2017 Château Combel-La-Serre Cahors Aux Cerisier  

2017 Château Combel-La-Serre Cahors Aux Cerisier  

2017 Château Combel-La-Serre Cahors Aux Cerisier, Malbec from Cahors, Haut-Pays, France, Southwest France

Malbec is a black-skinned grape variety native to South West France (specifically the area around Cahors), but now better known as the iconic wine grape of Argentina. Through its success in the vineyards of Mendoza, in a few short decades Malbec has shot from relative obscurity to international fame, simultaneously bringing newfound attention and respect to Argentina as a wine-producing nation.

Malbec typically ripens midway through the growing season and produces small, intensely colored grapes. As it is so sensitive to its growing environment, the level of ripeness has a considerable effect on the structure of the eventual wine.

Cahors is a small town and red wine appellation in South West France, located 100 miles (160km) east of Bordeaux. In wine terms it is known for its deeply colored reds made predominantly from Malbec (known locally as both Côt and Auxerrois), with small quantities of Tannat and Merlot. Interestingly, Cahors is the only red wine appellation in the South West that does not sanction the use of Cabernet Sauvignon or Franc.

The typical Cahors wine is darkly colored and has a meaty, herb-tinged aroma, with hints of spiced black cherries and a whiff of cedar. Cahors is invariably tighter and leaner than the rich, opulent style of Malbec being made in the variety’s new-found home in Mendoza, Argentina.