Malbec
/ˈmæl.bɛk/
grape-variety, red-wine, argentina, france, bordeaux, cahors, old-world, new-world, tannin, full-bodied, viticulture, terroir, blending, single-varietal, food-pairing•Last updated January 14, 2026
Malbec is a dark-skinned red wine grape variety (Vitis vinifera) that produces deeply colored, medium- to full-bodied wines with moderate to high tannins and acidity, typically showing dark plum, blackberry, black cherry, violet, and often cocoa or spice notes. Historically important in Bordeaux and Cahors in Southwest France, it is now most closely associated with Argentina, where it is widely made as a varietal wine.
Examples
- A wine list might feature "Mendoza Malbec" by the glass, signaling a deeply colored, fruit-forward Argentine red with ripe dark fruit and soft tannins.
- A sommelier could say, "This Cahors is 90% Malbec and shows a more structured, savory style than typical Argentine Malbecs."
- A wine student might note in tasting practice, "The intense purple color and black plum, violet, and cocoa notes suggest this could be a New World Malbec."