Château de Chambert, Cahors Malbec

Château de Chambert lies 30 kilometres west of the town of Cahors. Philippe Lejeune has owned and operated it since 2007, along with his wife, Master of Wine Lin Liu and their consultant winemaker Stéphane Derenoncourt. The estate achieved organic certification in 2012, followed by biodynamic certification at the end of 2015, making it the largest organic and biodynamic estate in Cahors. Philippe and Lin also keep highland cattle in a neighbouring field, allowing them to wander the vines after harvest until the end of winter, reducing weed growth and gently aerating the soil with their hooves.

Today Château de Chambert comprises 45 hectares of vineyards, of which 80% are Malbec, 17% are Merlot and 3% are Chardonnay, with an average vine of 50 years. Their vineyards are located high up on the limestone ‘causse’, or plateau, regarded as the best part of the Cahors appellation.

At an elevation of 300 metres, the cool nighttime temperatures in the vines offer a moderating influence, counterbalancing high temperatures during the day. The September winds that blow northwards from Africa also lower the disease risk. The estate's vineyards are planted on a blend of limestone (which provides freshness and balance to the wines) and red iron oxide (which imparts colour, richness and powerful intensity). Château de Chambert’s grapes are hand-harvested before being meticulously sorted, with each parcel vinified separately.

Philippe and Lin have reined in their use of oak in recent years and now use large 30-hectolitre oak foudres so as not to overpower the fragrant fruit and subtle limestone minerality of their Malbecs. Château de Chambert’s Cahors Malbec is aged for around one year in oak and has a lovely brooding black fruit character and silky tannins. The Cahors ‘Grand Vin’ is the product of the oldest vines on the estate and spends 18 months ageing in oak. Dense yet elegant, it has intense violet and blackberry fruit notes complemented by an extraordinary, muscular structure.