Côt Wines — Buy Online in Ireland

Côt is the original French name for what the wine world now knows best as Malbec — but in the Loire Valley of France, where it has been grown for centuries, this ancient variety produces wines of a very different character from its famous Argentine cousin. Darker, earthier and more structured than the plush Argentine version, Loire Côt is a genuinely distinctive wine experience — and one that is increasingly sought after by wine drinkers who want something authentic and different. At Wines Direct, we offer Côt wines that capture the true character of this remarkable ancient variety.

About Côt

Côt is one of France's oldest indigenous red varieties, grown in the Loire Valley — particularly in Touraine — for many centuries. In the wines of Touraine AOC and Touraine Amboise, it produces deep-coloured, tannic reds with a dark-fruited, earthy character quite distinct from the velvety, chocolate-driven Argentine Malbec style. The variety also features in the wines of Chinon and Bourgueil blends, adding depth and structure. In its other French home of Cahors — where it is known as Auxerrois or Côt — it produces the legendary 'Black Wine of Cahors', one of France's most historically celebrated and formidably structured red wines. When Côt/Malbec emigrated to Argentina's Mendoza in the nineteenth century, it underwent a transformation in the high-altitude sunshine, producing a completely different wine — richer, rounder and more opulent. The Loire Valley version retains its original character: austere, earthy and complex.

Flavour Profile & Style

Loire Côt is a deep, dark red with aromas of blackcurrant, dark plum, damp earth, violets and a distinctive mineral, almost graphite quality. The tannins are firmer than Argentine Malbec, and the fruit is less overtly ripe — there is more savouriness and structure, and less of the chocolatey warmth associated with the South American version. With moderate ageing of 5–8 years, Loire Côt develops beautiful complexity — leather, truffle, dried fruits and earthy spice. Cahors Côt is even more concentrated and tannic, requiring longer ageing to reveal its full character. Both styles share an unmistakably authentic, terroir-driven identity.

Food Pairings

Côt's firm structure and dark-fruited savouriness make it an excellent partner for rich meat dishes. Slow-braised beef with root vegetables, duck confit, cassoulet and game are classic Loire pairings. Cahors Côt demands the most robust companions — venison haunch, wild boar stew or a classic magret de canard with prunes. For Irish tables, try Loire Côt alongside a slow-braised Irish beef cheek or a hearty lamb casserole — the earthy, structured quality of the wine matches beautifully with slow-cooked meat.

Why Buy Côt from Wines Direct?

Côt is one of wine's most historically significant and genuinely interesting varieties — a grape that predates Argentina's love affair with it by many centuries and tells a completely different story in the Loire Valley. Our range brings you authentic Loire expressions at great value. Free delivery on orders over €150 across Ireland. Discover the original Malbec today.