Clos La Coutale 2024 Cahors Malbec, Southwest France

One of our perennial contenders for “Value of the Year,” Clos La Coutale’s Cahors combines four parts Malbec with one part Merlot—a blend that reminds you Bordeaux isn’t too far away. 

“For steak night wine pairings, we’ve opened red Burgundy, Saint-Joseph, Bandol, Chianti Classico, and this Cahors, which holds its own among these celebrated appellations. The 2024 vintage has a slightly wild streak, which goes perfectly with a medium-rare ribeye and roast rosemary potatoes. Of course, I can think of plenty of pairings beyond red meat: cassoulet, vegetable stew, quesadillas—the list goes on.”—Tom Wolf, Kermit Lynch Imports

Halfway between Bordeaux and Montpellier, Cahors is as close to the Mediterranean as it is to the Atlantic Ocean. And while this commune is technically part of the Occitane region—which encompasses the Languedoc wine region—the red wine this AOC produces is arguably a nearer relative to those of Pomerol and Saint-Émilion than it is to those from the great Languedocien villages. For decades, Philippe Bernède of Clos La Coutale has farmed Malbec and Merlot just south of the Lot River. Following harvest, he de-stems the grapes and vinifies each parcel separately before blending the wine and aging it in foudres and old grand cru Bordeaux barrels. The result presents a thrilling paradox: this age-worthy red displays both refinement and rusticity. If Bordeaux is the polished and urbane one in the family, Cahors is the sneakily sophisticated, but humbler country cousin, loaded with personality you’ll enjoy getting to know.

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.