Discover The Best Malbec Wines & How to Choose a Good Malbec (2023)

FAQs

What country makes the best Malbec? ›

Argentina doesn't just produce the best quality malbec wines, but they also produce some of the most affordable quality malbec wines.

Malbec is the most important red grape variety of Argentina, but it also produces excellent wine in many other countries around the world. Malbec has become the most important vinous calling card for Argentina, as the grape variety is responsible for the country's most famous and highly regarded wines.

7–11 Years Aging Potential: Malbec wines with dark fruit flavors, notable acidity (“juiciness”), moderate tannin, and a chocolatey, oak-driven finish were usually recommended to be consumed within 7–11 years of the vintage.

This one is very similar to the prior vintage, and we're going to rate it the same at 88 points. It's right there among the best vintages of this Malbec that we've tasted. Hard to beat at this price.

The analysis revealed that Malbec and Merlot share the same female parent, a long-forgotten cultivar recently renamed Magdeleine Noire des Charentes. The male parent of Malbec is Prunelard, an old and endangered cultivar from southwest France.

Malbec is meatier, grittier, has more structure, whereas pinot noir is light, aromatic, and low in alcohol content. Malbec has a moderate to high tannin content whereas pinot noir is light on tannins, leading some to consider it a more accessible easy-drinking red.

As an especially thick-skinned variety, Malbec claims higher antioxidant levels than other red wines especially in terms of resveratrol. This variety has two to four times the amount of anti-inflammatory, health boosting antioxidants than other popular red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

When it comes to the best red wine, you'll want to look at regions such as Tuscany, Puglia, Veneto, Piemonte, Lambrusco and Sicily, where you'll find a variety of red wines to enjoy in the Italian sun.

Contrary to popular belief, red wine isn't always best served at room temperature. Malbec wine is no exception. Before serving Malbec, try popping it in the fridge for half an hour. This should cool it to just below room temperature, and will allow you to experience Malbec's full depth of flavor.

Keep the open wine bottle out of light and stored under room temperature. In most cases, a refrigerator goes a long way to keeping wine for longer, even red wines. When stored at colder temperatures, the chemical processes slow down, including the process of oxidation that takes place when oxygen hits the wine.

Is Malbec full of sugar? ›

Malbec: An Argentinian wine that has plum and cherry flavors. It is medium to full-bodied wine is higher alcohol content and, because of that, is low in sugar. Very close to being almost entirely fermented, Malbecs are a dry wine that offers fewer than 1.5 grams of sugar per glass of red wine.

Preserving Malbec Wine's Lifespan

The more full-bodied and robust types, often from France, can easily remain stable for 20 years if you keep the bottles in an ideal temperature and storage area. Sweeter varieties and those with a lower alcohol percentage will retain their quality for at least 10 years.

Malbec vs Merlot Taste Comparisons

Merlot and Malbec are both popular red wines, but each one has a distinct flavor profile. Merlot leans towards silky, whereas Malbec is bold and spicy. Both are dry red wines that are common as single varietal wines, as well as blending grapes.

Best Storage Temperature for Malbec

The best temperature for storing Malbec is 12-15°C (55°–59°F). You can store Malbec in a wine cellar, wine fridge, or cabinet.

Malbec wines are best served in a traditional red wine glass, slightly chilled, somewhere in the realm of 60-65 degrees.

Extremely popular, Argentinian Malbec is an inky, medium-bodied, dry red wine with strong impressions of dark fruits on the nose and palate.

You'll find Malbec a great match for steak, pork, and lamb, as well as fattier fish like salmon and poultry with dark meat. Game meat—like bison, ostrich, and venison—are also a safe bet. In addition to meat pairings, consider foods with richer sauces or more vibrant flavors.

Syrah is more similar to Old World Malbec with its notes of olive, black pepper spice, smoke, and even bacon fat in some instances. It is commonly seen as a single variety wine or can be blended with other grape varieties such as Grenache and Mourvedre in Côtes du Rhône blends.

Is Shiraz better than Malbec? ›

Malbec Wine vs Shiraz Wine

While Malbec and Shiraz are both fruity, full-bodied wines, Shiraz is slightly more complex. Malbec is smoother with notes of plum, blackcurrant, and vanilla, whereas Shiras is smoky and spicy, delivering a peppery finish on the palate.

Resveratrol is strongly associated with red grapes and red wine made from grapes. Wines such as Malbec, Petite Sirah, St. Laurent, and Pinot Noir have the highest resveratrol content. Malbec grapes have the thickest skin and, therefore, the highest content of resveratrol.

What Does Malbec Taste Like? Most Malbec wines are smooth with jammy fruit flavor and savory notes of black cherry, pomegranate, plum, raspberry, and raisin. There are also hints of coffee, leather, tobacco, molasses, and black pepper.

Even though both red wine and white wine have similar impacts on health but red wine has a slightly higher composition of vitamins and minerals which boosts the condition of the kidneys and reduces the risks of chronic kidney diseases.

It's a common assumption that red wine may be good for the heart because it contains antioxidants such as resveratrol, which is primarily found in the skin of grapes but also peanuts and blueberries. Some studies suggest resveratrol can reduce cholesterol and lower blood pressure.

Pinot Noir is rated as the healthiest wine because of the high levels of resveratrol. It is made of grapes with thin skin, has low sugar, fewer calories, and low alcohol content. Sagrantino made in Italy contains the highest concentration of antioxidants and is packed with tannins.

1. Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet Sauvignon is the world's most popular red wine.

One such locale is Sardinia, an island in the Mediterranean Sea off the western coast of Italy. "Sardinians are famous for their daily consumption of the robust, regional red wine called cannonau," says Buettner. If you're on the hunt for the healthiest red wine, this is it.

