Quality, versatility and value are what make Malbec a favorite wine
![bawkon-malbec.jpg](http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2010/09/malbec-thumb-320x263-53494.jpg)
Malbec originated in Bordeaux but is best known as an Argentinian wine.
Rebecca Bawkon | Contributor
Malbec originated in Southwest France and is used as a blending grape in Bordeaux, but Argentina has made it what it is today and what most people think of when looking for a Malbec. In fact, it has contributed to making Argentina one of the largest wine-producing countries in the world.
Malbec pleases both experienced and novice wine drinkers. The color is dense and often tastes of blackberry, plum and coffee. But it is the usually velvety texture that I think makes them so widely appealing. There is a lot of flavor but not a lot of hard edges.
Quality Malbecs I have tried and liked lately range anywhere from $8 to $20. Alamos and Catena are classics as are Tilia,Trivento and Cristobal. They range from medium to full-bodied and have a wide range of food pairing possibilities. This fact, along with value pricing, puts Malbec beyond a trend to a fixture in our wine world.
Rebecca Bawkon is the Wine Steward at the Busch’s on Main Street. Her biggest pleasure is getting to know people and their palates to help them navigate the world of wine.
Comments
Eric Arsenault
Wed, Dec 15, 2010 : 1:40 p.m.
I think it is worthy of highlighting, as you mentioned, that Malbec has long been a blending grape of Bordeaux - though much less since the Phyloxera epidemic. What this means is that, for the most part, wherever Cabernet and Merlot grow well, so too should Malbec. There is an increasing number of growers planting Malbec in California, Washington, Chile, and probably S. Africa and Australia though I haven't heard as much talk of it there yet. That means Argentina will soon have global competition and Malbec wines should remain a pinnacle of good value for quite some time.
haworth
Mon, Sep 13, 2010 : 1:30 p.m.
I agree wholeheartedly--malbecs can be beautiful. But their real pinnacle of expression is in their homeland of southwest France, in Cahors. In that region, you get more balance and restraint, minerality, acidity, and just a far better food wine than most anything Argentina makes. The rusticity often present in the French style, too, can be just magical. Note, though--you often will not see "Malbec" on the label of these wines--France labels mostly on region--so they will usually feature "Cahors" more prominently than "Malbec", but it's the same grape driving those wines.
Rolz G
Mon, Sep 13, 2010 : 12:55 p.m.
I had Malbec's at a party and really liked it I couldnt remember how to spell the name and glad to see it listed on here. delicious.