Notify me
2020 Cahors
Château La GraveI could describe Philippe Bernède’s organically grown, 100% Malbec Cahors as a quintessential house red or an eager crowd-pleaser, but I wouldn’t want to oversimplify its appeal. Vintage after vintage, this Cahors delivers glassfuls of voluminous black fruit and bright aromatics with a pleasantly rugged core. The wine is beautifully made and deliciously balanced. It’s no surprise customers return to it with enthusiasm, not only for its provincial charm but also because (lucky for us) it resides in the value section, where it thoroughly overachieves. Sans reproche!, as the French might say—it’s simply beyond reproach.
—Jane Augustine
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2020 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Malbec |
Appellation: | Cahors |
Country: | France |
Region: | Southwest |
Producer: | Château La Grave |
Winemaker: | Philippe Bernède |
Vineyard: | Planted in 1990, 1995, 15 ha |
Soil: | Red Clay |
Aging: | Aged in 100hl wood tanks for one year before bottling |
Farming: | Lutte Raisonnée |
Alcohol: | 13.5% |
More from this Producer or Region
2022 Irouléguy Rouge
France | Southwest
Imagine a red straddling the Loire, Médoc, and Madiran with Basque flair and a Pyrenean freshness. You’ll see that Irouléguy is in a world apart.
2021 Cahors HALF BOTTLE
France | Southwest
A red perennially punches way above its weight, both in the immediate pleasure it delivers and the way it evolves in the bottle over time.
2022 Cahors
France | Southwest
La Grave is one of the rare Cahors to consist exclusively of the native Malbec. Without any Merlot to soften it, this Cahors is decidedly old-fashioned.
2020 Irouléguy Rouge “Cuvée Haitza”
France | Southwest
A black wine made from steep inclines planted to Tannat and some Cabernet Sauvignon, it demands patience while its dense, mouth-coating tannins slowly release their clutching grip.
2022 Cahors
France | Southwest
If nearby Bordeaux is the polished and urbane one in the family, Cahors is the sneakily sophisticated but humbler country cousin, loaded with personality you’ll enjoy getting to know.
2021 Irouléguy Blanc “Hegoxuri”
France | Southwest
Any lover of whites from Chablis or the Loire should try this white made of Gros Manseng, Petit Manseng, and Petit Courbu.
About The Producer
Château La Grave
About The Region
Southwest
Tucked away beneath Bordeaux and buffeted by the Pyrenees to the south, this expansive region of France, commonly known as the Southwest, is home to a diverse number of viticulture and gastronomic traditions as well as cultures. Though Cahors might be the most well known (and easiest to pronounce) appellation from the Southwest, the importance and influence of French Basque culture cannot be underestimated. Irouléguy, the primary appellation of the Basque region of France produces full-bodied, hearty red wines, produced from Tannat grape (known for its tannic qualities). Dry whites from Irouléguy are also produced from Petit and Gros Manseng. Northeast of Irouléguy is the sweet wine-producing appellation of Jurançon. These moelleux wines made from Petit and Gros Manseng have a storied history in France, from being the first wine region to have a vineyard classification, which dates back to the 154th century, to being preferred wine of royalty dating back to the 16th century as well as the French poet Colette.
More from Southwest or France
2022 Sauternes “Esquisse”
Domaine de l'Alliance France | Bordeaux
2021 Cahors HALF BOTTLE
Clos La Coutale France | Southwest
2020 Irouléguy Rouge “Cuvée Haitza”
Domaine Arretxea France | Southwest
2021 Alpes-Maritimes Grassenc “Les Planches de Lunel”
Clos Saint-Joseph France | Provence
2022 Alpilles Blanc “Jaspe”
Domaine Hauvette France | Provence
2021 Irouléguy Blanc “Hegoxuri”
Domaine Arretxea France | Southwest
2023 Jurançon Sec “Comète”
Clos Larrouyat France | Southwest
2022 Cahors
Clos La Coutale France | Southwest
2022 Cahors
Château La Grave France | Southwest
2022 Irouléguy Rouge
Maison Arretxea France | Southwest
2019 Sancerre Rouge “Champs d’Alligny”
Daniel Chotard France | Loire
2019 Bourgueil “Les Perrières”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
2022 Sauternes “Esquisse”
Domaine de l'Alliance France | Bordeaux
2021 Cahors HALF BOTTLE
Clos La Coutale France | Southwest
2020 Irouléguy Rouge “Cuvée Haitza”
Domaine Arretxea France | Southwest
2021 Alpes-Maritimes Grassenc “Les Planches de Lunel”
Clos Saint-Joseph France | Provence
2022 Alpilles Blanc “Jaspe”
Domaine Hauvette France | Provence
2021 Irouléguy Blanc “Hegoxuri”
Domaine Arretxea France | Southwest
2023 Jurançon Sec “Comète”
Clos Larrouyat France | Southwest
2022 Cahors
Clos La Coutale France | Southwest
2022 Cahors
Château La Grave France | Southwest
2022 Irouléguy Rouge
Maison Arretxea France | Southwest
2019 Sancerre Rouge “Champs d’Alligny”
Daniel Chotard France | Loire
2019 Bourgueil “Les Perrières”
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire
Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
You don’t have to be rich to cellar a great wine.