A brief on Malbec and its imported brands in India

One international black grape India has taken affinity to is the Malbec. Malbec also called Cot in France is a grape which makes medium to full bodied wines with bold tannins. It exudes aromas of black fruits and sweet spice including cloves and can blend in oak beautifully. French example can bring in earthy, meaty notes.

Key wine regions for Malbec

Cot has its origins in south west France particularly in the region of Cahors. It was the forerunner grape in the French wine scene and also dominated Bordeaux till the mid 19th century.

After phylloxera a vine disease hit Europe, half of the Malbec plantations in Bordeaux were lost and a frost that followed decimated the grape. Malbec was replaced by Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and are the key in Bordeaux blends today, Malbec is allowed too.

During the mid 19th century Malbec plantations were taken to Argentina by a Frenchman Miguel Pouget who was invited to give a push to the Argentine wine industry and he planted them in Mendoza, today it’s the holy grail of the grape. Argentina has 76,000 acres of the grape with France coming second at 13,000 acres.

Malbec in the Indian Market (Mumbai Prices)

Argentina

Argento – Rs 1700
Trapiche – Rs 1770
Trapiche Oak Cask – Rs 1880
MTB – Rs 1986
Michel Torino Coleccion – Rs 1995
Zuccardi Santa Julia – Rs 2099
Mythic Mountain – Rs 2100
Pampas del Sur Reserve – Rs 2300
Zuccardi “Serie A” – Rs 3295
Dominio del Plata CRIOS – Rs 3650
Terrazas Reserva – Rs 4676
Dominio del Plata BEN MARCO – Rs 5350
Mythic Block – Rs 5900
Zuccardi Concreto – Rs 7900

Chile

Carta Vieja limited release – Rs 1896

France

Comte Tolosan Je Suis A Boire Cot – Rs 2050

South Africa

Stonecross – Rs 2160