When a wine sommelier first samples a wine, one of the first characteristics they look for is sweetness. If a wine is not sweet, it is described as dry. When it comes to Malbec wines – are they dry or sweet?

Malbec is a dry red wine. It does not taste very sweet due to its low levels of residual sugar. After the grapes have fermented, there is not a lot of sugar left in the wine. Malbecs usually contain less than 3 grams of sugar per liter. Sweet red wines contain upwards of 100 grams per liter.

Malbec is an iconic red wine. It is rich, full-bodied, and intensely fruity. If you have never tasted Malbec wine, you may be wondering if it is a dry or sweet wine. Knowing if a wine is sweet or dry is important when you are pairing wine with a meal.

Is Malbec Wine Dry Or Sweet?

Malbec wines are typically described as dry because they contain a very low residual sugar content. They do not taste sweet because, during the wine’s fermentation process, most of the sugars in the grapes are converted into alcohol.

Even though Malbec wine is not sweet, it still has a deliciously fruity, jammy flavor. The dryness leaves a pleasant astringent feeling in the mouth.

What Do Malbec Wines Taste Like?

Malbec wines are often described as rich, dark, and full-bodied. To a wine aficionado these adjectives may say a lot, but those of us who know less about wines may still be left wondering: what do Malbec wines actually taste like?

When you taste a sip of a Malbec wine, you will notice that it has notes of dark fruits, like blueberries, black currants, and black plums. You will also recognize hints of dark chocolate, oak, tobacco, and vanilla.

Malbecs contain moderate levels of tannins, making them medium-acidity wines. Malbecs are slightly more sour than bitter.

French Malbecs Vs Argentinian Malbecs

Malbec grapes originate from Cahors in the Bordeaux region of France. The grapes have a thick, inky purple skin. They ripen in the middle of the season but require lots of heat and sunlight to mature – more than other varietals grown in the region, like Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Due to the climate and low altitude of Southwestern France, Malbec grapes often have issues with diseases. This varietal seems to grow better in other parts of the world, like South America.

In the mid-1900s, Malbec grapes were introduced in Argentina. They gained massive popularity due to how well they grew there and have since become the country’s national varietal.

Malbec wines taste slightly different depending on where the grapes are grown.

Grapes grown in Bordeaux, France, produce wine with an earthy taste. They often have a slight bitterness and spiciness to them because they have higher acidity.

Grapes grown in the cooler, high-altitude regions of Argentina produce a finer quality Malbec. Argentinian Malbecs have more floral notes and red fruit flavors, like raspberries and cherries. They also have notes of chocolate, leather, and sweet tobacco.

Meals To Pair Malbec With

A great bottle of wine can bring out certain flavors in food, and certain foods complement the flavors of a wine. Malbec is a delicious wine to pair with a hearty meal.

Malbec wines are excellent with leaner red meats, and with strong, umami flavors like blue cheese and mushrooms. Because of the wine’s bold flavor profile, it can hold its own amongst other strong flavors.

Malbecs pair well with dark meat poultry, like duck and ostrich. They are also excellent with fish like tuna and swordfish. You can also pair Malbecs with red meats like game or lamb.

Meals with smokey, earthy flavors are enhanced by pairing them with a good Malbec. Enjoy barbecued meat with a glass of Malbec.

The flavors play well with spices like smoked paprika, black pepper, cumin, clove, and vanilla bean. Malbec wines are fantastic accompanied by a spicy meal – Mexican, Thai, or Indian food.

How To Enjoy Malbec Wine

To fully experience the flavor profile that a Malbec wine has to offer, it should be served in a particular way.

The ideal serving temperature is between 60 and 65°F. Serving Malbec too cold will enhance the astringency, so it will taste bitter. Serving it too warm makes the alcohol flavor too prominent.

Serve Malbec in a large, oval, or egg-shaped glass that is narrower at the rim. The glass should have enough room to swirl the wine properly before sipping. This will allow the wine to breathe, enhancing the fruity flavors.

Wines Similar To Malbec

Malbec is similar in taste to a few other red wines. Malbec grapes are frequently combined with Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc to produce red wine blends, such as the classic Bordeaux caret.

Malbec wines taste similar to:

• Merlot
• Syrah
• Cabernet Sauvignon

Merlot wines, like Malbec, have dark fruity flavors with hints of vanilla and tobacco. However, Merlot generally has lower tannins, so this wine has a softer taste than Malbec. Merlot is generally pricier than Malbec, so the latter is a great budget-friendly alternative.

Syrah wines are heavy. They contain high levels of tannins – more than Malbec – so they have an intense, spicy flavor. Like Malbec, Syrah has dark, fruity characteristics.

Cabernet Sauvignon contains high levels of tannins, so the wine has a bold, intense flavor. Late-season Cabernet Sauvignon grapes produce fruity, jammy wines that are similar to Malbec.

Conclusion

Malbec is a dry, full-bodied red wine that has dark, fruity flavors. Where Malbec grapes are produced has a significant effect on the wine’s flavor profile. French Malbecs have strong, spicy, slightly bitter notes.

Argentinian Malbecs have fruitier flavors and hints of vanilla, sweet tobacco, and leather.

Malbec’s strong, intense flavor means that you can pair it with hearty, savory, and spicy meals. Malbec is excellent with red meat and with dark meat poultry like duck and ostrich. Pungent cheeses are great accompanied by a Malbec.