Fabien Jouves 'Haute Côt de Fruit' Cahors AOP 2021

Born into a long line of winemakers, Fabien Jouves once sought to escape his Southwest France village near Cahors to go off to medical school, save lives, cure diseases and what have you. But when his parents began to struggle to maintain their domaine in the early 2000s, Jouves quickly switched gears (and careers) and enrolled at a prestigious winemaking school in Bordeaux, driving home every weekend to manage the vineyards and begin converting them to biodynamic agriculture. By 2006, he was cranking out his first vintage, and by 2011, he had earned Demeter certification. Today, he is one of a handful of a growing contingent of natural-minded vignerons making fresh and approachable, minimal-inventional wines that undermine the region’s somewhat stodgy reputation. Situated at the highest elevations of the Cahors appellation, the home of malbec in southwest France, the Jouves estate benefits from limestone-based soils and cool nighttime temperatures. In his own estate vineyards, Fabien practices biodynamic farming methods, and all of his wines are fermented with indigenous yeasts and treated with a light, non-interventionist touch. This côt (aka malbec) is made from 25 year old vines grown biodynamically and harvested by hand. Grapes are destemmed and spontaneously fermented with ambient yeasts in neutral oak and cement after a 7 day maceration. Bottling occurs without fining or filtration. Throw away all your preconceived notions about malbec: far from overbearing, this bottle is lithe and lively on the palate. Medium-bodied and smooth, it bursts with bright, juicy layers of raspberry and red plum, and a hint of strawberry Twizzlers, all finished off with fresh culinary herbs. Consider lightly chilling (both the wine and yourself!) and sipping with a variety of dishes. Organically grown, biodynamically grown, low-intervention/natural wine, vegan.