Malbec: taste, styles and the dishes that match
24 styles and 361 dish scores from our sommelier database
Choosing Malbec gets easier once you know why it fits. This guide bundles the styles, the taste profile and the best-scoring dishes from our sommelier database — with as the classic.
Taste profile (Wine DNA)
Averaged across the styles in our database, Malbec shows fresh acidity, is medium-bodied and clearly fruity, with soft tannins.
Well-known Malbec styles
- Malbec · New World — full-bodied, fresh acidity, firm tannins, generous oak ageing
Mid level qualities of a tannic and characterful red wine from the grape variety by the same name. - Bergerac and Cahors · Southwest France — medium-bodied, fresh acidity, soft tannins
Bergerac, Côtes de Bergerac, de Duras, de Montravel, du Marmandais, Cahors, Buzet, Pecharmant rouge, Saint Mont and IGP's from southwestern France. - Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur · Bordeaux — medium-bodied, fresh acidity, soft tannins
Entry to mid market level of fruity red wines from cabernet sauvignon and merlot based blends with light tannins. - Petits Bordeaux · Bordeaux — medium-bodied, fresh acidity, soft tannins
Côtes de Bordeaux Cadillac, Castillion, Francs, Côtes de Bordeaux St. - Fronsac and Canon-Fronsac · Fronsac — medium-bodied, fresh acidity, soft tannins, subtle oak notes
Fronsac, Canon-Fronsac en Côtes and Canon-Fronsac. - Haut-Médoc · Haut-Médoc — full-bodied, fresh acidity, soft tannins, subtle oak notes
Premium quality Haut-Médoc from all appellations: Haut-Médoc, St. - Médoc · Médoc (Bas-Médoc) — full-bodied, fresh acidity, soft tannins, subtle oak notes
Red Bordeaux from a blend of cabernet-sauvignon, cabernet-franc and merlot grape vareties. - Malbec and Petit Verdot · Portugal — full-bodied, pronounced freshness, firm tannins, generous oak ageing
Modern style red wines from two grape varieties originating from Bordeaux.
Price-wise Malbec covers the full range: of the 24 styles in our database, 21% sit in the entry segment, 58% mid-range and 21% at the top end. You will find both a weekday bottle and a cellar-worthy wine in this grape.
The best-scoring dishes with Malbec
The dishes below come from our expert scoring: every combination was scored by sommeliers using the Wine DNA of both dish and wine. These are the strongest matches for Malbec styles, from classic to surprising.
- — best style: Malbec New World
- — best style: Malbec New World
- — best style: Malbec New World
- — best style: Malbec New World
- — best style: Malbec New World
- — best style: Malbec New World
- — best style: Malbec New World
- — best style: Malbec New World
- — best style: Malbec New World
- — best style: Malbec New World
- — best style: Malbec New World
- — best style: Malbec New World
Want to know if a specific bottle of Malbec matches your dish? Scan the label in the SommelierX app and see the match instantly.
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Frequently asked questions
- What does Malbec taste like?
- Averaged across the styles in our database, Malbec shows fresh acidity, is medium-bodied and clearly fruity, with soft tannins. It varies by style: see the overview above.
- What food goes with Malbec?
- The highest scores in our sommelier work: , Roasted Thick skirt, Gravy, Boiled Polenta, Boiled White asparagus, Blanched French beans, Thyme, Fried entrecôte and beef stew. The full list is above.
- Is Malbec a red wine?
- In our database Malbec is mostly made as a red wine (24 linked styles); regional exceptions exist.