If your standard go-to is Malbec from Argentina (which is most likely the only type of Malbec your standard wine shop offers since Argentina accounts for 70%+ of worldwide Malbec production), I’d encourage you to taste one from the motherland of Malbec in Southwest France. In fact, Malbec originated in France and is one of the six allowable Bordeaux blending grapes!

A Few things to know: While Malbec originated in Bordeaux, the climate in Bordeaux made it challenging for the grape to truly thrive (For example the grape is very susceptible to frost and mildew, which is a common occurrence.) The malbec grape was bought to South America (first Chile then Argentina) by Frenchman Michel Pouget in the 1850s when many vineyards in Europe was struggling to survive because of the infamous phylloxera disease. The dry and warm conditions in Argentina allowed the grape to shine. Meanwhile across the pond, in France, the town of Cahors (100 miles east of Bordeaux) is where malbec is still cultivated today. This is likely due to Cahors having warmer summers and less rainfall than Bordeaux. A fun thing to do is a side by side tasting of Argentinian malbec vs. French cahors, where you can really understand a new world vs. old world style.

Tasting profile: plum, game, licorice blackberry, firmer tannins vs Mendoza

Price for a decent bottle: $20 -$25

Producers to try: Chateau du Cedre, Clos la Coutale