Malbec vs Tannat

Tannat and Malbec are both late ripening black grape varietals that remain relatively underappreciated in their home countries of France while enjoying great success in the more extreme climates of South America. 

Both wines are known for their high tannin levels, which give them a strong, astringent taste and firm structure. They are also both commonly used in blending with other grape varieties to soften their tannins and add complexity to the wine. Additionally, both grapes originate from the southwestern corner of France – Malbec from Cahors, and Tannat from Madiran. 

In Mogilovo, both varieties are perfectly adopted. They love the altitude and sunshine levels and benefit from the temperature amplitudes, giving great ageing potential.

Interestingly, although Tannat is a highly tannic wine, it is not a thick-skinned grape like Malbec. Due to this fact, Tannat is considered a more difficult grape to grow. It is susceptible to disease and rather picky about its specific soil and climate conditions. Malbec, on the other hand, is relatively easy to grow and adapts well to different soil and climate conditions.

Malbec is also generally made to be consumed young – while it can be aged, it doesn’t pick up as many interesting tertiary characteristics as Tannat. As we all know, Malbec has become the face of the Argentinian wine industry, where it is known for its easy-drinking texture and intense fruits. In a fascinating parallel, Tannat has become the pride and joy of neighboring Uruguay, where it is characterized by elegant, blackberry-infused wines.

In Mogilovo, bearing in mind their different requirements, Malbec is planted on the eastern plots of bio certified Dabovets vineyard, at high altitude and on red clay soils with high presence of iron oxides. Tannat, on the other hand, is planted on sandy and clayey soils, at lower altitudes on the Eastern Karaliets vineyard. 

Another significant difference between the two grapes is their flavour profile: Tannat typically has a dark, inky color and flavours of dark fruit like blackberry and plum, with a firm tannic structure and high alcohol content. Malbec, on the other hand, tends to be lighter in color and has flavours of red fruit like cherry and plum, with a softer tannic structure and a lower alcohol content – though some Malbecs can be very potent. 

In short, you can expect Tannat to be a delicious yet challenging experience, while Malbec is more easy-drinking and fruit-focused. Of course, many of these characteristics can change completely depending on the producer of the wine and the specific terroir of the vineyards.