Chevalier du Chateau Lagrezette Cahors 2018

Chateau Lagrézette, "Chevalier du Chateau Lagrézette" Cahors, France, 2018 

Owned, since 1980, by Alain Dominique Perrin, the 12th century castle estate has been growing Malbec since 1503, but only since 1930 has any wine of note been produced. Since 1988, with the work of consultant oenologist Michel Rolland, the Malbec wines have gained a superb reputation around the world, with Robert Parker describing them as the "Quintessence of Cahors".

With 85% Malbec and 15% Merlot, Chateau Lagrézette's "Chevalier" is the Chateau`s second label. The grapes are hand-harvested from (average age) 15 year old vines, vinified, blended and matured with the utmost care for 12 months in oak barriques (10% new barrels).

A supple wine, concentrated and very well structured with smooth tannins, a long aromatic persistence and woody, vanilla notes mingling with dark berry fruits (blackcurrant/blackberry) and notes of cherries, figs and liquorice. This is a hearty, rounded, balanced, harmonious wine with a long, elegant finish.

This long-ageing wine can be kept for 8 to 10 years, getting better all the time.

"Vanilla-scented violets and hot-summer-ripe mulberries. A touch of tea leaf and freshly picked rosemary lifting high nostril-filling notes over the mocha and dark, grilled plums of the palate. More than a smudge of chocolate, creamy/milky rather than dark. The tannins have a certainty without being dogmatic, not quite silky, not rustic either. You want to rub into them. They remind me of bamboo fabric. Some black-olive tapenade bitterness on the finish. The perfect wine for coffe-rub beef short ribs and a minty roast-courgette salad. (TC)", 16.5/20 points, Tamlyn Currin, Jancisrobinson.com, August 2020.

Pair with traditional French foie gras, truffles, red meat and cheeses.