Malbec

Also known as

Cot

On old plates as

Côt rouge

Malbec is a black-skinned wine grape from southwest France, where it has been known since medieval times as Cot or Côt and was the principal variety in the inky "black wine" of Cahors along the Lot River. It is also one of the six grapes permitted in red Bordeaux blends. It was introduced to Argentina in the 1850s.

Today France still grows Malbec mainly in Cahors, with smaller plantings in Bordeaux and the Loire, where it is often labelled as Cot. Argentina has made it the country's signature variety: Mendoza holds the vast majority of hectares, followed by San Juan, Salta and La Rioja. It is also planted in Australia, Chile, North America, South Africa and New Zealand.

In the glass Malbec gives deeply coloured, tannic red wines. Cahors versions are dark and firm, with blackberry, blackcurrant, leather, game and earthy, smoky notes. Argentine Malbec tends to be more velvety, showing floral aromas, plum and dark fruit, often with vanilla from oak ageing. In the Loire it can be lighter and cherry-scented. It works both as a single-varietal wine and as a blending component that adds colour and fragrance.