The Black Wine of Cahors: A Brief Introduction

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If you’re a wine enthusiast seeking to discover rich, full-bodied reds with an intriguing, look no further than the appellation of Cahors in South West France. Known locally as “Black Wine”, the Cahors wine-growing region has been producing exceptional Malbec-based wines since the Roman era. The wines have earned a reputation for their intense colour, robust structure and their remarkable ageing potential.

Cahors is the name given to the red wine produced in and near the French town of Cahors located in the South Western department of Lot. Winemaking in this area has a long history and there are records of vines planted since Roman times. Wine from the region was served at the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine with Henry II of England and Pope John XXII used it for drinking and sacramental wine as did the Russian Orthodox Church.

Cahors is famously known as the “Black Wine of Lot” or simply the “Black Wine.” This name derives from the Malbec grape’s high concentration of anthocyanins, the pigment-bearing compounds found in the grape skins. Malbec’s exceptional colour extraction results in the region’s characteristically inky, deeply-hued red wines. In the past, some Cahors producers would even sell their wines to neighbouring Bordeaux, where winemakers would blend it with their lighter-coloured Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to add more colour, body, and structure to their Clarets.

The Cahors AOC

Cahors was awarded its  Appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC)  in 1971 and this may only be used for red wines. Any white or rosée wines made in the region are classified as Vin de Pays du Lot. Cahors legally must be made from at least 70% Malbec with the remaining 30% normally being Merlot and sometimes Tannat (made famous in Madiran). Today there are over 4200 hectares of vineyards.

Vines in Cahors, Photo by Martin Kelly on Unsplash

The climate of Cahors is mainly influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, with hot summers and wet winters. However, it is also impacted by the nearby Mediterranean Sea, which adds a touch of warmth and dryness. The Massif Central mountains can sometimes bring severe winter frosts that require careful vineyard management. Fortunately, the Lot River running through the vineyards helps moderate these temperature extremes. This unique blend of Atlantic, Mediterranean, and mountain influences results in a distinctive Cahors microclimate. It is this specialized terroir that gives the region’s Malbec-based wines their exceptional character and ageing potential.

Cahors Outside of France

In recent years Malbec has become widely associated with Argentinian wines and is now found in most wine-growing countries of the world. In France, Malbec is common in the south of France and it is also one of the permitted grape varieties grown in the Bordeaux wine-making region where it tends to be used as a small part of a wine’s blend to add fruit and colour in Côtes-de-Bourg, Blaye and Entre-Deux-Mers.

Other Names for the Malbec Grape

Locally Malbec is mainly known as Cot or Auxerrois but it has many other names including Cot Noir, Pressac, Noir de Pressac, Gros Noir, Hourcat, Vesparo, Piperdy and Teinturin. 

“Cahors grapes” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by peter_hastings

Potential Health Benefits

The high anthocyanin content not only contributes to Cahors’ distinctive appearance but also its potential health benefits. These polyphenolic compounds have attracted significant scientific interest in recent years for their antioxidant properties and potential role in cardiovascular health, cancer prevention, and other aspects of human wellness. For more information please see Roger Corder’s book, The Wine Diet.

Styles of Wine

Cahors always had a reputation for producing rather tannic, tough wines that needed quite a lot of ageing for them to soften and become approachable. Today, with modern wine-making techniques and the prevalence of soft, juicy and accessible Malbecs from Argentina (where it is now considered the national grape) there is a move to softer and rounder wines that are more drinkable in their youth. 

Typically wines from Cahors have a good ageing potential due to their good tannin structure and are characterised as having good aromatic complexity with lots of black fruit notes (berries, cherries and plums) along with notes of liquorice, toast and leather, depending on a wines particular oak regime. However wines can run the gamut from lighter and fruity styles up to big, brooding intense and complex wines.

Famous producers include Chateau Pineraie, Chateau de Chambert, Chateau Lagrazette and Domaine Coss-Maisonneuve.