Ideal wines for the shortening days and dropping temperatures, we are very pleased to have received a tranche of Malbec & Merlot from Lolo & Nathalie Marre, expressions of their limestone hill in Cahors. Among our favourite examples of the region, the wines are so welcome at this time of year.
Lolo & Nathalie farm six hectares in the village of Villesèque as Le Vent Des Jours. At 380m above sea level, they're the highest point in the appellation. Planted with Malbec and Merlot, along with a handful of white varieties, Lolo returned to the region after years working as a sommelier and caviste, visiting 27 different plots before finding the place they could call home.
Work in the vineyard follows biodynamics. Where not done by hand, the only assistance comes from Nathalie's draft horses, helping to aerate the stoney clay/limestone soils after harvest, and spreading a mulch of natural fertilisers.
The wines are made beside the winery, and it's here that Lolo exhibits a real lightness of touch. Macerating the reds slowly, often in the 'mille-feuille' layered style for gentle extraction. Ageing is in a variety of concrete, barrels and amphorae.
Their work translates to pristine wines that succeed in being generous and inviting, whilst keeping a line of tension and direct limestone-acidity that make them such a joy to drink.
Available now, we have a handful of new releases from recent vintages, and a welcome return of some favourites.
AVAILABLE NOW
WHITE
2023 - C’Juste - Gros Manseng, Ugni Blanc
Pressed directly to fibreglass, fermentation on gros lees for 25 days before settling and devatting to amphora for 11 months ageing on fine lees. Bottled August 2024 with no additions.
Textural and long, with golden apple and a little tropical hum, opens up nicely in the glass.
RED
2023 - Un Jour ou L'Autre - Malbec
Whole bunch maceration for 4 days, free-run and press juice blended together for ageing in concrete tanks for 9 months, bottled with no additions.
Bags of dark fruit, autumnal hedgerow, last-of-the-season berries.
2021 - Le Zef - Merlot
Whole bunch maceration for 5 days free-run and press juice blended together for ageing in concrete tank and foudre before assemblage and bottling after 9 months, with no additions.
Lightly smokey, with herbal lift, gentle, integrated tannins, elegant and supple.
2021 - Les Calades - Malbec
This wine is made up of parecels from three terroirs, harvested and vinified separately before blending: Jurassic Limestone, Kimmeridgian Limestone and clay. De-stemmed, and macerated for three weeks with direct press juice, aged 9 months, half in concrete tank, half in amphorae. No additions.
Long, dark fruited, a mineral through-line holding everything together, deep but fresh.
2019 - Les Moutons - Malbec
A single half-hectare parcel of old vines grown over Kimmeridgian Limestone and clay, macerated 'mille feuille' style, equal layers of whole-bunch and de-stemmed grapes until the tank is filled. Fermentation in concrete, pressed and assembled in barrels for nearly two years. Bottled with no additions.
Dark fresh fruit, a thrilling integrated VA, great length.
