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January 10, 2025 12 mins
The best of Malbecs
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hello, wine enthusiasts, and welcome today. We are going to
talk about everything maulback, from its origins in France to
its rise as the star of Argentina. Malbeck is a
wine that has one hearts across the globe. In this episode,
we'll explore where it's produced, it's fascinating history, how to

(00:23):
choose a great bottle, and what foods to pair it with.
So pour yourself a glass of wine and take a sip.
I'm taking a sip of mine. It's not a malback,
it's a pino. You are, but that's okay. Pour yourself
a glass of wine and join me as we toast
to malback. Let's talk about the history of malback. Malback's

(00:47):
roots trace back to France, specifically the southwest regions of Cohorse.
Known locally as Colt, Malback was one of six great
varieties allowed in Bordeaux blends. It added color, tannins, and
depth to those famous wines. However, malback struggled in France

(01:10):
due to its susceptibility to frost and disease. A devastating
frost in nineteen fifty six wiped out many malback vines
in Bordeaux and the grape never fully recovered there, but
it wasn't the end of the story. In the mid
nineteenth century, malback found a new home in Argentina. A
French agronomist named Michel m Mini Pougeot brought malback cuttings

(01:39):
to the Andes foothills, where the grape thrived in the
high altitude vineyards of Mendoza. The dry climate and sunny
days proved ideal for malback, and it quickly became Argentina's
signature wine. Today, Argina is the world's largest producer of malback,
accounting for about seventy five percent of global production. So

(02:05):
where does malbach come from? Today? While Argentina dominates, the
grape is still cultivated in a few key regions, of course,
we talked about Argentina. Mendoza is the heart of malbach production,
known for its high altitude vineyards in areas like Uco
Valley and Luhan de Ku. These wines are bold, fruit

(02:28):
forward and often aged in oak for added complexity. In France, Cohores,
malback remains the dominant grape. Cohor's wines are often darker,
moreic tannic excuse me, and have an earthy, savory profile

(02:48):
compared to their Argentine counterparts. The United States, malback is
gaining popularity in regions like California and Washington State, producing soft,
after fruit driven styles. Known for producing smooth, budget friendly mailbacks.
Chile is also a big producer and in countries like

(03:12):
Australia and South Africa. Other regions are also expan ormenting
with malback, adding their own unique twists to this versatile grape.
Whether you're new to malback or a seasoned fan, here
are some top brands and producers to look out for.
In Argentina, Katina Zapta a legendary name in Mendoza known

(03:37):
for premiere malbacks that showcase elegance and complexity. Tryither Catina
Alta or Argentino Malbacks. Trapiche Argentina offers a range of mailbacks,
from affordable everyday bottles to award winning single vineyard wines.

(04:00):
Lahomingas in Argentina, a biodynamic producer focused on trera driven malbecks.
We're going to talk about that word in just a
little bit. Chateau du Sedra in France one of the
top producers in cohores, offering structured and age worthy malbecks

(04:23):
and Susanna Balboa Wines in Argentina, Founded by Argentina's first
female wine maker. This brand produces vibrant, balanced malbacks. How
to choose a good malback. Not all malbacks are created equal,
so how to choose the best bottle for your palate

(04:44):
region matters. If you like bold, fruit forward wines, go
for malbacks from Mendoza, especially high altitude areas like Uco Valley.
Prefer something more earthy or tennic, look for Cohora Malvax,
labeled aop Cohores. Price point quality malvacks can start as

(05:07):
load a ten to fifteen dollars for solid everyday wine.
For something more premium, expect to spend thirty to fifty dollars.
Younger malbacks tend to be more fruit driven and approachable
bout while age malvacks offer deeper, more complex flavors with
hints of leather, tobacco, and spice. Very interesting. Look for

(05:33):
terms like reserva or ground reserva for wines that have
been aged in oak barrels, adding richness and structure. What
does malbac taste like? Malback is celebrated for its rich,
luscious flavor profile. Common tasting notes include fruits, such as blackberries, plums,

(05:55):
black cherries, and blueberries. Spices that dominate subtle hints of
black pepper, clove, or cocoa, and the oak influence. Depending
on aging, you might taste vanilla, cedar, or even mocha.
In Kohor's Mailbacks, expect leather, tobacco, and savory notes or

