Malbec

The Malbec is an old French red grape variety. Previously it was grown in 30 departments, which is why almost 400 names were for him to use. Thus the species also called Auxerrois ( Cahors area ), Côt ( Haut-Pays and Loire), Malbeck or Pressac (Bordeaux). Are estimated to be almost black purple Malbec wines for their fruity spiciness that often has typical plum and tobacco notes. Hints of blueberries, laurel, juniper, spices, cherries and dark chocolate are also possible.

A study published in 2007 study found that the varietal groups Baroque, Manseng Noir and Tannat are genetically very closely related. There is also a striking similarity of this group to Malbec, and the variety is genetically Claverie also closely related to this group.

In 2009, the direct relatives were noted for Malbec. The almost extinct grape variety Magdeleine Noire des Charentes and the variety Prunelart are the parents of Malbec.

History

The Ampelograph Pierre Galet thought the origin of the species in the territory of the former French province of Quercy and referred to the variety thus logically Côt. In the 16th century François I got the variety from the Cahors imported and leave in Thomery that grow on the slopes of the Seine and in the region of Champagne. This thesis is corroborated by descriptions of Salomon in 1921 to have found 300 -year-old vines of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon.

In the area of the Bordeaux wine region, the grape variety often bears synonym names of persons who have rendered outstanding services to the local distribution. The physician de Lutkens put in the village Camblanes in the 18th century a vineyard with the Côt. Local was the variety Lutkens or Luckens named. A little later Mr. Malbeck put vineyards in Sainte -Eulalie. Malbeck spread the sort of widespread and thus coined the name in the Bordeaux and later internationally. In Saint- Émilion the variety under the name of Pressac is known.

Growing areas

Worldwide, the Malbec today more than 34,000 hectares. Of this total, 71.5 % to 19.5% to Argentina and France ( 6,291 hectares as of 2007. ) 3% represents Chile, 2% the U.S..

Argentina

The largest growing area today is approximately 24,000 hectares in Argentina, especially in Mendoza, where the vine meets the ideal conditions. Even in Chile ( 1,027 acres, 2006) and Australia it is grown. Your susceptibility to coulure, downy mildew and rot shows up there only in rare wet cold weather periods. In the dry heat of Mendoza also can the thick grape skins ripen better, which prevents an excessive tannin.

France

Double main growing area of Malbec is now his home region of Cahors, where it used to be the famous Vin noir was pressed. Today, he must make up at least 70% in the blends there. The incredibly color-intensive clean version is often somewhat angular and barren and developed only after a long ripening period fineness. Therefore, frequent or rare Merlot Tannat is added as a blending partner. Traditionally Equipped Cahors tolerate a maturity of ten years in the cellar. Except in Cahors is the grape variety or come in the appellations of Bergerac, Buzet, Côtes de Duras, Côtes- du- Frontonnais, Cotes du Marmandais, Mont Ravel and Pecharmant and in the Côtes du Brulhois, a wine with the status of Vin Delimité de Qualité Supérieur.

Because the Malbec is not only vulnerable to a variety of diseases, but also especially for Frost, he fell mid-20th century, especially in the Bordeaux area by the then heavy frosts over a large area from. In the blends of Bordeaux, he was mainly responsible for the color and tannin. In previous focus area of ​​distribution Bordeaux he was ousted from Merlot and is maintained there by only a few traditional businesses for the mixed wines. Today, there are still significant plantings in the appellations Côtes de Bourg, Blaye and Entre -deux-mers in the field of

In the vineyards of Languedoc Malbec in the appellations Cabardès and Malepère is approved.

On the Loire also a small (and declining ) amount is grown and blended with Gamay and Cabernet Franc.

In France, 16 clones were previously admitted. They carry the numbers 42, 43, 46, 180, 243, 279, 353, 419, 592-598, and 1061. Only 8 of these clones are used commercially in large quantities.

Source: Maison des Vins de Cahors et chambre d'agriculture du Lot.

United States

Before alcohol prohibition of the Malbec was an important grape in California. The vine wines, however, were mostly sold anonymously in cutback drums. After the repeal of Prohibition, the area under vines to recover only slowly. Only by the growing popularity of Meritage called Bordeaux blends from California and the Malbec was offered a suitable marketing platform. Between 1995 and 2003 the vineyard area increased from 1,000 acres ( 250 hectares) to more than 7,000 acres ( 2,830 hectares). In the meantime, however, the vines fell again to 1,469 acres. Important growing areas of California are the Napa Valley, Alexander Valley, Paso Robles and Sonoma Valley.

