2018 Cahors 'K-lys', Clos Troteligotte

Inky purple and brooding in the glass, this Malbec-driven Cahors strikes a fine balance between power and precision. The nose bursts with blackberries, plum and elderberry, wrapped in notes of leather, spice and a faint mineral smokiness. On the palate, it’s rich and structured with dark fruit layered with cocoa, graphite and a touch of vanilla, carried by firm yet polished tannins. Intense yet refined, it finishes long, savoury and deeply satisfying, a true expression of its iron-rich terroir.

For when: the night’s cool, the fire’s glowing, and conversation runs deep.
Pairs with: grilled steak, venison stew, or roasted aubergine with herbs.
If this wine were a person, it’d wear black tie with muddy boots - elegance with an edge.

Clos Troteligotte is a family-run estate in the limestone plateau of Cahors, led by Emmanuel Rybinski, a vigneron known for redefining Malbec’s potential in its original home. The domaine’s vineyards are farmed biodynamically, rooted in soils rich in iron oxide, locally known as k-lys, or “iron clay”, which lends the wines their hallmark minerality, depth and name! Hand-harvested grapes and minimal-intervention winemaking preserve purity and tension, while measured oak ageing brings texture and polish. The 2018 vintage embodies Clos Troteligotte’s philosophy perfectly: power with precision, authenticity with flair.