Wine · Grape variety guide
Grape Variety Guide · WSET Level 2
Malbec
Deep, dark and plush in Mendoza — leaner and more rustic back home in Cahors.
Deep colour
Medium-high tannin
Dark plum & violet
Where it grows
- Mendoza, Argentina — especially the high-altitude Uco Valley — today's benchmark style
- Cahors, France — the historic home, known for its "black wine"
- Bordeaux, France — a minor blending component today
- Chile — smaller, growing plantings
- Australia — limited plantings
What it tastes like
- Dark plum, blackberry and violet aromatics
- Chocolate or mocha notes where oak is used
- Medium-high tannin, medium-high acidity, full body
- Deep, almost inky purple-black colour
Growing notes
- Prone to coulure and spring frost, which contributed to its decline in France
- Mendoza's high altitude brings strong sun and cool nights, preserving colour and acidity while ripening reliably
- Thrives with consistent heat and a long growing season
Good to know
Malbec was one of Bordeaux's original six red grapes but was largely wiped out there by a severe 1956 frost. It found its modern identity a world away, in Argentina's Mendoza region.
Exam tip
Expect a climate-driven style contrast: lush, ripe, full Mendoza Malbec versus leaner, more tannic, earthier Cahors Malbec — same grape, very different homes.
Part of the Grape Guide — browse all varieties, or jump back to the study sheet.
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