La Calmette Serpent à Plumes

Grape: Malbec, Merlot
Region: Cahors, France
Vintage: 2022
Body: Medium
Sweetness: Dry
Style: Juicy
ABV: 12.5%

A fresh, juicy take on Malbec from Cahors in southwest France, blended with a little Merlot. Dark cherry, blackberry and plum meet peppery spice, herbs and a subtle earthy, mineral edge. It’s medium-bodied with lively acidity and supple tannins, showing a much brighter, more energetic side of Malbec than the big, heavy style you might expect.

La Calmette is the project of Maya Sallée and Nicolas Fernandez, who started the domaine in 2017. They farm on the limestone plateaus above Cahors using organic and biodynamic methods, with a focus on making wines that capture Malbec’s freshness and finesse rather than simply its power.

Serpent à Plumes comes from vines growing over Kimmeridgian limestone, the same ancient geological formation famously found in places like Chablis. Some of the fruit is fermented whole-cluster, some is destemmed and some is directly pressed, followed by aging in concrete and stainless steel. The result is Malbec with plenty of depth, but without all the heaviness.

Dark fruit, limestone and a little bit of wildness. Cahors showing off its lighter side.