2020 CUVEE CHATEAU, CAHORS

TRY ME IF YOU LOVE: Syrah, Cote du Rhone

ABV: 12.5%

GRAPES: 100% Malbec

TASTING NOTES: Fermented with whole clusters in cement and steel tanks, ‘Cuvée Château’ combines a lovely herbal-garrigue character with thirst-quenching black fruit. Best with food, but still leaves you refreshed.

PAIRS WITH: Great with a casserole

SERVE ME: Medium body, serve at room temp or just below.

For generations Jean-Pierre Ilbert’s family sold grapes to the local co-operative until he combined their vineyard holdings and established Combel-La-Serre in the tiny Cahors village of Cournou. In 2005, Jean-Pierre’s son Julien – having studied in Saint-Emilion – took over, first converting the estate to organics and later biodynamics.