Chateau du Cedre Marcel Malbec 2020
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
With its round body, supple tannins, and refreshing acidity, Marcel is a lively, easy-drinking Malbec. The wine opens with a perfumed bouquet of red fruit aromas, which develops into juicy black cherry and plum flavors, finishing with a gentle touch of earth and spice.
Enjoy this wine by itself, or pair with cheese, pizzas, grilled meat and pasta.
Brothers Pascal and Jean-Marc Verhaeghe bring a welcome refinement to the wines of picturesque Cahors, located about an hour and a half east of Bordeaux. The Verhaeghe vineyards were founded in the 1950s by Léon Verhaeghe, who had moved to the Lot region from his native Belgium a few years previously. His son Charles began making wines at Château du Cèdre in the 1970s and was a pioneer in that he planted vines on the poor stony soils of the Cahors appellation, at a time when most wines were mass produced. Since 1988, third-generation Pascal and Jean-Marc have continued in the same vein, perfecting the approach with their meticulous work in the vineyard and the cellar.
In 2000, the use of herbicides and chemicals was banned, and the estate was certified organic in 2012. Cahors wines are made predominantly from Malbec and are known for being powerful, rich, and dark. Pascal and Jean-Marc build on these terroir-driven qualities to produce highly polished and remarkably balanced wines, utilizing long aging periods in oak barrels and 57HL casks. These wines are quite approachable when young and also age exceptionally well.
Their meticulous approach and time-honored tradition produces wines that are focused and concentrated, long and elegant, truly capturing the beautiful Lot terroir. Today, the fourth generation, Pascal’s sons Jules and Robin, have joined the family estate, bringing a new momentum for the future.
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.
A small category representing the wines that either fall outside of appellation lines or don’t subscribe to the law and traditions set forth by the French government within certain classified appellations, “Vin De France” is a catch-all that includes some of the most basic French wines as well as those of superior quality. The category includes large production, value-driven wines. It also includes some that were made with a great deal of creativity, diligence and talent by those who desire to make wine outside of governmental restrictions. These used to be called Vin de Table (table wine) but were renamed to compete with other European countries' wines of similar quality.