2022 Chateau du Cedre - Malbec Cahors Heritage (750ml)

Château du Cèdre traces its roots back to Léon Verhaeghe, who left Flanders for southwest France in the early 1900s. His son Charles established a mixed farm in 1958 and began planting vines a hectare at a time. Today the estate is run by Charles's sons, Pascal and Jean-Marc, who moved the domaine toward organic farming after a devastating 1995 hailstorm and achieved full certification by 2012.

Héritage is made entirely from Malbec, blending fruit from the estate's own vines, averaging twenty five to thirty years old, with grapes grown by local producers who work under Pascal's guidance. About seventy percent comes from the lighter, finer limestone plateau known as the causses, with the remainder from denser, iron rich gravel terraces along the Lot River. The wine ferments for twenty days with punch-downs early on, completes malolactic conversion in tank, and then matures for eighteen months in concrete.

The result is deep in color with violet reflections, showing aromas of ripe black fruit, blackcurrant, and plum alongside notes of spice and light licorice. The palate is full and fleshy, carried by supple, well integrated tannins through a persistent finish. It suits grilled red meats, braised stews, or aged cheeses.