Whether it's a young Napa Cab, an Argentine Malbec or Aussie Shiraz, these wines typically need a dose of oxygen to smooth out any roughness and soften tannins. Of course, if you enjoy the punch that these wines can pack straight out of the bottle, there's no need to delay.

Malbec, a smooth red wine with notes of blackberry and chocolate, has high levels of antioxidants and has been linked to both heart health and immune health.

Is Malbec a cheap wine? ›

Malbec is so popular because not only is it affordable but it's easy to drink, it's a perfect pair to many different types of food, and it's a crowd pleaser. If you're looking an affordable, delicious alternative to the usual Merlot of Cabernet Sauvignon you should give Malbec a try!

In general, table wines last three to five days after they've been opened. Fortified wines, or dessert wines, like Port and Sherry, can last much longer; some say months or even years.

Dispensing/preservation systems can keep wine drinkable for up to a month or more. Open bottles are held in glass-fronted cases and each bottle is attached to a spigot. As the dispenser siphons wine from the bottle, an inert gas such as nitrogen or argon fills up the empty space, keeping oxygen out.

Typically, unopened bottles of red wine will last 2-3 years past the recommended drinking window. Their high tannin content ensures this long natural preservation. To maximise shelf life, store in a cool dark area away from sunlight.

How red wine affects blood sugar. According to the American Diabetes Association, drinking red wine — or any alcoholic beverage — can lower blood sugar for up to 24 hours. Because of this, they recommend checking your blood sugar before you drink, while you drink, and monitoring it for up to 24 hours after drinking.

Research suggests that moderate consumption of red wine could have health benefits for those with type 2 diabetes. A glass of red wine with dinner may help lower glucose levels, reducing the body's need for insulin.

Red wine

Among all types of wine, red wine is linked with the most health benefits — both for people with diabetes and for the general population — due to its high antioxidant content ( 17 , 18 , 19 ).

If you put a wine in the fridge and chill it down, is it OK to take it out and let it warm up again, then chill it again later? Sure. It may not be ideal, but it's not likely to do much harm.

If you're wondering how long wine can last after opening, a bottle of white or rosé wine should be able to keep going for at least two to three days in the fridge, if using a cork stopper. But it varies depending on the style involved. Some wine styles may last for up to five days after opening.

When stored properly and kept unopened, white wines can often outlive their recommended drinking window by 1-2 years, red wines by 2-3 years, and cooking wines by 3-5 years. Fine wine — as you may have guessed — can typically be consumed for decades.

Where do the best malbecs come from? ›

Argentina doesn't just produce the best quality malbec wines, but they also produce some of the most affordable quality malbec wines.

Full-flavoured foods pair best because Malbec is a fuller-bodied wine. Malbec produces red wines with medium acidity and medium tannins. Through the full flavours, and medium acidity, Malbec is less overwhelming or niche on the palette, making this flavour more popular.

Drinking only in moderation can help curb such nutritionless calories, but drinking in excess can easily derail your weight loss or weight management goals. "If someone enjoys a glass of wine daily — and assuming he or she is in otherwise good health — there's no reason to stop," adds Dr. Septimus.

Tip #2: Store the wine in a cool, dark place

Wine should be stored in a cool, dark place to help prevent it from going bad. The ideal storage temperature for wine is between 50 and 59 degrees Fahrenheit. If you don't have a dedicated wine fridge, you can store your wine in a regular kitchen fridge.

Should you put wine in the fridge? According to Vayda, you should always avoid storing wine for any length of time in standard refrigerators—even white and sparkling wines. "They're OK for bringing wine down to service temperature (i.e., before serving), but not good for product quality for long-term storage," he says.

The final indicators of both white and red wine quality are the intensity and finish. High-quality wines will express intense flavors and a lingering finish, with flavors lasting after you've swallowed the wine. Flavors that disappear immediately can indicate that your wine is of moderate quality at best.

Malbec wine is known for its deep purple color and full body. Malbec grapes are small and dark in color with very thick skins, producing a wine that has rich fruity flavors and medium tannin levels. Malbec wines are often higher in alcohol than Merlot or Pinot Noir.

Look for terms like “reserve,” “vintage,” or even just using numbers, such as “100% Cabernet Sauvignon,” which indicates that all of the grapes in this bottle are from the Cabernet Sauvignon grape variety. If a wine doesn't have any of these words on the label, it's likely not a very good bottle.

Red wine, in moderation, has long been thought of as heart healthy. The alcohol and certain substances in red wine called antioxidants may help prevent coronary artery disease, the condition that leads to heart attacks.

In addition, pinot noir has the lowest sugar content and the least amount of calories among red wines. Malbec: Due to their thick skin, Malbec grapes have a high concentration of resveratrol, quercetin, and other antioxidants that can improve cardiovascular and immune health.

Should Malbec be refrigerated? ›

Best Storage Temperature for Malbec

The best temperature for storing Malbec is 12-15°C (55°–59°F). You can store Malbec in a wine cellar, wine fridge, or cabinet.

For fuller bodied reds such as Malbec or Shiraz, these can last nearer to 5 or 6 days due to the higher tannins and the slightly higher alcohol levels these varieties tend to have, which slow the ageing process.

When sealed and stored in a cool, dark place or a fridge, red wines like Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec can last for around four days. As a general rule, red wines with higher tannin and acidity tend to last longer once opened. Late harvest reds can also stay fresh for up to four days.

Medium-Bodied Red Wines: 30-60 minutes. A few examples include Cabernet Franc, Grenache, Merlot, Malbec, Barbera, Dolcetto, and Tempranillo. Full-Bodied Red Wines: 60 minutes or more.