Wines Cahors Château Gaudou - Réserve Caillau - 2019

Viniou Reviews

Château Gaudou’s Cuvée Réserve Caillau 2019 is a fine representative of the Cahors AOC, one of France’s historic bastions of Malbec. This wine is produced predominantly from Malbec (locally known as “Cot”), typically blended with smaller proportions of Merlot and Tannat, though the Réserve Caillau often lets the Malbec shine. The 2019 vintage benefitted from favourable weather conditions, with warm, dry days and cool nights, yielding grapes of great concentration and maturity. Vinification at Château Gaudou involves careful selection of ripe grapes, traditional fermentation, and a period of ageing, which can include both stainless steel and oak to harmonise structure and aromatics. The result is a deep, inky-red wine with an expressive nose of ripe blackberries, plum, spice, and subtle hints of tobacco and cedar, supported by a robust yet finely-woven tannic structure.

The region of Cahors lies in the south-west of France, nestled in the foothills of the Massif Central. This territory is defined by its terraces along the river Lot, with soils rich in limestone and clay, lending both freshness and mineral complexity to the wines. The area is renowned for its continental climate, tempered by the river’s influence, which aids in ripening Malbec to a perfect balance of power and finesse. With a viticultural heritage stretching back to Roman times, Cahors has always prided itself on producing characterful, long-lived reds.

Cahors wines such as this pair exceptionally well with rich, comforting dishes. Think of duck confit, cassoulet, or a slow-cooked lamb shoulder with herbs. The earthy and robust profile also makes this wine a fine companion to game, grilled ribeye, or, for a local touch, Rocamadour cheese served with crusty bread. Seasonal mushrooms and truffle risotto will also enhance the wine’s dark fruit and savoury notes.

For optimal enjoyment, serve this wine at 16-18°C. Decanting for an hour before service will allow the tannins to soften and the bouquet to open fully. This Cahors is enjoyable now but also promises a rewarding evolution over the next 5 to 10 years, rewarding patience with added complexity.