Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
The whole vineyard is well planned and organized, paying great attention to the continuity of the terroir. In the company of other prestigious vineyards, Gaudou is situated in the midst of the mythical village called the "Beverly Hill of the Cahors appellation" by Mr Michel Bettane.
The name "Gaudou" is held by both the chateau and its locality indicating occupation of the hill during the middle ages.
As for the Durou family, the name appears in parish registers since the sixteenth century. The ancient account books show evidence of European commerce; barrels of wine were transported by barge to Bordeaux during that time. In particular it was the occupation of Jean-Charles Durou, at the end of the 19th century. His only son Jean-Louis Durou very quickly mastered the alchemy of winemaking to enrich the local viticultural practices.
From 1966 onwards the Cahors wine was sold in bottles. René and Brigitte Durou modernized and produced a vintage wine affirming its status. Entry into the new millennium will be marked by the latest descendant, a "Vigneron-artisan" of the 21th century.
In two vintages Fabrice Durou has changed from oak-aged wines destined to be kept for many years and which were the image of the domaine, to products, similarly concentrated which may be appreciated at any age. The change comes essentially from the vines, smaller yield, greater maturity, a grape pure, more natural. In the chai there is minimal intervention for we have changed from the reign of the oenologists to that of the vignerons.
What began with three wines now ranges to seven. As a result, the Chateau is now equipped with a new chai where equipment allows for a unique method of soft extraction "pigeage" which confers greater depth and finesse to the wine.
Within the Southwest of France, this is the one region outside of Argentina that is today almost exclusively dependent on Malbec. Locally the variety is called Cot, and makes a dense, earthy and black fruit dominant red wine. Both the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean both have a strong influence on the climate of this region.
Celebrated for its bold flavors and supple texture, Malbec has enjoyed runaway success in Argentina since the late 20th century. The grape originated in Bordeaux, France, where it historically contributed color and tannin to blends. A French agronomist, who saw great potential for the variety in Mendoza’s hot, high-altitude landscape, brought Malbec to Argentina in 1868. Somm Secret—If you’re trying to please a crowd, Malbec is generally a safe bet with its combination of dense fruit and soft tannins.