A bottle of Malbec from Chateau Les Croisille, Calcaire 2019, Cahors

Chateau Les Croisille, Calcaire 2019, Cahors

Château Les Croisille

This medium-bodied bio-dynamic Malbec wine from Chateau les Croisille has aged for 2 years in barrels of 225 litres, this long ageing in oak makes the tannins nice and soft, well integrated into the wine. Loads of black fruit and leather on the palate and some hints of tobacco. The limestone soil gives this wine a rich and elegant taste, definitely Cahors now produces much softer wines than before and this is a living example of the progress that has been made in Cahors.

The best way to describe this easy-drinking bio-dynamic Malbec is fruit, fruity or fruitier. In France, we would call this a ‘Vin de Soif or Vin de copain’. The grapes used to create this latest batch of wine from Cahors were sourced from several of our vineyard’s different terroirs, allowing Malbec’s fruity and easily digestible qualities to come to the forefront. Chateau Les Croisille is definitely at the forefront of the nouveau Cahors scene making very digestible wines that can easily become crowd-pleasers.

 

Biodynamic wines
Organic wines
Vegan friendly
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Grape
Malbec
Country
France
Region
South West France
Appellation
Cahors
Farming
Biodynamic wines, Organic wines
Winemaking
Vegan friendly
Alcohol content
13%
Product code
WA-00096

Food pairing

Allium

Allium

Onion, Garlic, Shallot
Baking Spice

Baking Spice

Cinnamon, Vanilla, Clove, Nutmeg
Bean / Legumes

Bean / Legumes

Pinto Bean, Black Bean, Navy Bean, Lentil
Dry Herb

Dry Herb

Oregano, Thyme, Dill, Parsley
Dry, Salty Umami Cheese

Dry, Salty Umami Cheese

Parmesan, Grana Padano, Pecorino, Asiago, Aged Manchego
Exotic Spice

Exotic Spice

Anise, Cardamom, Ginger
Fruity, Umami Cheese

Fruity, Umami Cheese

Cheddar, Gouda
Funghi

Funghi

Porcini, Shitake, Oyster Mushroom, Button Mushroom
Nightshade

Nightshade

Tomato, Eggplant, Pepper
Nutty Hard Cheese

Nutty Hard Cheese

Gruyere, Comte, Emmental,
Red Meat

Red Meat

Beef, Lamb, Venison
Strong Marinades

Strong Marinades

Barbecue, Teriyaki, Vinegar Marinades
Umami Spice

Umami Spice

Coriander, Cumin, Turmeric
White Meat

White Meat

Chicken, Pork, Chop, Tofu
The producer
Château Les Croisille

Château Les Croisille

The Beginning

In 1979, Bernard and Cécile Croisille moved to Fages, located in the countryside surrounding the tiny town of Luzech. Their sole wealth was their youthful exuberance, a passion for working the land and a dream of building a life around this passion. They decided to become tenant farmers of a parcel of land that had been left untouched for years. With much perseverance and dedication the couple brought life back to the land. The first few years were difficult – all of their labor and capital were invested in clearing, preparing, planting and maintaining the first 7 hectares (approximately 17 acres) of vines. They patiently awaited the first harvest, as the fruits of their labor were not to come to fruition for several years. Finally in 1984, their first yield was brought to the Parnac winemaking cooperative.

Evolution

Bernard and Cécile remained passionate about performing the job at hand to the best of their ability. As visionary, driven individuals, they worked continuously to improve their technical expertise. Beginning from zero, they meticulously dedicated themselves to enhancing their cultivating skills and constantly questioned their work in order to propel their vineyard to success. After ten years of working with the winemaking cooperative, their drive pushed them to part ways and undertake the vinification process independently. This marked the beginning of the following ten-year chapter, during which they discovered and experimented with different winemaking and aging techniques. During this period they worked in association with a neighbouring winemaker and made use of his atelier to complete the vinification process of their superb harvests. Towards the end of the 2000s they ended this association and purchased an old viticulture estate, which they restored themselves and installed their workshop in their newly renovated chai.

The new generation

Business took on a new evolution in 2008 when their second son, Germain, officially joined the team. The vineyard expanded and started transitioning toward organic viticulture in 2010. In 2012, Germain’s childhood friend, Nicolas, began working with the Croisilles. Followed by Simon, the youngest of the band of brothers, who joined the team in 2015.

Organic Viticulture

Over the course of their history, the Croisilles observed, evolved and partook in various enriching collaborations. This open-mindedness combined with their belief that all acquired knowledge must be placed under examination led to the transitioning toward organic viticulture in 2010. A mindful winemaker utilizes agricultural techniques that respect and care for the soil, plants and the environment in which he lives. The Croisilles found truth in these principles and thus the decision to convert to organic viticulture came naturally.

Organic agriculture follows a growing method that does not use synthetic chemicals or genetically modified organisms. The aim of organic agriculture is to consider one’s production methods as an ongoing holistic process, favouring natural cycles and biodiversity in order to bring life and vigour back to the soil – a crucial element, which all too often is neglected by farmers.

The French term terroir is defined as a global consideration of the soil and environmental conditions affecting and contributing to the unique characteristics of a specific area and in turn to the crops grown there. Château Les Croisille’s ambition is to let this reanimated soil and the terroir express themselves in their wines. By converting to organic viticulture, the terroir is reflected in a natural, untainted manner.

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