Château Pineraie

– Cahors

Most people would say they want concentration in a wine, after all who wants a lifeless, insipid glassful devoid of strong character. You could assume this is a plea for opacity; inky concoctions with visible cues to big flavours and bounteous textures. It might explain why Argentinian Malbec is such a ‘go-to’ for so many – purple, ripe, overt and dare I say it – easy? A grape variety that has undoubtedly succeeded in transcending price points, its mere name now constitutes a stamp of approval and for some a guarantee of value for money.

I’m a big fan of concentration in a wine but I’m an even bigger fan of concentration. Château Pineraie pull off the enviable task of defining concentration in both senses. Yes, it’s Malbec, it has those familiar black fruits that soften out wonderfully after a brief courtship with oak but this is also Cahors. A region dripping with winemaking history, a patchwork of Limestone, Marl and Flint adding layers of complexity and subtle nuances to Malbec’s innate generosity.

Viticulture has been a part of the region since Roman times and 5th generation vigneron at Château Pineraie, Jean-Luc Burc, can trace his family’s history in the area back to 1456. The estate comprises 37 hectares on terraces in the Lot and Lacapelle Cabannac, Malbec is undoubtedly King but Merlot plays an important supporting role.