2018 | Château de Haute-Serre "Géron Dadine" | Cahors | France

The estate that revived Cahors Malbec — a silky, high-density Prestige cuvée from the reference producer of the appellation.

Château de Haute-Serre is the estate that brought Malbec back to Cahors: Georges Vigouroux replanted this abandoned high-altitude vineyard in the 1970s, and today his son Bertrand makes some of the appellation's benchmark wines. "Géron Dadine" — named for the estate's 16th-century owner and protector — is a 100% Malbec Cuvée Prestige from high-density vines, aged in wood, richly structured yet impressively silky.

A Prestige Malbec from Cahors' reference estate is a serious cellar wine at a fair price. Dense, ageworthy and elegant → it has stood up to Bordeaux in blind tastings → at $81.99 you're drinking the estate that saved French Malbec.

• 100% Malbec (Auxerrois)
• Cahors, South West France — high-density parcels
• Château de Haute-Serre — Georges Vigouroux estate; Bertrand Vigouroux
• Aged in wood; named for the 16th-century estate owner

Ripe black plum, blackberry and black cherry over smoke, tobacco and licorice, with dense yet finely-ciseled, silky tannins. Translation: powerful but polished Cahors Malbec — dark-fruited and savory with elegant grip and real aging potential.

A benchmark Cahors Malbec from the estate that revived the grape. Exactly the bottle for cassoulet, duck confit, or the cellar.