El Molino Merlot Malbec Red Wine
RM67.00
El Molino Merlot Malbec is a blend of two grape varieties that originated in Bordeaux but have since found homes in various New World wine regions. Malbec, the full-bodied, vibrant mainstay of Cahors and Mendoza, is frequently complemented by Merlot’s rounded, plummy flavours. Malbec-Merlot blends are a modern style of winemaking, with even French producers producing fruity examples.
Malbec and Merlot are both components of the traditional red Bordeaux blend, and both are officially sanctioned for use in the region’s most prestigious appellations. While Merlot continues to dominate vineyard plantings in the region, Malbec has been largely eradicated. A severe frost in 1956 killed off a large portion of Bordeaux’s Malbec vines, which were later replaced with more frost-resistant varieties.
Malbec’s French home is now in the vineyards of Cahors, which is located to the southeast of Bordeaux. In this case, Malbec must make up the majority of the blend, with Merlot (along with Tannat) serving as insurance. Cahors Malbec-Merlot blends are typically more rustic in style than examples from other parts of the world, but changing tastes have resulted in a shift toward cleaner, more modern-styled wines.
The blend is widely available in Argentina, though Merlot is only found in small quantities, with Malbec serving as the foundation of the wine. Merlot is used to soften Malbec, adding a juicy, rounded component to the wine’s profile. These wines are frequently aged in oak, and some of the more expensive examples can be stored for many years.
Blends of Malbec and Merlot are becoming increasingly popular in New Zealand, though Merlot tends to dominate in this case. Malbec is frequently used to add structure to Merlot-based wines from Hawke’s Bay and Auckland, where achieving full ripeness can be difficult. The blend is also produced in hotter regions of the United States, such as the Texas High Plains and the Alexander Valley.