France > South West France > Cahors
Wine region in south-western France specializing in the production of intense, dark-colored red wines.
As the main grape variety here, Malbec (also known as Auxerrois or Côt) must constitute at least 70% of the blend in any wine that claims the appellation AOC Cahors; the balance is made up with Merlot, or less commonly, Tannat. Until recently, the obscure variety Jurancon Noir was also permitted as a minimal proportion of the blend. Cahors is unusual among the appellations of the south west in not permitting the use of either Cabernet Franc or Cabernet Sauvignon.
Cahors is equidistant, as the crow flies, from the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean sea and the Pyrenees (about 210 km). The winters are certainly colder (than in areas closer to the coas, such as Bordeaux) but the sunshine levels and summer temperatures are correspondingly high, providing an excellent ripening season and highly concentrated wines.
Phylloxera in the late 19th century, and a devastating frost in 1956, decimated the Cahors vineyards; and despite the awarding of the appellation controllée (AOC) in 1971, the region has taken quite some time to recover. Part of the problem is that Malbec has a tendency to make wines that are rather tough and charmless in their youth, and which require ageing.
It goes without saying that the famous 'black wines' of Cahors are rich, however, what distinguishes them from other wines from the Southwest (and from Argentinean Malbecs) is their freshness and vivacity. Associated with the wine's natural acidity, they can produce a light palate and provide Cahors with an exceptional ageing capacity. Dark and dense coloured in their youth with rich and complex aromas that develop over time.
Black currant, along with blackberry and blueberry aromas, are the first and foremost signs of the Malbec variety; fragances of Menthol are the fresh notes, the ones that make the palate so light, it can translate to a sensation of aniseed or eucalyptus; Vanilla is the sign of oak aged wines, it'll appear with hazelnuts, cinnamon, fresh or moka coffe, depending upon the oak used and the degree of toasting; Truffle, this is the mark of Cahors at its apogee, after ten, fifteen years ageing. Its aroma is associated with mushroom and undergrowth notes. Some other typical fragances include violet, stone fruits and liquorice.
Part of the marketing and educational strategy has been to segment Cahors production into three levels, known as 'Tradition', 'Prestige' and 'Spéciale'. This is a voluntary code, but one which is very widely adhered too. So that consumers can know broadly what to expect, each of the three levels is meant to fit a certain stylistic profile (and price braket). Partly this is down to where the vineyards are sited, from the rich alluvial valley of the river Lot, or on one of the mid-slope terraces with less generous soils, to the highest plateau with limestone soils and 300 metres altitude, including areas of 'terra rossa', iron-rich soils that produce some of the finest wines.
Higher proportions of Merlot and Tannat appear in the 'Tradition' wines too, which are normally blends, whilst at the 'Spéciale' level the majority of wines are 100% Malbec. Note the word "Malbec" can be indicated on the label when it represents 85% of the blend or over.
References
- The Malbecs of Cahors
- Cahors Wine
- Spotlight on Cahors
- Cahors the French Malbec
Wine region in south-western France specializing in the production of intense, dark-colored red wines.
As the main grape variety here, Malbec (also known as Auxerrois or Côt) must constitute at least 70% of the blend in any wine that claims the appellation AOC Cahors; the balance is made up with Merlot, or less commonly, Tannat. Until recently, the obscure variety Jurancon Noir was also permitted as a minimal proportion of the blend. Cahors is unusual among the appellations of the south west in not permitting the use of either Cabernet Franc or Cabernet Sauvignon.
Cahors is equidistant, as the crow flies, from the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean sea and the Pyrenees (about 210 km). The winters are certainly colder (than in areas closer to the coas, such as Bordeaux) but the sunshine levels and summer temperatures are correspondingly high, providing an excellent ripening season and highly concentrated wines.
Phylloxera in the late 19th century, and a devastating frost in 1956, decimated the Cahors vineyards; and despite the awarding of the appellation controllée (AOC) in 1971, the region has taken quite some time to recover. Part of the problem is that Malbec has a tendency to make wines that are rather tough and charmless in their youth, and which require ageing.
It goes without saying that the famous 'black wines' of Cahors are rich, however, what distinguishes them from other wines from the Southwest (and from Argentinean Malbecs) is their freshness and vivacity. Associated with the wine's natural acidity, they can produce a light palate and provide Cahors with an exceptional ageing capacity. Dark and dense coloured in their youth with rich and complex aromas that develop over time.
Black currant, along with blackberry and blueberry aromas, are the first and foremost signs of the Malbec variety; fragances of Menthol are the fresh notes, the ones that make the palate so light, it can translate to a sensation of aniseed or eucalyptus; Vanilla is the sign of oak aged wines, it'll appear with hazelnuts, cinnamon, fresh or moka coffe, depending upon the oak used and the degree of toasting; Truffle, this is the mark of Cahors at its apogee, after ten, fifteen years ageing. Its aroma is associated with mushroom and undergrowth notes. Some other typical fragances include violet, stone fruits and liquorice.
Part of the marketing and educational strategy has been to segment Cahors production into three levels, known as 'Tradition', 'Prestige' and 'Spéciale'. This is a voluntary code, but one which is very widely adhered too. So that consumers can know broadly what to expect, each of the three levels is meant to fit a certain stylistic profile (and price braket). Partly this is down to where the vineyards are sited, from the rich alluvial valley of the river Lot, or on one of the mid-slope terraces with less generous soils, to the highest plateau with limestone soils and 300 metres altitude, including areas of 'terra rossa', iron-rich soils that produce some of the finest wines.
Higher proportions of Merlot and Tannat appear in the 'Tradition' wines too, which are normally blends, whilst at the 'Spéciale' level the majority of wines are 100% Malbec. Note the word "Malbec" can be indicated on the label when it represents 85% of the blend or over.
References
- The Malbecs of Cahors
- Cahors Wine
- Spotlight on Cahors
- Cahors the French Malbec
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