Malbec

Malbec is a varietal originating in the Cahors region of southwestern France near Bordeaux where it is also known as Auxerrois or Cot. Malbec is primarily blended into Bordeaux wines to give added color and dimension to Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot but is also produced in Cahors as a varietal, meaning a wine that is at least 80% Malbec. The climate of southwestern France, however, does not allow the Malbec grapes to ripen fully, making it impossible to achieve the soft, rich complexity of the best Argentine Malbecs.