Château du Cèdre 2020, Cahors

Dark inky-purple in colour. Gamey aromas of black cherries, liquorice and tobacco. Muscular tannins on the palate with flavours of plum pudding, cassis and dark chocolate. Chewy in texture, excellent acidity and a tart, complex finish.

The 25-hectare Chateau du Cedre is one of the leading wine estates in the Cahors apellation of Southwest France.

The Verhaeghe family have been making wine in the Lot since the 1950s. Today it is Pascal and Jean-Marc in charge of this domaine, which is certified organic. They own three parcels of vineyards, the largest of which is 12.5 acres with stony calcareous clay which is called `Tran`, which plays an important role retaining heat and moisture. Drawing on his winemaking experience from California to Burgundy, Pascal delicately creates wines of great elegance and roundness, from IGP to AOP status.

The aim of the estate is to compete successfully with the New World Malbecs, particularly those of Argentina. ‘Cahors’ replaces what was the ‘Prestige’ and is a complex wine it will keep for another 3-5 years.

One of the three plots of Château du Cèdre is located on Grèzes, a cone of limestone scree on the slopes of Bru. The Quaternary ice age decomposed the limestone of the slopes surrounding this parcel. Over the centuries, these scree slopes have formed the ground of today. The grapes from this rare terroir are characterized by great finesse and aromatic complexity. The specific microclimate at Château du Cèdre , an integral part of the terroir, seems to have multiple influences. Equal distance from the Atlantic Ocean, the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean, the climate is oceanic until June, then Mediterranean from July. In September, the Lot brings refreshment and the Autan wind blows over the plots.

No oenological inputs and vatting for around thirty days, 20 months in casks and barrels and Slight sulphiting at bottling.