Les Vignobles St Didier Parnac, 'Picpus', Comté Tolosan, Malbec Syrah

A concentrated and richly-fruited wine showing expressive notes of wild berries layered with spicy, menthol and liquorice nuances, through to a rich finish.

Producer Note

In 1992, Hervé Joyaux Fabre, a former wine merchant in Bordeaux, tasted a Malbec on the outskirts of Mendoza and was utterly seduced by it. As a visionary, he purchased the Mendoza estate with his childhood friend and they went on to successfully create award-wining wines. In 2015, Hervé and his wife Diane, visited Cahors in France, the original home of Malbec. They were immediately impressed by the diversity of its terroirs, and how much Malbec as a variety had developed and evolved. It did not take Hervé and Diane long to decide that they had to invest in Cahors and in 2017, along with their friends and associates, they became the new owners of the Vignobles Saint Didier Parnac, situated on the impressive limestone plateau of Les Causses. Hervé’s philosophy is very much one of minimal intervention, he believes that wine should be an expression of the fruit and the vineyard; the sustainably cultivated estate is certified HVE. He has won countless awards, including IWC Red Winemaker of the Year in 2018. 

Vineyard

The vineyard overlooks the meandering River Lot, the valley below and the slopes of the Causse. The terroir is distinguished by the limestone plateau, which is covered with clay soils, rich in iron and manganese which nourish the vines and the limestone base imparts elegance to the wines. The vineyard benefits from Mediterranean and Continental climate influences, with long, warm and sunny growing seasons and moderate rainfall which provides the ideal environment for the thick-skinned Malbec and Syrah varieties to reach good maturity levels. The dry climate also means that vines experience slight hydric stress, forcing them to dig deep, strong root systems in search of water, simultaneously increasing the concentration of sugars and phenolic compounds in the grapes. The relief of the Causse protects the vineyard from cold air masses coming from the north. 

Winemaking

A cool pre-fermentation maceration was carried out over four days to optimise the extraction of fruit flavours. Fermentation took place with selected yeasts in stainless steel tanks at temperatures of 25 to 26°C. The extraction was carefully monitored to avoid an overly tannic structure, but one with balance and generosity. The wine was made without the influence of oak, allowing the pure expression of fruit. 

Tasting Note

Expressive notes of wild-berried fruit, redcurrant and strawberry are layered with spicy, menthol and liquorice nuances. A concentrated and intense, richly-fruited wine with an opulent finish. 

Grape

Malbec 80%, Syrah 20%