Chateau Pineraie, Cahors

Cahors has been an established winemaking area for centuries and a Latin manuscript from 1456 shows that the Burc family were already land owners around Cahors at that time. 5th generation vigneron Jean-Luc Burc now shares the running of this 50 hectare estate near Puy-L'Eveque with his daughters, Anne and Emmanuelle. They produce individual and characterful wines from their various vineyard parcels which encompass all of the classic terroirs of the region, both on the renowned terraces of the Lot and upon the limestone plateau above. The estate's old vines are carefully managed according to the principles of lutte raisonnee.

Keen to protect the future of its vineyards today, the Burc family has obtained Terra Vitis certification for its sustainability work at Chateau Pineraie. The family is an active exponent of reasoned viticulture.

Malbec, Merlot

The estate comprises of 37 hectares which contains the various soil types that make up the Cahors. On the terraces of the Lot, the vineyard is made of subsoil composed of old alluvium and limestone plateau with clay and marl. Composed of 85% of Auxerrois and 15% of Merlot, the vine stocks of the Pineraie are on the 2nd and 3rd terraces and on the limestone plateau. A dozen hectares are located on the commune of Lacapelle Cabannac. The lower parts of the vineyard are clay while the higher parts are clay, limestone and hard flint. Quality control is a major factor to production, with low yielding limits applied to each patch to help produce ripe, healthy grapes whilst maintaining a good balance with the land. Pesticides are only applied according to a weekly statistical parasite count and weather forecast. The vines, including some very old Malbec, are planted in clay-limestone soil which helps to keep yields naturally low (productivity is approximately 4.500 litres per hectare).

Chateau Pineraie is made of 85% Cot (Malbec) and 15% Merlot with the grapes being hand sorted according to very strict specifications. Fermentation is controlled to 30 degrees with maceration on the skins from 2 - 3 weeks, including frequent pumping over and aeration. The wine is then aged for one year in oak barrels, 20% of which are new barrels. It's only lightly filtered before bottling to preserve fruit quality and character.

The original Malbec! The popularity of Argentinian Malbec owes much to its French relatives!

Intense cherry fruit, blackcurrant and lots of spicy oak. Characterful and complex with a moreish balance of attractive chalky tannins and acidity.

Drink with red meats or pork in wine, cream or even peppercorn sauces and game. Mature hard cheeses work nicely, too!