Clos La Coutale 2020 Cahors Malbec, Southwest France

If you have been a customer of Kermit Lynch imports, you’re probably already familiar with Coutale’s Cahors, a wine Kermit considers a portfolio staple. And if you’re new to French wine, you might be wondering why to choose this bottle over another. It happens to be one of only a handful of reds imported from southwest France, and the only one that’s made from Côt, the variety better known as Malbec. Its meatiness and rustic aromas of coffee and ripe black fruit give this rouge a rugged appeal. It tells the story of a less-traveled side of the country, where cliffs are stacked with hefty limestone and there’s a whiff of wild in the air. And while this wine is a great value for drinking now, you could also consider it an investment; it has the potential to age beautifully over the next few years in the unlikely chance you forget you have it on hand.  Pair it with roasted meats, duck, game, barbeque.