Wine Region: Cahors

(2024) 100% Malbec, this comes from the highest of the Cahors terraces, with the oldest alluvial soil before you reach the limestone plateau at the top of the slope. It was aged mostly in large vats, but with a proportion matured in smaller oak barrels. There's a real ripeness and supple gloss to this, defying the old idea of Cahors being tannic and rustic. Instead, here there is a swathe of crushed black berries and ripe plum, everything plush and sweet including the creamy tannins and pert cherry acidity. Balanced and easy to enjoy with its overall elegant and ripe appeal. Watch the video for more information and food matching ideas.

(2018) From winemaker Hervé Fabré, who has spent decades making Malbec in Argentina before buying this estate in Cahors, in his French homeland. It's a wine that has soaked up its oak barrel-ageing effortlessly, the nose dominated by blueberry and cassis, a dark black plum edge, and lovely notes of Malbec's more floral and feminine side too, elegant, peppery and gently lifted. Like its little brother, the Mission de Picpus, the super-fruity, peachy edge to the palate is delightful, here set against much more substantial tannins, darker, more savoury fruit, and good acid structure, suggesting this will age well for a decade or more.

(2018) It's an interesting 'back to his roots' story for French winemaker Hervé Fabre, synonymous with Malbec from Argentina where has made wine for over 30 years, including his well-known Viñalba label. He has recently taken over an estate in Cahors, the European home of Malbec, and the first two wines from it are now being stocked by the retailer Roberson, an excellent Cahors destined to age labeled Prieuré De Cénac, and this more approachable wine that retails for £5 less. It's a wine that expresses that lovely Malbec 'lift' very well, violet, cassis and even some fragrant peach notes, before a palate that carries through some of that peach juice-edged character in the crisp black fruit, grippy, but fine Cahors tannins and juicy and fresh acidity. Watch the video for more information and food-matching ideas. On offer at £11.99 at time of review.

(2014) Fruit comes from Vigoroux's own vineyards in Châteaux de Haute-Serre and Mercuès, the vines between 27 and 35 years of age. Haute-Serre sits on a plateau above the Lot Valley floor, with plentiful sun exposure. It has a rock-strewn surface with two feet of red clay and iron concretions over limestone and patches of blue clay. Mercuès is on the third terrace of the Lot, with sandy-clay soils which are poor and have excellent drainage. Lovely colour, very dense and flowing, bright violet/crimson. Very fine nose after 18 months in 50% new, 50% one-year old French oak barrels. Really nice aromatics, creamy and rounded but there's a herbal spice and leafiness, a touch of floral. On the palate the tannins are grippier and tighter than the Argentinean tannins, but it has a savoury, earthy character as well as the very sweet and ripe fruit. Delicious hints of violet and tight kirsch flavours, the purity of the fruit is excellent and it still has structure and acidity at its core.

(2013) A biodynamic operation producing four wines from four parcels "like Burgundy," according to Fabien, and aim for drinkability allied to finesse. A 50/50 blend from barrel and tank. Deliciously fresh and direct fruit, superb tang and freshness here again, with delicious length and focus. Fabien also mentioned that he was taking delivery of concrete fermentation 'eggs' the morning after our tasting, with plans for some experimentation with this year's harvest.

(2013) A little more mellow in colour and in aroma, with a soft, sappy edge and hint of strawberry. The palate has good fruit - it is lighter, the tannins a little more tender, allowing the fruit and spice to come through. A pleasing drinker.

(2013) Opaque, but a tiny warming note on the rim. Big, fleshy and generous stuff on the nose, the black fruit density and substance lovely against nice oak and a hint of Malbec's floral lift. Deliciously round and generous on the palate too, sweet fruit and spice, rounded by the oak and extended by fresh cherry acidity.

(2013) Colour shows a little development. Cedary, quite bloody and open, gently oxidative style perhaps. The palate has an inky black-fruited juiciness, black fruit skin tartness, quite dry and mouth-watering, certainly no hint of oxidation, quite racy and keen, with good acidity and a dry tannic savour.

(2013) Very primary purple colour. Plenty of quality oak here, quite dominant but the wine is clearly young. Espresso and charry toast, but the fruit beneath is really pure and vital: damson and blueberry ripeness and dark drama. Massive presence on the palate: intense, ripe, sweet and chocolate smooth and rich, that creamy sweetness sweeps the tannins and acidity before it like a breaking wave into the finish. Modern and plush, which some will fault, but I think it's a bit special.

(2013) The nose has plenty of dry red fruit, cherry and red plum, but also a liquoricy character and touch of dried blood perhaps. Very dry on the palate, the tannins all-encompassing at this stage, quite high acidity too adding to the decisive but dry character. Is there enough fruit? Maybe it needs a little time.