Cahors, the capital of Quercy, is a city known for the Valentré bridge. It is also one of the appellations of the South West in full revival. After years during which they were in the shadow of their Bordeaux neighbors, the wines of the South West are asserting themselves again as terroir wines with originality and style! Indeed, we can count on a multitude of indigenous grape varieties.
Appellation and terroirs
The AOC of Cahors wines is a relatively recent AOC since it was created in 1971.
The appellation area covers 21,000 hectares of which nearly 3,300 hectares are cultivated in AOC Cahors. Nearly 75% of the winegrowers are independent cellars and the remaining quarter are cooperative members.
The appellation area covers 21,000 hectares of which nearly 3,300 hectares are cultivated in AOC Cahors. Nearly 75% of the winegrowers are independent cellars and the remaining quarter are cooperative members.
Two main types of terroir allow Cahors wines to express their power and their singularity:
- Limestone terroirs: planted on plateaus or on hillsides: they produce fresh and delicious wines
- Alluvial terroirs: planted in a valley with sandy-silty subsoils: finds more structured and deeper wines
PS: If you are looking for white wine, move on, the appellation only produces red wines!
A unique grape variety: Malbec
The special feature of Cahors is Malbec . In fact, it must represent at least 70% of the blend of the final vintage to qualify for AOC status. The vintage can then be completed with Tannat or Merlot.
Malbec has been cultivated in the region for 600 years! The different terroirs have therefore been studied meticulously over the decades.
The Cahors vineyard also finds its singularity in its geographical location: it is located at an equal distance from the Pyrenees, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. A natural balance is therefore created between rainfall and sunshine, allowing the grapes to ripen.
Environment: they play the organic card
Cahors is also a vineyard committed to sustainable agriculture: no fields in monoculture of the vine! Here the vine is often surrounded by hills, forests and meadows.
Today, nearly 30% of winegrowers are committed to organic farming. The shift has been made by the entire appellation, showing the united dynamic of this region.
Wines are increasingly accessible
Cahors wines are renowned for their structure, their structure and their ageing potential. They are supple with coated tannins. We often find fresh, crisp red fruit and a hint of violet.
The new wave of winemakers who have settled in today are offering a much more affordable version of Malbec with many vintages of immediate pleasure. This is the case for example with this formidable vintage produced without the addition of sulfites: "L'Envie" from Château Haut-Monplaisir .
Of course, Cahors wines are excellent with all the cuisine of the South West: duck confit and breast, cassoulet and game. But they can also be excellent with slightly spicy cuisines, or sweet and savory dishes.
This appellation is certainly one to watch closely, with a large number of gems at low prices, like many of its neighbors in the South-West!
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