2022 ChevernyDomaine du Salvard
France | Loire
$22
Producers
Anthony Lynch's Pick Made up of riverbed stones, gravel, and pockets of limestone, the terroir looks like Chateauneuf-du-Pape meets Bordeaux meets Burgundy. The wine could be described the same way: deep, dark fruit, hints of spice, and bright floral overtones.
If you are a devout newsletter reader, you’re probably already familiar with Coutale’s Cahors, a wine we consider a portfolio staple. And if you’re new to these pages, you might be wondering why to choose this bottle over another. It happens to be one of only a handful of reds we import from southwest France, and the only one that’s made from Côt, the variety better known as Malbec. Its meatiness and rustic aromas of coffee and ripe black fruit give this rouge a rugged appeal. It tells the story of a less-traveled side of the country, where cliffs are stacked with hefty limestone and there’s a whiff of wild in the air. And while this wine is a great value for drinking now, you could also consider it an investment; it has the potential to age beautifully over the next few years in the unlikely chance you forget you have it on hand.
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2020 |
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% |
Today, Cahors’ jack-of-all-trades and Renaissance man, Philippe Bernède, continues the family tradition with both heart and ingenuity. Philippe’s vines rest upon the gentle slopes that rise up from the Lot River. Over the years, Philippe has tinkered with the house blend to achieve a greater equilibrium. Today, the blend consists of 80% Malbec and 20% Merlot, creating an intense wine that juggles elegant rusticity with everyday drinkability. Coutale has quite a record of age-worthiness as well and Philippe is not afraid to pull out older vintages of his wines alongside much more expensive Bordeaux. They stand up pretty well! Nothing beats bécasse (woodcock) or cassoulet with an old Coutale, but a simple steak fits the bill just fine.
Trust the great winemakers, trust the great vineyards. Your wine merchant might even be trustworthy. In the long run, that vintage strip may be the least important guide to quality on your bottle of wine.—Kermit Lynch
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