Château du Cèdre is widely regarded as the leading estate in Cahors. Brothers Pascal and Jean-Marc Verhaeghe, both qualified oenologists, can trace its history back to their grandfather Léon who left his native Flanders to settle in south-west France in the early 1900s. In due course Léon’s son Charles and his wife Marie-Thérèse started a mixed farm in 1958 and began planting one hectare of vines in three different plots every year. Today, Château du Cèdre comprises 27ha of vineyards planted at 4000-5500 vines per hectare on some of the most prized terroirs in Cahors, most notably the famous troisième + 4th terrasses which are located just below the cliffs of the valley. These sites typically have more limestone terroir giving great freshness and while the most prized of these terraces are the 4th terraces which make up just 2% of Cahors, Chateau du Cedre owns 55% of these very best terraces. In keeping with the long history of Cahors, 90% of the vineyard is planted to Malbec (known locally as both Cot and Auxerrois), with 5% Merlot (now known to be a half-sibling of Malbec) and 5% Tannat. There is also 1ha of Viognier and a little of the Bordeaux whites, Sémillon, Muscadelle and Sauvignon Blanc. For the 2015 vintage of Château du Cèdre Cahors Extra Libre Le Cèdre Malbec, the fruit has been certified organically grown, completely destemmed, and fermented in concrete tanks for a total of 30 days without the use of any sulphur. Again without sulphur, aged for 18 months in large oak barrels. This wine is vegan-friendly and is bottled unfined and unfiltered.

This Single Vineyard Malbec from 5-star-rated Hungerford Hill’s talented Bryan Currie is “Ripe, plush, weighty and inviting with fabulous fruit concentration" It boasts: "... Dark berry fruit plus scented red rose petals and a hint of musk." (Toni Paterson, The Halliday Wine Companion).

Varietal: 100% Malbec Origin: Vista Flores, Tunuyán – Uco Valley, Mendoza 1,050 m (3,450 ft) asl. Soil: Sandy loam with alluvial sediments. Harvest: Hand-picked It combines aromas of plums and blackberries with notes of cinnamon, black pepper, and lavender. This is a complex wine, with a good structure and soft, ripe tannins. It is balanced, with a persistent finish featuring toasty flavors.

Intense red colour with deep oral aromas, especially violets and berries. This Andeluna Altitud Malbec has beautiful soft tannins of great volume giving a long and luscious finish. Suitable for ageing. Aged in French oak barrels for 12 months, followed by at least 8 months in bottle before release.

Familia Zuccardi Concreto Malbec, Paraje Altamira, Valle de Uco, Mendoza Winemaker and third-generation of the Zuccardi family, Sebastian, has tried to focus soil sourced tannins experienced on the tongue, rather than those on the gums which come from extraction methods in winemaking and the oak selection, hence the concrete. Made from 100% Malbec grown in the calcareous soils of Paraje Altamira, 1100m above sea level in the Uco Valley. The wine is made using whole bunch fermentation with indigenous yeasts before being store in concrete, hence the name Concreto.

P.A.R. Malbec by Nick Spencer - P.A.R. Wines prophets a landscape transitioning away from traditional grape varieties and wine styles of previous generations into an exciting tapestry of vineyards growing varieties that are better suited to our changing climate and winemakers crafting wines better suited to our evolving lifestyle and cuisine. P.A.R refers to a latin saying, examine the past, be in the present and look to the future.