YOUR Essential guide to MALBEC

MALBEC, THE BARBECUE HERO RED TAKING AUSTRALIA BY STORM

Not long ago, Malbecs were few and far between here in Australia. Now it’s become a go-to style for fans of ripe, juicy reds that go beautifully with char-grilled food. In recent years we’ve been tucking into superb imports from Argentina, where Malbec is the national signature grape. And with domestic production almost tripling in the last five years, we’ve fallen in love with Australian Malbec too.  

So, let’s discover exactly what Malbec is: where it’s from, what it tastes like, food to pair it with and why you should be trying more of it, especially Aussie Malbec!  

WHAT IS MALBEC AND WHY IS IT SO POPULAR?  

Malbec is a deep, dark red wine with plenty of up-front fruit flavours. Not dissimilar to our beloved Shiraz – which is probably why it’s now so popular in Australia.  

Like many grape varieties, Malbec has travelled a long way to get here. As one of the official five red grapes of Bordeaux, Malbec has graced the tables of the French aristocracy. As the ‘black wine’ of Cahors nearby, it was served in the medieval banqueting halls of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Then it was nearly wiped out by disease and frosts.  

So, Malbec was pretty much abandoned in France and transplanted to Argentina – where it thrived. Malbec is – literally and figuratively – reaching new heights. And there are very few wine lists around the world that don’t feature Malbec from Argentina.

WHAT DO MALBEC WINES TASTE LIKE?  

Malbec wines are medium to full bodied in style.  

Malbec is a full-flavoured, dry red wine drinking experience. It has moderate acidity and quite high levels of tannins, thanks to the grape’s thick skin.  

And this is why the style really caught on in Argentina, where it cuts through top quality beef joints to perfection. So, it makes perfect sense that Malbec has become so popular in Australia – we adore a red that stands up to the smoky flavours of barbecued food.  

Above all, Malbec wines are lush and velvety, full of dark fruit flavours and spice.  

But it’s also a very adaptable style. The dramatic difference in taste between Argentinian Malbec and French Malbec shows the extent to which terroir and climate can influence a wine. And here in Australia, different regions produce a range of styles, with one thing in common – they’re very easy to enjoy!  

WHERE DOES THE BEST MALBEC COME FROM?  

Its homeland is France where Malbec was used to provide colour and tannin to red wines of Bordeaux. But Malbec now represents less than 1% of the total grapes planted here.  

For the most interesting and exciting French Malbecs, head 65 miles south-east of Bordeaux to Cahors. Here the grape is still known as Cot – and it still makes the famously black wine it did hundreds of years ago.  

And Malbec has really made its mark in Argentina, which produces affordable easy drinkers right through to high-grown, single vineyard classics of great purity and finesse.

WHAT ARE THE BEST REGIONS FOR MALBEC IN ARGENTINA?

Check out any red wines from Salta and the Calchaqui Valley, home to the highest vineyards on the planet. And the higher you go, the thicker the grape skins. Which means higher tannins. High altitude Malbecs have even greater concentration and structure… yet they are still very soft and round wines.

Patagonia, in the extreme south, also produces a fine style of Malbec. Our top tip is HJ Fabre Barrel Selection – oaky, plush and aristocratic.

Look for Mendoza on the label, and you can’t go wrong. It’s Argentina’s most important wine region, with 75% of all Argentinian vineyards.

Mendoza Malbecs are fruit-forward reds, dark and plush with black cherry, spicy plum, and blackberry coming through, alongside supporting flavours of chocolate, tobacco smoke, as well as vanilla and leather on aged wines.

Producers here include local stars like Opi Sadler (try his Opi Malbec) to the owners of Bordeaux’s legendary Château Lafite, Domaines Barons de Rothschild – who joined forces with a third-generation Argentinian winemaking family to produce their barrel-matured Bodegas Caro red.

WHAT DOES MALBEC FROM CHILE TASTE LIKE?

Argentina's neighbour has quite substantial plantings of old Malbec vines that produce some lusciously ripe, dark and characterful wines.

And, of course, the grape has found a few homes here in Australia …

WHY IS MALBEC NOW SO POPULAR IN AUSTRALIA?

Move over Shiraz? Not quite. But we’ve taken Malbec to our hearts because our Aussie versions hit that sweet spot somewhere between the rustic style of French Cahors and the fruit forward character of Argentina.

WHAT AUSSIE REGIONS PRODUCE MALBEC AND WHAT DOES IT TASTE LIKE?

Clare Valley produces deep-coloured Malbec with plush dark fruits, chocolate hints and soft tannins. Jim Barry Eastern Ranges is a classic example.

For a more robust style with intense blackcurrant, plum and subtle oak notes, look to Western Australia’s Margaret River region for wines like Miles from Nowhere.  Or seek out Malbec from Frankland River for a cooler climate, richly aromatic Malbec.

And if you love classic reds of great freshness and finesse, try Mabec from high altitude Orange, New South Wales.

WHAT ARE THE BEST FOOD PAIRINGS FOR MALBEC?

Naturally, Malbec is a shoo-in for barbecues. The savoury flavours and richness of the grilled meat balance out the tannin of the wine… while fruity, tangy, smoky and spicy BBQ sauces happily match Malbec’s fruity, tangy, smoky, and spicy taste profile. (Sage, rosemary, cumin, pepper, shallot, Cajun spice and cumin spice all work with Malbec).

You can also pair Malbec with lamb and duck dishes, pot roasts, your favourite ‘snags’ (including kanga bangas), charcuterie and pulled pork as well as leaner red meats like venison or ostrich.

TOP FOOD PAIRING TIP:

Look to local cuisines when matching your bottle of Malbec with food.

Those from the higher altitudes of Argentina tend to match best with spicy chorizo sausage or cuts of beef or lamb that feature local spices. Australian favourites like Q Malbec excel with steak sandwiches, roast lamb or even smoked trout.

So make sure you’ve got some magical Malbec next time you fire up that barbie!