Malbec Cahors Prieure de Cenac, Les Vignobles St Didier Parnac

Fragrant aromas of violet, spice and a subtle menthol note are underpinned by rich, juicy black fruit in this concentrated, but beautifully balanced Malbec.

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

Overlooking the meandering River Lot, the Prieuré de Cénac dominates the valley 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 variety 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. The vineyard is farmed following organic principles; without the use of herbicides or pesticides and is in conversion to organic status. Les Vignobles St Didier Parnac also holds the HVE certificate for sustainable cultivation.

Winemaking

The grapes underwent cold pre-fermentation extraction to obtain the desired colour, aromas and flavours. Fermentation lasted approximately 25 days under temperature controlled conditions, with a final maceration at 28°C. Ageing took place in vats and French oak barrels for 12 months to impart subtle complexity.

Tasting Note

Fragrant aromas of violet, spice and a subtle menthol note are underpinned by ripe dark-berried fruit. Rich and complex, with concentrated inky fruits balanced by beautiful freshness through to an elegant finish.