Cahors History

Clos de Gamot 1978 (Cahors, France)
16.5/20, mainly for curiosity and longevity! Drink now.

Birthday dinner at Gee’s, Oxford. Not decanted. Clos de Gamot has historically been the most distinguished domaine in Cahors, making very traditional Malbec wines from ancient vines. I’ve been familiar with the estate since the mid-1990s, but this was a rare and wonderful opportunity to try a vintage from the era that put this estate on the map (from when they first auctioned off old vintages over a decade ago). A real piece of vinous history. I didn’t have very high expectations, but was very surprised at how well it showed.

Mature orange rim with very pale core. Open nose, surprisingly so, very akin to a rustic, mature Bordeaux. Complex, gamey and cedar notes. Palate thinning out, little fine tannin left and just an anaemic softness remaining. Dry and delicate. Opened up then faded away in the glass over the evening. Difficult to match to food, probably would have been best with some plain beef or light/medium hard cheese. Well worth tracking down. One bottle remains. It is fading but isn’t going to fall off it’s plateau in a hurry. Fine.