Clos La Coutale Malbec 2022

Cahors is the original home of Malbec, not Argentina. Darker, more savoury, more structured than the Argentine style. Plum, leather, fine tannin.

The vines grow on gentle slopes above the Lot river in Southwest France, on gravel, clay and limestone. Sixty hectares of family vineyard, run today by Philippe Bernède, whose people have farmed this ground for generations. He has spent his tenure fine-tuning the house blend for balance.

That blend is 80 per cent Malbec with 20 per cent Merlot to soften Malbec's grip. The wine then ages for a year in big foudres and one-to-two-year-old barrels bought from Bordeaux grand cru estates. The old wood rounds the tannin without leaving any oak flavour on top of the fruit. Older vintages of Coutale have a record of ageing alongside far more expensive Bordeaux.

Drink it now with a short decant, or hide a few bottles for five years. Cassoulet, duck confit or a simple steak are the natural partners.