Chateau Combel-la-Serre Cahors “Le Pur Fruit du Causse” 2022

Cahors, France 

Chateau Combel-la-Serre Cahors “Le Pur Fruit du Causse” is a beautiful red of 100% Malbec from Cahors in southwest France—the birthplace of Malbec (known locally as Auxerrois.) Julien Ilbert is a young, charismatic vigneron with a fresh perspective on his native Cahors. Vines have been in the Ilbert family for generations, though grapes had always been sold to the local cave coopérative. In 2005, Château Combel-la-Serre was born. 25 hectares of Auxerrois are planted on a diverse amount of terroirs, all within 5 kilometers of the cellar. Though a Cahors wine only needs to be 70% Auxerrois to get the appellation, Julien believes it is the only grape suitable for what he's trying to accomplish. In such he has consciously avoided planting the traditional Negrette and Tannat and completely eschewed the more recent trend of planting Bordeaux varietals. 

The fruit for the entry-level Pur comes from seven different Combel sites totalling 8.5 hectares around their home village of Cournou, which lies on the Causse Calcaire, a limestone plateau in Cahors at 320-350 meters in elevation. Planted on clay-limestone soils, the vines are certified-organic (in conversion to biodynamic farming), average 30 years old and are kept to a modest 40 hl/ha yield. The wine is aged on its lees in cement through the winter and bottled unfiltered in the spring. Sulfur throughout vinification and aging is minimal. 

Chateau Combel-la-Serre Cahors “Le Pur Fruit du Causse” is medium in body with a dark purple color. It offers complex aromas of ripe plum, blackcurrant and mocha combined with spicy notes. This Malbec reveals ripe tannins supported by a good fruit concentration and layers of sweet spices and vanilla. 

Enjoy Chateau Combel-la-Serre Cahors “Le Pur Fruit du Causse” with veal chops, roast duck, creamy pastas and aged cheeses.