Domaine la Calmette "Trespotz" Cahors 2022

Malbec, but not as you know it (+ tiny bit of Merlot). Unoaked, inky and dense but so fresh and juicy. Explosive, bursting with life and vibrancy. A larded and graphite edge and a maturity of fruit well-suited to its vintage. Luscious flesh, fresh and sharp tannin, the acidity gives tone and the spices of blackcurrant and violet bring complexity to the wine.

"Trespotz" is an organic, biodynamic red wine from Cahors, France, primarily made from 90% Malbec and 10% Merlot. It is a blend of grapes from three different soil types -- clay, marl, and Kimmeridgian limestone -- which inspired the name "Trespotz" (three wells). The wine is known for its fresh, fruity and mineral-driven character, with a balance of vibrant fruit and supple tannins, and is aged for 12 months in concrete and used barrels before being minimally treated and bottled unfiltered. It really showcases the unique mineral-infused perfume of pure Malbec grown on a rare sliver of Kimmeridgian clay that runs through small parts of France's Southwest.

With top-notch viticulture, much lighter extraction, and lower to no sulfur, the hard tannins that made the Cahors appellation so infamous are gone. A fog has lifted; behind it, is an entirely different edge, this one magnificent: the minerality, acidity, and majestically punk rock energy of Kimmeridgian bedrock. Of course, Kimmeridgian is most famous for being the bedrock of Chablis. These new Cahors, especially Domaine la Calmette's, are softly and beautifully infused reds with the spine of powerfully mineral white wines. They are contemporary, energetic, saline, stony, vibrant. They are VERY exciting. Then, on the siderolithic terroirs, the iron-rich clay, with its signature umami and blood, takes it to a whole other level of complexity. These are Grands Vins.

Domaine La Calmette was started in 2015 by Maya & Nicolas, a talented couple who bring not only a thorough knowledge of viticulture but also a meticulously researched scientific backbone to their natural wines.