Demystifying Malbec

Let's get intimate with stunning Malbec

Jacques Lurton has grown Malbec across three continents, including on Kangaroo Island. Get up close with this amazing varietal.

Malbec's Provenance
Malbec originated in Jacques Lurton's native Bordeaux (and also Cahors), where it plays a supporting role in classic Bordeaux blends, never really getting the chance to shine in the spotlight. In the late 19th century, phylloxera nearly destroyed all the Malbec vines in France. They eventually recovered before being later hit by deadly frosts in the mid-1950s. The variety struggled to return to France until the mid-1970s.

Luckily then, a French agronomist, Michel Aimé Pouget, had introduced the variety to South America in the mid-1800s, where the variety found its place in the sun in the hot high-altitude Argentinian climate around Mendoza.  Malbec finally found its place centre stage as a single varietal, becoming the shining star of Argentinian wine. 

In modern-day wine, Malbec has travelled all over the world, but Argentina still produces 75% of the world's Malbec and Cahors in France’s southwest the second-largest producer. 

Malbec's Australian story began in 1860 when it began growing particularly well in South Australia. Production is still selective, and Malbec represents less than 0.5% of Aussie grape and wine production. In Australia, Malbec’s beginnings were as a blending grape. These days, a small but growing number of producers are taking inspiration from South America and showing Malbec’s potential as a single varietal.

A Malbec love affair spanning three continents

Jacques Lurton’s relationship with Malbec began in his native France, where the variety originated. The love affair really took off when he spent extensive time in South America, establishing vineyards in partnership with his brother Francois in Argentina and Chile and experiencing Malbec as the powerhouse of the wine industry there.

As a flying winemaker, he had also spent time in Australia, seeing how well the variety transferred from Argentina's hot high-latitude climate to South Australia’s moderate Mediterranean climate. 

When Jacques set up his own Australian business, The Islander Estate Vineyards, on Kangaroo Island, he planted Malbec to blend with flagship varieties. 

Those plans changed almost from the first vintage when the quality of his Malbec on Kangaroo Island impressed Jacques so much that he saw it deserved to shine on its own. The Majestic Plough was born as the region’s only single-varietal Malbec.

The quality continued to increase from vintage to vintage.  Jacques was determined to show the true potential of Malbec on Kangaroo Island, so in 2015, The Islander Estate's flagship wine range was joined by The Independence Malbec – rated as one of the country’s best single variety Malbecs (96 points James Halliday's 2021 Wine Companion). 

"Hand-picked fruit, destemmed, table-sorted, then barrel fermented in seasoned 600L demi-muids; left 5 weeks on skins, matured 24 months in new 600L demis. Deep crimson-purple hue, showing no sign of age. An alluring, expressive bouquet with licorice, polished leather, eastern spices, dried plum and earth all calling out. The palate tucks in behind that array, giving substance and cedary oak tannins on the long, perfectly balanced finish."  James Halliday

The Islander Estate Vineyards is the only winery commercially producing Malbec on Kangaroo Island.

So, what's so special about Malbec anyway?

Often considered an alternative to Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz, Malbec is a powerhouse wine of its own accord, the most structured and tannic wine we produce on Kangaroo Island.

Malbec is a thick-skinned, purple grape variety with an inky red hue.  On Kangaroo Island, the vines are low-yielding and one of the first red varieties to be harvested.

In the glass, it has an intense deep red colour, magenta-tinged at the rim.  On the nose, you’ll find savoury aromas of leather, tobacco, blackberry, dried herbs and spices with plenty of toasty oak.

In the mouth expect big, juicy and plush flavours of dark fruit with a robust structure and moderately firm tannins with natural acidity and a longer finish than you expect from overseas examples.

Malbec’s best food friends

Malbec loves lean proteins like a good-quality steak barbecued over coals (even better with a herb or chimichurri sauce on the side), roast lamb with robust stuffing, and roast game like duck or pheasant. 

It also loves hard or blue cheeses and sits beautifully alongside charcuterie.

Drink now or wait?

Malbec has great cellaring potential for 15+ years if you have the patience!

 

Get up close to The Islander Estate’s Vineyards' Malbec

The Independence Malbec from our Flagship range has just been rated as one of the best in the country. The Australian Wine Companion team rated both the 2015 and 2016 vintage releases 96/100 points. Pop this one away and try not to think about it for a few years—it will pay off.

Shop 2016 The Independence Malbec

 

Our Estate range Majestic Plough Malbec is back in stock and in high demand. It is an example of just how good a cool-climate Malbec can be. Drink now or cellar for up to 10 years.

Shop 2021 Majestic Plough Malbec