Malbec is a thin skinned grape that needs more sun and heat than either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot to mature. It is a midseason ripener and it can bring very deep inky color, ample tannin, and a plum-like flavor to its wine. It makes a softer red wine of very high quality, but with limited aging potential. In Bordeaux, it is also commonly blended in small amounts with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon to create the red claret blends for which Bordeaux is famous. Malbec is also the signiture grape of Argentina.
This grape benefits from large differential between day and evening temperatures with a minimum fluctuation of 27 degrees Fahrenheit in a day. The varietal is uniquely sensitive to frost and is prone to shatter or coulure. It became less popular in Bordeaux after 1956 when frost killed off 75% of the crop.
Clone: FPS 04