cot Archives - Amanda Barnes

Written for WinesOfChile.org

Most people associate Malbec with Chile’s neighbour, Argentina, but little do they know that Chile has a possibly even longer history with the tasty varietal. There are some beautiful, gnarly old vines across the country and research by Pablo Lacoste actually suggests that the first Malbec vines arrived in Chile in 1840, 30 years before than in Argentina.

A bit about Malbec

Originally hailing from Cahors, France, this wine was known as the ‘black wine’ because of its incredible color (in the bottle and on your teeth!) It was once the preferred wine of Kings and Popes, but fell out of favor to Bordeaux blends and was partially wiped out by Phylloxera. Malbec however is now having a rebirth in the New World in countries like Chile, Argentina, the US, Australia and South Africa.

The character of Chilean Malbec

No matter who had it first, Chilean Malbec is a completely different beast to those of Argentina or from its birthplace in France. As a much slimmer country, Chile has a great influence from the coast and mountains – a cooling influence which gives slower maturation, higher acidity and fresher expression.

Malbec made Argentine wine famous, but its true French roots are lesser known on this side of the Atlantic. Amanda Barnes goes in search of the original Malbec – in Cahors, France before indulging in a luxury tour of its adopted home here in Mendoza. **Article taken from Wine Republic

The French Connection

Coming from Argentina, the first thing that really strikes you about Cahors is how green it is. Emerald green fields run into sloping lime green lawns with brooding pine green forests above –this is a very lush landscape. And typically on the day we arrive, it’s raining.

Nestled in the middle of Southern France, almost equidistant between France’s two coast lines, the Lot region has a privileged position in the heart of food and wine country between Bordeaux and Provence. So it is no surprise that the local gastronomy is one of the main attractions for visitors of Cahors, as well as the stunning medieval architecture, multitudes of resplendent and crumbling chateaus and a host of outdoor activities.

Arriving at the peak of summer, the city centre is a hub of activity (when the sun eventually does come out) with people wandering the walled medieval town, meandering alongside the river, gawking at France’s best preserved medieval bridge, and indulging in the local cuisine. This is the land of foie gras, duck, truffles and saffron; it would be easy to just spend a week here eating but as much as my stomach would like otherwise – I came to Cahors not just to glut but to get out and see where Malbec came from.