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2020 Cahors
Château La Grave

I 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% |
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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.

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.
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Kermit once said...

Kermit once said...
Let the brett nerds retire into protective bubbles, and whenever they thirst for wine it can be passed in to them through a sterile filter. Those of us on the outside can continue to enjoy complex, natural, living wines.
Inspiring Thirst, page 236