2022 Chateau la Caminade Cahors “Mission la Caminade”

While we all know and (some of us) love the phenomenally high-altitude renditions of malbec from Argentina, we try to remind people once in a while that the grape is actually French! In fact, Cahors is an appellation in the Southwest that is almost entirely dedicated to growing this ruddy, earthy variety. As with the South American version, it's a wine that's easy to like, and easy to pair with food. Think steak, burgers, beans, and other casual, hearty fare.

Here's more about Cahors and Caminade from importer Wine Traditions:

"The vineyards of Cahors lay an equal distance from the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean and the Pyrenees. They are planted along the banks and hills of the Lot River valley. As a result of its millennia of work carving through a limestone plateau, the Lot River left a narrow band of hills ideally suited to the vine. The soils vary according to their proximity to the river, with the lower terraces having more alluvial deposits and the upper vineyards having more exposed rock. The vineyards date back at least two thousand years and the wines of Cahors have an illustrious history that includes being sought after by the Roman Emperor Domitian, the Russian Orthodox Church and numerous kings and bishops. The Chateau La Caminade vineyards lie in Parnac, in the heart of the Cahors region. The Ressès family has been making wine here since 1895 and Dominique and Richard represent the fourth generation. The 27 hectares of vineyards are planted on a variety of soil types including gravelly sand and clay/limestone. The vineyards are certified “Haute Valeure Environmentale” Level 3, which requires a comprehensive sustainability. Until the French Revolution the domain belonged to the clergy who left behind much documentation attesting to both their winemaking techniques and their understanding of the terroir. The Ressès bring forward quite a tradition."