to increase its plantings.

Notes:

• Called Côt (pronounced “coat”) in France.
• One of the principal grapes of Argentina, particularly the Mendoza region. 
• Sometimes referred to as the national grape of Argentina.

Other names:

Agreste, Aneroir, Ausseres, Auxerrais, Auxerrois, Auxerrois De Laquenexy, Auxerrois Des Moines De Picpus, Auxerrois Du Mans, Auxerrois Le Fin, Balloussat, Balouzal, Balouzat, Beran, Beraou, Berau, Besparo, Blanc De Kienzheim, Blanc De Kienzkeim, Bordelais Noir, Boucares, Bouchales, Bouchalles, Bouchares, Bourguignon Noir, Bouyssales, Bouyssalet, Cagors, Cahors, Calarin, Calavin, Calavu, Caours, Cauli, Cauly, Cauny, Chalosse Petite Noire, Chaors, Chors, Claverie, Claverie Noire, Clavier, Co, Coly, Coq Rouge, Cor, Cors, Cos, Costa Rosa, Costa Rossa, Costo Roujo, Cot A Queue Rouge, Cot A Queue Verte, Cot De Bordeaux, Cot De Pays, Cot De Touraine, Cot Malbec, Cot O Cot, Cot Rouge, Cote Rouge, Cotes Rouges, Cots, Couisse, Cruchinet, Damas, Deux Seme, Doux Noir, Doux Same, Estranger, Estrangey, Etaulier, Etranger, Etranger Petit, Fin Auxerrois, Franc Moreau, Got Noir, Gourdaux, Gourdoux, Grand Vesparo, Grande Parde, Grappe Rouge, Grelot De Tour, Grelot De Tours, Griffarin, Grifforin, Grolleau, Gros Auxerrois, Gros Noir, Gros Pied Rouge, Gros Pied Rouge Merille, Grosse Merille, Guillan, Hourcat, Iacobin Blauer, Jacobain, Jacobin, Jacobin Blauer, Jacobin Noir, Kot, Le Cot, Lou Salbaire, Luckens, Lukens, Lutkens, Magret, Magrot, Malbec, Malbech, Malbeck, Malbeck Doux, Malbeck Noir, Malbek, Malbek Blau, Malbett A Queue Rouge, Mancin, Margrot, Maurac, Mausat, Mauzac, Mauzain, Mauzat, Medoc, Medoc Noir, Merillat, Merille, Monrame, Mourame, Mourane, Mouranne, Moussac, Moussin, Moustere, Mouzat, Moza, Navarien, Negre De Prechac, Negre Doux, Negre Prechac, Negre Prechat, Negrera, Noir De Chartres, Noir De Pressac, Noir Doux, Nuar De Presac, Nyar De Presak, Oeil De Perdrix, Parde, Peperdy, Perigord, Petit Vesparo, Pied De Perdrix, Pied Doux, Pied Noir, Pied Rouge, Pied Rouget, Piperdy, Plant D’arles, Plant De Beraou, Plant De Meraou, Plant De Peraou, Plant De Roi, Plant Du Lot, Plant Du Roi, Plant Houdee, Plant Rouge, Prechat, Pressac, Prolongeau, Prunelat, Prunieral, Quercy, Queue Rouge, Quille De Coq, Quillot, Raisin De Co, Romieu, Rougeau, Roumieu, Saint Emilion, Saint Hilaire, Soumansigne, Teinturier, Teinturin, Terranis, Tinturin, Tinturin De La Libarde, Vega Sicilia, Vesparo, Vesparol