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.
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.
2020 Cahors
France | Southwest
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.
2021 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.
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
2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “Piedlong”
Famille Brunier France | Southern Rhône
2007 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “La Crau” MAGNUM
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe France | Southern Rhône
2020 Hermitage Rouge “La Pierrelle”
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
2021 Corbières Rouge “Réserve La Demoiselle”
Domaine de Fontsainte France | Languedoc-Roussillon
2020 Saumur Blanc “Clos Romans”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
2021 Irouléguy Blanc “Hegoxuri”
Domaine Arretxea France | Southwest
2021 Cahors HALF BOTTLE
Clos La Coutale France | Southwest
2020 Cahors
Clos La Coutale France | Southwest
2013 Brut 1er Cru “Special Club”
J. Lassalle France | Champagne
2022 Irouléguy Rouge
Maison Arretxea France | Southwest
2022 Vacqueyras Rouge “Floureto” MAGNUM
Domaine Le Sang des Cailloux France | Southern Rhône
2021 Irouléguy Rouge “Cuvée Haitza”
Domaine Arretxea France | Southwest
2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “Piedlong”
Famille Brunier France | Southern Rhône
2007 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “La Crau” MAGNUM
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe France | Southern Rhône
2020 Hermitage Rouge “La Pierrelle”
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
2021 Corbières Rouge “Réserve La Demoiselle”
Domaine de Fontsainte France | Languedoc-Roussillon
2020 Saumur Blanc “Clos Romans”
Thierry Germain France | Loire
2021 Irouléguy Blanc “Hegoxuri”
Domaine Arretxea France | Southwest
2021 Cahors HALF BOTTLE
Clos La Coutale France | Southwest
2020 Cahors
Clos La Coutale France | Southwest
2013 Brut 1er Cru “Special Club”
J. Lassalle France | Champagne
2022 Irouléguy Rouge
Maison Arretxea France | Southwest
2022 Vacqueyras Rouge “Floureto” MAGNUM
Domaine Le Sang des Cailloux France | Southern Rhône
2021 Irouléguy Rouge “Cuvée Haitza”
Domaine Arretxea France | Southwest
Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
You don’t have to be rich to cellar a great wine.