D 3 - Tasting of Cahors Malbecs
Saturday morning started by a 3-hour conference on Argentine and Cahors Malbecs, conducted by Jacques Puisais, vice-president of the “Institut du Goût” (Taste Institute), Ricardo Giodorou, President of Dolium in Argentine, Claude and Lydia Bourguignon, specialists of international terroirs, French journalist Michel Bettane and the American enologist Paul Hobbs.
After a quick lunch on the Valentré Bridge, we all jumped on a boat for a cruise on the Lot river between Cahors and Bouelle. Our tour guides were busy presenting the beautiful landscape in French, English, German and Chinese. During the cruise, we were served three wines : 2005, 1995 and 1985. Different from each other but all the best tetsimony of the incredible richness of aromas and flavours of Cahors Malbecs: the ripe red fuit of the 2005, the licorice of the 1995 and the mint of the 1985 were proof of a mellow ageing.
In Douelle, the boat cruised by the amazing fresco long of 120 meters and large of 6 meters painted by Didier Chamizo in 1992 and renovated in 2008, depicting the history of wine through biblical scenes.
We then moved on to Chateau de Cayx, property of Henryk, Prince of Denmark and spouse of the Queen of Denmark. His manager, Guillaume Bardin, took us on a long walk to the top of the vineyard: we had the most gorgeous view of the amazing vineyard propped on various levels. More surprising, there are 4 ha of Chardonnay vines planted in Cayx giving 18,000 bottles a year. The main wine is, of course, a Malbec, Le Château de Cayx, vinified in oak barrels and Les Marches de Cayx, not oaked.
While sitting on the terrace of the château, we were served the deliciously refreshing Chardonnay La Cigaralle and, of course, the “Cuvée Majesté”, a private cuvée (not commercialized) made specially for the 70th birthday of the Queen. After a day in the sun and the heat (over 100°F-about 38°C), this relaxing break was most welcome by everybody.
Time to head back to Cahors for a dinner at the La Chantrerie restaurant which is also the wine and food museum of the Lot region.
