The point being that one cannot simply SPEAK a language, without adopting and understanding certain mannerisms inherent to that language, its culture, its place. Not just ANYONE can do a second language justice you know. Which brings us to Malbec, and why this French grape speaks Spanish so eloquently.
Tengo Hambre
In English we say: ‘I am hungry.’ In Spanish we (they) say: “Tengo hambre.” {I have hunger.} Hunger then is something you possess, not something you ARE. Which MIGHT infer that hunger in English is more serious than hunger in Spanish…no? See, Spanish people have tapas and English people generally have a more regimented eating schedule, which might also contribute to their {our…though I count myself an unwilling participant here} more serious attitude toward hunger and eating on time…but I digress. “Semantics!” I hear you hiss.
The Semantics of Terroir
{“Oh ye of little faith.”} These SEMANTICS can effectively be translated to terroir and the expression certain grapes find in PLACE. For instance: Malbec in France is one of the 5 recognized Bordeaux blend grapes, generally grown in the Cahors region and GENERALLY quite leathery and acidic, with flavours that can be described as tart currant, black plum, black pepper and spice. In ARGENTINA Malbec is fruit forward with flavours of blackberry, plum and black cherry, nuanced hints of milk chocolate, cocoa powder, violet flowers, leather and if well-oaked, a sweet tobacco finish.
Mendoza
The reasons WHY Malbec finds such beautiful expression in a decidedly foreign land are three-fold and centred on Mendoza, the Argentinian winegrowing region credited with much of the award-winning wines coming from the area (though Salta is also worth mentioning we prefer not to muddy the water). 1. Mendoza is characterised as a desert with 225mm of annual rainfall, though augmented by melted snow from the Andes funnelled into a network of irrigation channels originally designed by the Incas. Hence an exquisite struggle, with a little bit of back-up. 2. It’s isolated and because of the desert-like conditions virtually pest-free. Pest and poor resistance to bad weather having been some of the major factors that hampered the growth of the soft skinned grape in France. 3. Altitude. Mendoza sits about 1000 to 1200m above sea level, meaning cold nights and a slow ripening period, while retaining good acidity instead of the potential of losing it all as it would in a different hot climate. All these factors together make Mendoza one of the only places in the world to pander effectively to the needs of this fussy French grape. The evidence you ask?
Proof
There are a number of wines we could name to PROVE Malbec’s proficiency in Spanish, but the one that stood out, among our selection of Argentinian wines is the American, Paul Hobbs’s Viña Cobos. Paul Hobbs being a multi-lingual American by all accounts. ‘Multi-lingual’, given his many and varied viticultural pursuits from California, to Argentina, to France, to Armenia, to an untold number of consultation projects. We have a feeling he might have a flair for languages, given his success. His interest in the different expressions of Malbec makes us think that the GRAPE, in fact, may be multi-lingual too. We invite you to discover our selection of Malbec and see what you think of the accent.
