2022 Chateau Du Cedre Cahors Chateau, South West France

Château du Cèdre Cahors is one of the benchmark wines of South West France — a pure expression of Malbec from limestone-rich terraces in the heart of Cahors. This is not the lush, fruit-forward Malbec you might expect from Argentina. Instead, it’s dark, mineral, structured, and savoury, shaped by the rugged terroir of the Lot Valley and a philosophy of precision viticulture and minimal intervention.

Pascal and Jean-Marc Verhaeghe run this organically farmed estate with a focus on old vines, hand harvesting, and slow, natural winemaking. Their approach aims to preserve the intensity of Cahors Malbec while refining the tannin structure and lifting the aromatics. The Château cuvée is sourced from the estate’s mid-slope terraces on deep limestone and gravel soils, giving the wine both power and elegance.

In the glass, it opens with deep aromas of blackcurrant, black plum, violets, graphite and wild herbs, with notes of tobacco, cedar and cocoa from ageing in large oak foudres and barrels. The palate is firm and layered, with savoury black fruit, smoky earth, and finely grained tannins. It’s full-bodied but fresh, with a long, stony finish that speaks clearly of limestone and place.

Food pairing: Perfect with cassoulet, grilled duck breast, slow-cooked beef with prunes, or roasted eggplant with smoked paprika. Aged Comté or Cantal also work beautifully with its savoury profile.

Cellar potential: Best from 2026 onward, with the structure to age gracefully for 10 to 15 years, developing gamey, truffle and forest floor notes over time.