Cahors, Growing environment, Growing and Appellation

Question 1

Cahors AOC

What is the story of ‘the black wine of Cahors’?

Answer 1

In the Middle Ages and down to the nineteenth century, Cahors produced a great deal of wine that was transported via the River Lot that runs into the River Garonne and hence to Bordeaux. The wine was then exported from Bordeaux

It was called this because of the dark colour of the wine.

Question 2

Cahors AOC

after 1956 did plantings go up or down? why?

Answer 2

the area under vine was reduced to only a tenth of the size that it had been. thanks to phylloxera and a devastating frost in 1956

Question 3

Given Malbec is the principle variety for Cahors (the only region in France with Malbec as its principle variety)

How much is planted and what are the % of plantings?

Answer 3

4,000 ha planted with Malbec with a further 18,000 ha within the appellation that are currently not planted.

Malbec accounts for 85 per cent of hectares planted.

Question 4

Despite being 250 km inland, Cahors receives some influence from the Atlantic.

might this be cooler and more marginal that Bordeaux or the opposite?

Answer 4

the climate is warmer and slightly drier (less than 800mm per year) than Bordeaux.

Question 5

Malbec grown in Bordeaux suffers from coulure and mildew fairly consistently.

Given Cahors climate, does Malbec benefit or suffer?

Answer 5

Malbec suffers less from coulure and mildew and it to ripens more regularly in Cahors

Question 6

what % of vineyards are grown organically in Cahors AOC?

Answer 6

17%. well above the national average

This can be attributed by the warmer, drier climate. making sprays less against fungal disease less vital

Question 7

Cahors has a range of soils thanks to its topography.

Explain these differences.

Answer 7

The vineyards next to the River Lot, range from:

• rich, alluvial soils closest to the river.
  (resulting in higher yields and lower fruit concentration),
• the mid slope
  (poorer soils and hence lower yields and higher concentration)
• the highest plateau at just below 350 metres
  (low nutrient limestone soils, resulting typically in lower yields and higher concentration)

Question 8

what training methods are used in Cahors?

Answer 8

The single Guyot training system is the most common but others are also used (bush vines, cordon trained).

Question 9

Machine harvesting is widely practised in Cahors AOC.

When might hand harvesting be used?

Answer 9

Hand harvesting take place, depending on the market prices of the wines, machine accessibility, weather
conditions and the availability of labour.
Return on investment is often the decisive factor

Question 10

Malbec

What is Malbec’s local name in Cahors?

Answer 10

Cot.

Question 11

Malbec’s characteristics

Answer 11

Malbec is vigorous and hence needs careful canopy and yield management depending on the style of wine to be made.

It is susceptible to coulure, which reduces yields

Question 12

TASTING NOTE:

Malbec or Cot in Cahors

Answer 12

Traditional style Cahors wines, often made with a high percentage of Malbec, are:

• typically deep ruby in colour,
• medium to pronounced levels (depending on quality level) of violet, red and black plum fruit,
• medium to medium (+) acidity
• medium (+) to high tannin.

Very good and outstanding examples may be aged in French oak barriques (adding to cost) and so have vanilla and sweet spice notes

Some producers today favour foudres for ageing their wines, allowing slow oxidative development but not adding oak aromas.

The wines range in quality from good to outstanding (the latter can be aged in bottle for many years) and are mid- to premium priced.

Question 13

Cahors AOC must be a minimum of __% Malbec with rest of the blend being ___ and/or ____..

The top-quality wines are increasingly __-__% Malbec.

Answer 13

70 per cent

Merlot and/or Tannat

90–100 per cent

Question 14

what % of whole bunches is allowed to be used in the ferment?

Answer 14

None at all.

Destemming is required by the appellation (to eliminate underride stems that could add aggressive tannins).

Question 15

as there is a large range of styles made in Cahors.

give a period of time on the skills for each of the following.

early drinking Malbec or Cot from Cahors

Malbec suitable for bottle ageing in Cahors

Answer 15

early drinking (using Merlot in the blend; typically 7–10 days on the skins for limited extraction of tannins)

wines intended to bottle age (typically 15–25 days on the skins for greater extraction of flavour and
tannins, using a higher % or 100% of Malbec).

Question 16

with 80% of wine made by private companies and the other 20% made by co-ops.

how many co-operatives work within Cahors?

Answer 16

just the one. Co-operative des vignerons d’olt

Question 17

since 2000, Cahors has marketed itself as ‘Cahors, the capital of Malbec’

Why is this necessary?

Answer 17

Argentina by far makes the most Malbec in the world.
essentially becoming the adopted parent to the variety.

Cahors use’s this as a symbol of origin.

Question 18

What three voluntary levels have been introduced to indicate levels of quality and price?

Answer 18

• Tradition – inexpensive, 70–85 per cent Malbec, often grown on rich alluvial soils and at higher yields and lower fruit concentration
• Prestige – mid-priced, often grown on the mid slope
• Spéciale – often 100 per cent Malbec, premium
  priced, often grown on the highest plateau)

Question 19

name two significant producers within Cahors AOC

Answer 19

Ch. du Cèdre and Ch. de Chambert.

Question 20

70% of Cahors AOC sold within France is sold to ______ and ____ ____

Answer 20

70 per cent of the wine by volume is sold in France with supermarkets and direct sales,

Question 21

what are the top three export markets of Cahors AOC?

Answer 21

The top three markets are the United Kingdom, Canada and USA.

(The top market by volume is the UK but Canada and the USA are the largest by value.)