| Malbec 90% |
| Merlot 10% |
| 89 Points Wine Enthusiast |
| HVE – High Environmental Value (Level 3) sustainability certification |
Dark purple color, with mature red and black fruits aromas. Dusty earth and spice notes, firm structure, with plenty of elegant tannins and a persistent finish.
Appellation |
Cahors AOC |
|---|---|
Vineyard |
The soil is part clay, part silica on the first plantations, which are protected to the north by the overhang of the plateau, a 200 meters high cliff created by the river. The second soil type is a mixture of clay deposit and limestone outcrop, with a pebbly subsoil. These two types comprise the Malbec de Galets. Most of the vines under the “Appellation” in Cahors are planted on three different soil types on three levels. These vineyards in Parnac, the picturesque village enclosed by a meander in the river Lot, is no exception. Chateau Saint-Sernin has 40 hectares of vines with an average age of 50 years. |
Vinification |
Guyot pruning. 8 buds on the fruit-bearing and 2 on the spur. Desuckering by hand. Thinning. Green harvest. Maceration on skins for 24 hours. Long and low temperature fermentation in thermo regulate stainless steel vats. Pumping over and delestage. Long maceration with pomace and micro oxygenation. Maturing in French oak barrels for 8 months minimum. Regular topping-up. |
Pairing |
Poultry, roasted meats, sausages. Earthy/Umami ingredients like mushrooms, shallots, sage, etc as well as foods using smoked paprika, cinnamon, and allspice. Blue cheese and aged cheeses. |
With origins dating back to 1619, the Fournié family produced wine generation after generation in this Cahors estate and were one of the first to be included in the appellation when it received AOC status in 1971. Chateau St-Sernin has the good fortune of vineyard sites with three distinct terroirs, from the river valley up to the plateau above, with the average vine age of 50 years.