Malbec

Also: Cot · Côt · Auxerrois

Malbec arrived in Argentina in 1853 through Michel Pouget and found in Mendoza the place where it expresses itself best in the world. What in Cahors was a rustic, tannic grape became here a round, silky, and deeply expressive wine. Altitude is the key: between 800 and 1500 meters, the temperature swing preserves acidity and fixes the color and floral aromas that distinguish Argentine Malbec from its French counterpart. It's a grape with loose clusters and large berries with thick skin, which gives it intense color and resistance. It prefers sunny days and cool nights — exactly what western Mendoza offers. Its winemaking versatility is enormous: it works in steel, concrete, French oak, cement eggs, or amphorae, and each vessel imprints a distinct character. The modern Argentine style tends to seek elegance and freshness over concentration: high-altitude Malbecs with lower alcohol, more tension, and marked violets that remind us that this grape, before power, is perfume.