Cahors

The wine

Along the Lot river, in the heart of the south-west, Cahors claims the first home of malbec — here called "cot" or "auxerrois". Quaternary pebble terraces and limestone causses above offer two distinct profiles: softer and more approachable in the valley, denser and more mineral on the causses. Reds, which must contain at least 70% malbec, are deep, almost ink-black, with concentrated dark fruit (blueberry, blackberry), dark chocolate, spice and leather. Great Cahors age twenty years and more, softening and gaining complexity. A benchmark for rustic gastronomy: cassoulet, duck breast, confit, truffle and regional cheeses like rocamadour.