Answer to a Tweet on French and Argentinian Malbecs

From time to time, a social networker gets worried about a weird question: what is better, French or Angentinian Malbecs? A few months ago, an Argentinian sommelier asked this question on LinkedIn. Yesterday, somebody tweeted with this very same question.

Argentinian Malbecs and Cahors Malbecs are totally different. Comparing them would be like comparing a Bordeaux wine to a Californian Meritage. Two different terroirs, two different countries, different winemakers, different consumers. You don’t make the same wine in Bordeaux than in California even if the grapes are basically the same (Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot). Same with Malbec: why should grapes grown so far away from each other and vinified with different methods be compared on a basis of “better or worse”? None is better than the other ones. It depends on the consumers’ personal tastes… and mood and weather and… whatever. Drinking wine should be a pleasure for the consumer, not a contest! Enjoy… with moderation!