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2017 Cahors

Clos La Coutale
Discount Eligible $17.00
SOLD OUT

While we are proud that many of our selections represent tremendous values, clients don’t often excitedly tell us they’d be happy to pay more for a specific bottle. This happens regularly, though, with Clos La Coutale’s Cahors. In a similar vein, we’ve been saying for years that we would continue to trumpet this rouge’s value even if it were pricier. With that in mind, now is a great time to stock up because Philippe Bernède’s “black wine”—made of 80% Malbec and 20% Merlot—just might be the quintessential wine for winter. Deep, dark, earthy, and spicy, it suits all kinds of stews and braises. Richard Olney often paired it with cassoulet, the kind of cold-night casserole that warms your bones. Christopher Lee, whom you may know from our past parking lot parties or wine club recipes, suggests a pan-fried duck breast or black truffles over soft eggs on toast with a truffle-scented reduced cream. You also can’t go wrong by simply frying up some merguez. Whatever you decide to pair it with, you’ll be impressed by how fresh, juicy, and buoyant a wine this dark can be.

Tom Wolf


Technical Information
Wine Type: red
Vintage: 2017
Bottle Size: 750mL
Blend: 80% Malbec, 20% Merlot
Appellation: Cahors
Country: France
Region: Southwest
Producer: Clos La Coutale
Winemaker: Philippe Bernède
Vineyard: 60 ha
Soil: Gravel, Limestone, Clay
Aging: Aged in foudre and 1-2 years old barrels from Bordeaux grand cru for one year before bottling
Farming: Traditional
Alcohol: 13.5%

Inspiring Thirst

I want you to realize once and for all: Even the winemaker does not know what aging is going to do to a new vintage; Robert Parker does not know; I do not know. We all make educated (hopefully) guesses about what the future will bring, but guesses they are. And one of the pleasures of a wine cellar is the opportunity it provides for you to witness the evolution of your various selections. Living wines have ups and downs just as people do, periods of glory and dog days, too. If wine did not remind me of real life, I would not care about it so much.

Inspiring Thirst, page 171