(06:18):
other earthy undertones. The texture is another hallmark of Malback,
its medium to full body with velvety tannins and smooth
finish that makes it easy to drink. One of the
reasons Malback is so beloved is its versatility at the
dinner table. Here are some of the best pairings. Of course,

(06:41):
red meats a classic choice. Argentine Malback pairs beautifully with
grilled steak, lamb chops or a juicy burger. And the barbecue.
The smoky spicy notes in barbecue ribs or brisket are
a perfect match for Malback's bold flavors. And if you

(07:02):
want to talk about cheese, let's go for age cheese
like Gouda, cheddar or blue cheese, which compliment the wine's richness.
Mushroom risotto or roasted root vegetables work well with cohors.
Malbach's earthy tones and surprisingly spicy foods pair well with malbacks.

(07:24):
They can handle a bit of spice. Try it with
Mexican mole or spiced land dishes, and for dessert, pare
a glass of malback with dark chocolate or berry based
treats for a decadent finish. Beyond its taste and versatility,
malback tells a story of resilience and reinvention. Once the

(07:48):
struggling grape in France, it found new life in Argentina,
as in since become a symbol of quality and innovation
in the wine world. While we're talking about the wine world,
let's talk about teroi or tei r, a term that's

(08:12):
essential to wine as grapes themselves. Turir is a French
word that loosely translates to sense of place. It refers
to the environmental factors that influence the characteristics of wine.
These factors include soil composition, climate, topography, altitude, human practices

(08:37):
and traditions. I guess you cannot really know about wine
unless you know what tuoir is and means, because all
of these factors change the complexity of all of the wines.
Turir is why Amalbac grown in the Andes tastes different

(08:59):
from one in Cohores or California. It's the concept that
wine is a reflection of where it's made. The turroir
of Malbec. For Malbeck's terroir plays a crucial role in
shaping its flavor profile. Let's break it down by region

(09:20):
in Mendoza, Argentina, where there is high altitude elegance. Mendoza,
the heart of Malbec production, is famous for its high
altitude vineyards, which sit at elevations between two thousand and
five thousand feet above sea level. The climate of Mendoza
is a desert like region with sunny days and cool nights.

(09:44):
This diurnal temperature variation slows grapes ripening, allowing the grape
to develop concentrated flavors while retaining acidity. Mendoza's soils are
a mix of sand, silt, and clay with good drainage.
The rocky, mineral rich soils add complexity to the wine,

(10:05):
contributing to flavors of black, cherry, plum, and floral notes.
Higher altitude vineyards, like those in Yuco Valley produce malbaks
with brighter acidity, finer tannins, and more floral aromas. In
Cohors Flt. France, malback is often referred to as the

(10:28):
black wine because because of its dark, inky color, the
region has a wetter, cooler climate than mendoza, which leads
to a slower ripening process. This creates wines with higher tannins,
firmer structure, and a savory, earthy flavor profile. Cohors has

(10:48):
limestone rich soils, which are known to impart minerality and
an earthy black backbone to the wine. These soils are
also less fertile, forcing the vine to struggle produce more
concentrated grapes. Cohor's mailbacks are less fruit forward and more complex,
with notes of black currant, leather, tobacco, and spices. And

(11:13):
of course some other regions, such as California and Washington State,
mailbacks here tend to be softer and fruitier due to
warmer clients and richer soils. They're approachable and easy drinking.
And in Chile. The terraar in Chile produces wines that
are smooth with bright red fruit flavors and softer tannins,

(11:36):
making them excellent for everyday drinking. Why does that matter?
Tar matters because it connects the wine to its origin.
Here's why it's important diversity, authenticity, quality, and connection to culture.

(12:00):
As climate change affects weather patterns, wine makers are adapting
their practices to preserve the essence of the trar. In Mendoza,
for instance, some producers are moving vineyards to higher elevations
to maintain the cooler temperatures malbak thrives in. At the
same time, the concept of trurar is involving as regions

(12:21):
outside of Argentina and France experiment with malbek. They bring
their own interpretations, proving that tarrar is as dynamic as
the wine. So the next time you sip of malbak,
take a moment to consider the journey it's taken from
the sun drenched andies to the limestone soils of Cohors.
You're tasting a story of place, tradition, and innovation all

(12:44):
in one glass. Thank you for joining this exploration about malback,
and next time we'll talk about another delicious wine and cheers.
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