Why Merlot and Malbec - while they both start with 'M' thats only part of the story. Both are Bordelaise varieties that have traveled. Merlot (like Chardonnay) has taken over the wine world - it produces a soft, plush, plummy fleshy red that is often given structure by blended Cabernet and other related varieties. Malbec is a rarity in Bordeaux these days however it finds its feet in the South West in Cahor where it is known as Cot and in the Andes, in particular the province of Mendoza in Argentina. Both are rich, generous reds with Malbec having a more meaty, earthy edge.