But even in the appellations Atlas Peak, Carmel Valley, Los Carneros, Ramona Valley, Central Coast, Red Hills Lake County, Chalk Hill, Clear Lake, Diamond Mountain District, Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Rutherford, El Dorado, San Lucas, Santa Clara Valley, Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Lucia Highlands, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Ynez Valley, Howell Mountain, Sierra Foothills, Knights Valley, Spring Mountain District, St. Helena, Lodi, Stags Leap District, Madera, Suisun Valley, Temecula Valley, Monterey, Mount Veeder, North Coast, Oak Knoll District, Yorkville Highlands, Oakville, Paicines, Clements Hills, fair Play, Willow Creek, North Yuba and Yountville find the Malbec.

Other growing areas

In Spain, the Malbec is cultivated almost exclusively as a small inventory at the Ribera del Duero where it is part of the classic mix recipe of the most valuable Spanish red wines of Vega Sicilia.

Italy: The estate Aldobrandesca, in the southern Maremma (Tuscany), which belongs to the Antinori family, also for a 100% Malbec wine ( Vie Cave ) is grown. Small stocks are also known in Switzerland. (10.2 acres, as of 2007, source: Office fédéral de l'agriculture OFAG )

Ampelographic varietal characteristics

In the ampelography the habit is described as follows:

• The shoot tip is open. It is whitish- woolly hairy, slightly ruby approach. The young leaves are hairy at first dichtwollig thereafter to be only hairy leichtwollig. The young leaves are bronze-colored speckled ( Anthocyanflecken ).
• The medium-sized leaves are roundish ( see also the article sheet form), while wider than long, usually sinuate all or only weakly trilobed. The petiole is U- or U-shaped open. The sheet is cut sharply. The teeth are small in comparison with the varieties and enggesetzt. (Also called lamina ) The leaf surface is only slightly vesicular rough and feels soft.
• The medium sized grape is usually shouldered and loose-. The plump, juicy little berries are small and blue - black color. The shell of the berry is thick skinned.

The Malbec drives out early and is thus sensitive to late frosts in spring. The winter frost hardiness is also low.

It is a viticultural rather difficult grape variety. It is moderately susceptible to powdery mildew, but susceptible to downy mildew, gray mold and the Eutypiose.

Synonyms

The Malbec is under the name Agreste exterior thereof, Auxerrais, Auxerrois, Auxerrois De Laquenexy, Auxerrois Des Moines De Picpus, Auxerrois You Mans, Balouzat, Beran, Beraou, Berau, Besparo, Blanc De Kienzheim, Bordelais noir, Bouchalès, Bouguignon Noir, Bouyssalet, Cahors, Calarin, Calavu, Caours, Cauli, Chalosse, Chalosse petite noire, choir, Claverie noire, Coly, Costa Rosa, Costa rossa, Côt, Côt verte à queue (sometimes called the variety Canari ) Côt de Bordeaux, Côt de Pays, Côt de Touraine, Côt malbec, Côt rouge, rouge Cote, Cotes Rouges, Couisse, Cruchinet, Doux Noir, Doux same, Estrangey, Étaulier, Etranger, Fin Auxerrois, Franc Moreau, Gourdaux, Gourdoux, grappa rouge, Grelot De Tours, Grifforin, Gros Noir Gros pied rouge, Big Merille, Guillain, Hourcat, Jacobain, Jacobin, Jacohin, Le Côt, Luckens, Lutkens, Magret, Malbech, Malbeck, Malbek, Malbec à queue rouge, Margrot, Medoc Noir, Monrame, Mourame, Mouranne, Moustère, Navarien, Nègre de Prechac, Nègre doux, Nègre Prechac, Negrera, Noir de Chartres, Noir de Pressac, Noir Doux, Nyar de Presak, oeil de Perdrix, Parde, Peperdy, Perigord, Pied De Perdrix, Pied doux, Pied Noir, Pied Rouge, Pied Rouget, Piperdy, Plant D' Arles, De Meraou Plant, Plant du Lot, Plant du Roi, Plant houdée, Préchat, Pressac, Prunieral, Quercy, queue Rouge, Quille De Coy, Quillot, Romieu, Soumansgne, Teinturier, complexion urine, Terranis, Tinturin, Vesparo and Vesparol known.