Fabien Jouves 2020 Malbec, La Roque Vineyard, Cahors AOP

Fabien Jouves 2020 Malbec, La Roque Vineyard, Cahors AOP

Item Number: 18618

UPC: None

Country: France
Region: South West France
Sub Region: Cahors
Appellation/AVA: Cahors AOP
Estate Grown Wine: Yes
Vineyard Designation: La Roque
Vintage: 2020
Grape(s): Malbec (Cot)
Type: Wine - Red
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Pack: 12
Closure: Cork
Alc by Vol(%): 12.5
Viticulture: Certified Biodynamic
Soil Type: Miocene brown marls
Elevation: 350 meters

Winemaking Notes: La Roque is a vineyard designate wine. This Malbec comes from 35-year-old vines. It is manually harvested, destemmed, and undergoes a 30-day spontaneous fermentation in concrete vats. The wine is then aged in concrete vats and barrels for six months. No fining or filtration.

Terroir Notes: Fabien Jouves’ family has a long history farming grapes in Cahors. The domaine is a 6th generation property and is located in Causses (limestone plateau), on the highest slopes of the Cahors appellation. His family’s 22 hectares sit atop the hills of Quercy at over 1,100 feet. The high elevation guarantees low nighttime temperatures, which partly explains the freshness and vivacity of the wines. In addition to his family’s holdings, Fabien purchased two other pieces of land; his property totals over 30 hectares.

About Cahors: For centuries, Malbec was a supporting player in Bordeaux blends, but the threat of rot and mildew are ever-looming in that region, and can cause Malbec to flounder. In France, it’s found its niche in Cahors to the southwest, thanks to dueling Atlantic and Mediterranean climatic influences: cooling breezes from the west keep the vines rot-free, while warm daytime temps allow grapes to ripen. Here, Malbec has been referred to as "black wine" for its deep, purple-ebony hue since at least the early Middle Ages, and it still has that raven-like quality. In the limestone soils of the region, the grape produces its darkest, most tannic manifestation, showing blackberry fruit in its youth, and tobacco, coffee, and meaty notes as it ages. This is partly due to the calcium component in the limestone, which helps maintain acidity late into the growing season for the grape, and contributes to structure in the glass. The vines thrive in the arid, limestone plateau called the Causses, which has a thin topsoil that forces the roots dig deeply for nutrients. Hardworking roots equate to more concentrated grapes and a deeper wine.

Featured in The New York Times article " 20 Wines Under $20: Reds for Winter Moods and Foods " by Eric Asimov