Clos la Coutale 2022 Cahors (Malbec)

This wine is generally 80% Malbec and 20% Merlot, which lends some rounded softness and near-term drinkability to the more tannic and stand-offish young Malbec. Malbec is the grape of the region, its Royalty, but it always required a few years in the bottle to come around. Either that, or the robust foods of the region, which is, by the way, a region just North of the Pyrenees on the far Western nook of France. Oddly, the Spanish wines from just over the mountain tend to be white, seafood focused. The old chestnut "What grows together, goes together" is, once again, a reliable guide to food and wine pairing!

More Info Than You'd Ever Want to Read (but will be glad you did!)

Deep in the southwest of France, amidst dramatic rock formations and cliffs, the Lot River slowly snakes its way along the valley floor, coiling almost seductively around the charming town of Cahors.

The diversity in architecture serves as a proud historical mark left by many previous generations of inhabitants and their respective cultures. Once a former Roman town, Cahors was also as a center of commerce during the Middle Ages that served as an important crossroads for pilgrims on the trail to Santiago de Compostella.

But the common thread, among the many specialties that have brought pride to the region, the one constant has been its wine.

A.O.C. Cahors has been called the “black wine of Cahors”. These are inky, earthy wines that seem to complement the regional fare of duck (and duck fat!) so wonderfully - pair this wine with some of our Duck Rillettes and you'll be smiling - inside or ear-to-ear, as your temperament dictates!

Today, Cahors’ jack-of-all-trades and Renaissance man, Philippe Bernède, continues the family tradition (since the late 1800s) with both heart and ingenuity. Philippe’s vines rest upon the gentle slopes that rise up from the Lot River farming over 140 acres along the alluvial terraces of the Lot Valley that are rich in siliceous, clay, and limestone soils. The microclimate of his vineyards is ideal, with southwest sun exposure that provides protection against frost.

Over the years, Philippe has tinkered with the house blend to achieve a greater equilibrium. Today, the blend consists of 80% Malbec and 20% Merlot, creating an intense wine that juggles elegant rusticity with everyday drinkability.

Coutale has quite a record of age-worthiness and Philippe is not afraid to pull out older vintages of his wines alongside much more expensive Bordeaux. They stand up quite well! Nothing beats a cassoulet with an old Coutale, but a simple steak frites also fits the bill just fine.