A fantastic grape that we have not looked at in this series is Malbec. Perhaps best known as being the unofficial national grape of Argentina, Malbec first came to prominence in the red blends of France. While it is not as prevalent as it used to be, there are still vineyards using this grape as a blending varietal. In the Cahors region of south-western France, Malbec is the primary grape used in their red wines. Traditionally these wines are made of 70% Malbec with the additional 30% being Merlot and Tannat. Domaine Cause La Lande Cavagnac Cahors is a perfect example of what to expect from this region. Rich, deep, dark fruit flavors like blackberry and black cherry dominate while strong tannins and a full body provide a luxurious and strong wine for chilly weather. This is the perfect wine for winter or to start a collection for aging at home.

In a sea of white wine-producing regions within the Loire valley, you will find the Chinon region. Their grape du jour here is Cabernet Franc. This grape has been an important blending grape for centuries but also stands on its own as a rich wine. Taking advantage of the steep, rocky shores of the Loire river, Chinon produces red wines that are slightly lighter red wines than those of Bordeaux but do not lack for strong tannins. While up to 25% of a Chinon wine can be Cabernet Sauvignon, they will predominantly be made of Cabernet Franc. Charles Joguet La Cure Chinon shows the strength of these wines. This pure Cabernet Franc is sourced from several vineyards to produce a light and fruity wine. Strong, fresh fruit flavors of strawberry and raspberry with a medium body and strong tannins make for a wine that pairs with many rich meat dishes. A slight chill will accentuate the fresh fruit flavors.

The Rhone Valley is home to two very famous wines in Cotes du Rhone and Chateauneuf du Pape. Both of these wines are red blends with a heavy base of grenache noir. This grape typically produces a wine without the rich, deep color of other red wines and so is used as a blending component. In Cotes du Rhone wines, the blending grapes used are Syrah, which must be 40% of the blend, and Mourvèdre. Occasionally other grapes will be added but these two will almost always be present. Parallele 45 Cotes-du-Rhone Rouge is an example of a wine that adds additional varieties to round out their desired flavor profile. With the Grenache Noir creating a fruit-forward note of strawberry and raspberry, the Syrah helps to carry the medium body and strong, structured tannins with hints of spices in this rich wine.

In contrast to a Cotes du Rhone, Chateauneuf du Pape wines use a blend with an emphasis on Grenache Noir and Syrah. The largest differentiating factor is the flavors and structure of the finished wine. While Cotes du Rhone wines aim for a very approachable early drinking wine, Chateauneuf du Pape wines aim for earthy flavors and strong tannins that beg to be cellared. There has been a trend in recent years to make these wines more approachable in their youth, but they still benefit from bottle aging. You can expect dried herb aromas and flavors of tar and leather behind the fruit and spice. Famille Perrin Les Sinards Chateauneuf-Du-Pape uses the very traditional blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre with an emphasis on the Grenache. Dried fig and candied grape flavors dominate with hints of leather and an undertone of spice. The focus on Grenache gives the wine strong tannins but does have it leaning into the younger drinking style with a decent ageability of 5-10 years.