Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
One of the finest wines to come out of Cahors, this is so stylish. Of course, it has power, intense fruit and acidity. At the same time, balanced richness allied to solid tannins and ripe black fruits single it out. It needs considerable aging to soften the tannins that are still so exuberant. Drink from 2018. Cellar Selection.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Evoking aromas of cedar, smoke and oak mingled with delicate notes of fresh tobacco and spices, the 2011 Le Cèdre possesses a dense, rich and structured palate with youthful, firm tannins that segue into a long, spicy and tobacco-inflected finish. It is incredibly dense and fresh for such a challenging vintage.
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Wine & Spirits
A blend of fruit off two different soils, one sandy clay, the other stony clay and limestone, this is aged for 14 months in a mix of new and one-year-old barrels. A showy Cahors, generous in sweet, purple flavor, this needs time in the cellar, or at least an hour in a decanter—with air, the savory gaminess and ferrous minerality that support the fruit gain prominence.
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Wine Spectator
Offers an intensely spicy aroma, with ripe, dense flavors of dark plum, black olive and fig, supported by ample tannins. Well-oaked, featuring a finish that oozes with hints of chocolate mousse and paprika. Drink now through 2020.
Celebrated for its bold flavors and supple texture, Malbec has enjoyed runaway success in Argentina since the late 20th century. The grape originated in Bordeaux, France, where it historically contributed color and tannin to blends. A French agronomist, who saw great potential for the variety in Mendoza’s hot, high-altitude landscape, brought Malbec to Argentina in 1868. Somm Secret—If you’re trying to please a crowd, Malbec is generally a safe bet with its combination of dense fruit and soft tannins.
Within the Southwest of France, this is the one region outside of Argentina that is today almost exclusively dependent on Malbec. Locally the variety is called Cot, and makes a dense, earthy and black fruit dominant red wine. Both the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean both have a strong influence on the climate of this region.