Good here...better in the bottle
A recent trip to Argentina (re)introduced us to the beauty of the Malbec grape. Grown for years (hundreds…) in France, primarily in the Cahors region, but also occasionally used for blending in Bordeaux, this grape has a wonderfully full and fruity flavor yet exhibits finer more delicate flavors at the same time. The flavor of the grape varies from place to place, the Cahors version being more tannic and raisin-y, the Bordeaux version softer and merlot-like, the Washington (U.S.) version having darker and herbal flavors, and the Argentinian (our favorite by far) version highlighting riper tannins and overall showing a more velvety and plush flavor.
In many ways, Malbec from Argentina is the new Pinot Noir.
Some suspect that the clone(s) used in Argentina were imported prior to the phylloxera outbreak in France that killed a large chunk of the native grapes. A disgruntled French vintner might argue that Argentinean Malbecs are therefore so delicious because they are actually ancient French Malbecs. Who knows? Another theory for the increased yum factor is that the grape clusters tend to be more spread out and yield softer skins. Still others say Argentina simply has a better climate for growing Malbec… We’ll never know.
Whatever the case, research has shown the Malbec grape to be extremely high in phenolic compounds - more than any other winegrape variety. So drinking Malbec is really something you should do for your health.
So…here’s to your health…
