Peter Morrell samples wines from three of the vineyards in this elite group

Generation Cahors Lieux Dits is a collective of 10 wine producers clustered around the attractive small town of Cahors on the Lot River in the south-west of France. Lieu Dit translates to Said Location and is a small geographical area bearing a traditional name. In wine making this refers to a small vineyard that may have been handed down for several generations and has its own distinct ‘terroir’. Lieux Dits is the plural, so the Club is a collection of well-established producers in a defined location that showcase the quality of the region’s wines.

The dominant grape grown in and around Cahors is Malbec (also known as Auxerrois and Côt). Cahors is recognised by many as the spiritual home of this grape, and it is well suited to the limestone and gravel rich soil of the terraced vineyards. Cahors is an AOP wine and must contain at least 70% Malbec it can be supplemented by up to 30% Merlot and Tannat. Cahors Malbec is characterised by its inky dark violet colour, complex fruit flavours, and robust tannins.

I have recently tasted wines from three different vineyards, here are my notes

Château La Reyne Le Vent d’Ange 2018

Château La Reyne is a well-established vineyard now being managed by the fifth generation of the founders. The intriguing name of the wine, which was first produced in 2001, came from the owner’s grand-nephew. When he first came to see the “harvest” at his uncle’s house, he believed that the grapes were cut by the wings of “Angels” and then carried into the sky by the “Wind”.

The Le Vent d’Ange 2018 is 100% Malbec grown on vines with an average age of 55 years. It is aged on the lees in new oak barrels for at least 24 months.

The wine pours inky black, and the bouquet offers strong aromas of black cherry, blackberries, and oaky vanilla. In the mouth the wine has good body, the fruit and vanilla flavours remain and are joined by notes of cedar and liquorice. The tannins are robust, but the feel of the wine is smooth. It is very dry, making it ideal to pair with food. The finish is strong and persistent. You can drink this wine now or leave it for a few more years to mature even further. Drink with BBQ meats

Château Famaey Le Grez dans Le Grès 2022

Château Famaey was bought by two Belgians, Luc Luyckx and Marc Van Antwerpen, in the early 2000s The Malbec grapes for this wine are grown on one of the high terraces of the Lot River known as Le Grez, the soil is made up of gravel and quartz pebbles wrapped in a clay matrix. The name of the wine, Le Grez dans Le Grès, is a play on words. Le Grès translates as sandstone. The wine is aged in 500 litre sandstone pots for 12 months, so it moves from the clay of the soil to the clay of the pots.

Again, the wine pours an inky deep violet colour, on the nose there are good aromas of cassis, dark cherries, and white pepper. The body is bold, and although this wine is young, it shows maturity beyond its age. On the palate there is a fresh fruitiness with tones of chocolate and spice. Tannins are well-structured and smooth, and there is dryness with a touch of acidity. The finish is bright and fruity. Slow roasted lamb shoulder would be ideal with this wine.

Available from https://lamijac.com

Château de Gaudou Le Caillou Blanc 2020

Château de Gaudou was founded in 1733, and this vineyard is an ideal example of Lieu Dit. Over centuries, parcels of land have been delimited to express the age and heritage created by generations of winemakers. The uniqueness of these parcels act as a differentiator to new world wines.

The grapes are grown on a limestone plateau, its subsoil is full of fossils, white pebbles, and clay.

This wine is organic and during fermentation is punched down, meaning that the cap of grape flesh and skins is pushed down into the wine to release more flavour. The wine is matured in Italian egg shaped semi porous ceramic vats which helps to preserve the fruit flavours and refine the tannins.

The wine is 100% Malbec and pours the signature Cahors dark crimson colour. The bouquet is quite delicate with a combination of dark fruits, floral, and vegetal aromas. In the mouth the wine is bold, and the tannins are firm, smooth, and dry. The complex nose is reproduced on the palate, and in addition there are some herbal flavours with a slight smokiness. The finish is fruity and long. Drink this wine with casseroles and strong cheeses.

Available from https://www.leaandsandeman.co.uk/

My knowledge of the Cahors region was somewhat limited before this tasting, and I was highly impressed with the quality of all the wines. Nothing beats a long heritage of wine production and Cahors has an abundance of outstanding wines that have been honed over centuries.