More on Malbec

Welcome to Vine to Wine this is your host Linda Moran. Yesterday I told you about the new found spirit of cooperation between the French and the Argentines to promote the grape variety and wines made from Malbec. Today let's talk about the grape and the wines. Malbec is a variety of grape that was primarily known as one of the grapes allowable in the making of red wines from the Bordeaux region of France. Although, most of the time Malbec plays a minor role in most Bordeaux wines, if even used at all. It is also the primary grape used to make wine in the Cahors, an appellation in the south of France where seventy percent of the wines' blend must be comprised of Malbec. This is the region of France currently in partnership with Argentina to promote Malbec in all of the major export markets of the world. The climates and growing conditions differ in many of the parts of the world where Malbec is grown and the resulting wines differ somewhat. There are plantings of Malbec in Chile, California, South Africa, Italy, New Zealand and right here in my home state of Washington. In general I find it full of deep color and depth of fruit with a pleasantly noticeable tannin structure. And on the website Snooth it is the wine recommended to take when invited to your bosses house for dinner. I think it is a crowd pleaser and you can take it anywhere for dinner. Remember to send your wine questions to Linda at vine to wine dot net and thank you for joining me on today's Vine to Wine.