Cahors
Oceanic, warm and dry summers
The Lot valley home of Malbec, known locally as Côt or Auxerrois, once so dark that its wine was called the black wine.
Overview
About Cahors
Cahors takes its name from the town on the Lot, and its vineyards run along the river's terraces and the limestone plateau above. Malbec, called Côt or Auxerrois here, must be at least 70% of the blend, with Merlot and Tannat allowed for the rest.
The wine was very dark and highly prized in medieval Europe, and was known as the black wine. The vineyards were badly hit by the frost of 1956, and were replanted in the following decades.
Cahors is marked on the map.
France
Shaded: Lot. Map units are states, provinces or départements, so a smaller place appears as the larger area that contains it.
The land
Climate & terroir
Climate
Oceanic, warm and dry summers
Warm summers and mild winters, with dry autumns. The valley's hills provide shelter, and the plateau gets more wind.
Terroir & soils
What the vines grow in
Gravel and alluvial terraces along the river, and limestone plateaux, called causses, above.
Go deeper
Rules, years & producers
Château du Cèdre
the Verhaeghe family's estate, one of the most admired for structured Cahors.
Château Lagrezette
A large estate in a Renaissance château.
Clos Triguedina
A family estate near Vire-sur-Lot with a long record of Cahors.
Clos La Coutale
A family estate on the river terraces.
What's grown here
Grapes
Each grape's page links back here.