📜 Cahors

Cahors is a French designation of origin for still red wines from 45 communes of the Lot department, on both banks of the Lot river. The main grape is Côt, also called Malbec: at least 70% of the blend. The appellation was recognised on 15 April 1971 and has been protected in the EU register since 18 September 1973. ¹²

Causses, white Quercy and terraces. The area covers three landscapes: the causse plateaux of Jurassic and Cretaceous limestone, with hills up to about 300 m and steep slopes; the white Quercy in the south with marls and lake limestones; and the Lot valley itself with stepped terraces and wide meanders. ²

Climate and the Autan wind. The climate is oceanic with continental and Mediterranean influences: cold winters, sunny hot summers and about 700 mm of rain a year. The warm, dry Autan wind from the south-east speeds up budburst, flowering and ripening and dries the vines after August storms. The Lot valley warms the air and drains cold air from the plateaux. ²

Côt, Merlot and Tannat. Côt (Malbec) is the main grape, Merlot and Tannat are accessory; the wine is made from Côt alone or from a blend with at least 70% of it. Tannat is pruned shorter, with no more than 8 buds per vine. The specification calls this area a true ecological niche for Côt, and INAO says the grape originates in Quercy. ²³

Vineyard rules. Density is at least 4,000 vines per hectare, rows no wider than 2.5 m and no more than 12 buds per vine. The average load is up to 8,500 kg per hectare, the yield 50 hl/ha and the ceiling 60. The grapes must have at least 193 g/l of sugar and the wine a natural strength of at least 11.5%. ²

Cellar rules. Destemming is compulsory. Malic acid must be at most 0.4 g/l, so malolactic fermentation takes place, and sugar at most 3 g/l, or 4 g/l if natural strength is above 14%. After enrichment the total strength may not exceed 13.5%. The wine is aged at least until 1 March and sold to consumers from 15 March of the year after the harvest. ²

Colour, fruit and truffle. Young Cahors has a very intense colour, red and black fruit with spice and noticeable tannins; the specification even sets a minimum colour intensity. With age come dried fruit and truffle, while the tannins round out. INAO adds violet and woody notes. ²³

From the 7th century to AOC. Vines reached Quercy after the Roman conquest, and in the 7th century the bishop of Cahors sent the bishop of Verdun ten vessels of wine. From 1219 wine travelled down the Lot to Bordeaux and on to Holland and Germany. By the mid-19th century there were about 40,000 ha of vines, but phylloxera arrived in 1876. A court recognised the name «Vins de Cahors» in 1930, and in 2008 about 350 producers farmed 4,000 ha. ²

Why it matters to you. The bottle must show the name «Cahors»; «Sud-Ouest» may be added, but not in larger letters. Cahors is always a dry red wine that ages well, and the new vintage reaches shops from 15 March. ² The WHO stresses that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption. ⁴