Friday, March 11, 2011

2004 Chateau la Coustarelle CAHORS "Grand Cuvee Prestige" (Southwest France)


Having been burned many times in the 1980s (plus not being a Malbec fan), I always approach Cahors with trepidation, but the quality there has gotten much better of late, and this was a very good wine.

This was a blend of 90% old vine Malbec ans 10% Tannat (which, like its name sounds, tends to be very tannic).

Nearly saturated very dark ruby. Low-toned, intense nose of lemon-soaked dark cherry extract, fragrant peat smoke, and scorched gravel. Bone dry, concentrated flavors of metallic minerals and dry black cherry, along with a brambly, dried underbrush component. Loads of cottony tannins coat the mouth. In other words, this was a seemingly textbook Cahors, showing rusticity and elegance simultaneously. B+ Was $17.99 at Houston Wine Merchant. Imported by Charles Neal Selections. Drink over the next two years.

(Sorry, 2002 shown).

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