Domaine du Garinet Fût de Chêne 2009 Cahors

Deep, relatively youthful garnet/blood red colour. The nose offers a complex array of bramble, cherry and cassis aromas, with further notes of tobacco, forest floor, desiccated orange peel, iodine and a mix of toasty oak and polished old(er) wood. There's even a hint of florality in there, which is a rather unusual - though most welcome - quality for Malbec. All-in-all, it really is a considerably complex and hedonistic nose. Even at 13 years of age (first tasted November 2019, then more recently March 2022) the fruit is bright and remarkably fresh and fleshy on the palate. And whilst the tannins still retain plenty of grip, they combine and meld beautifully with the core of ripe red and black fruit flavours, countered by a delightful cherry kernel sourness and juicy acidity. Even though it is already balanced, elegant, complex and just beginning to evolve nicely, this is definitely a wine that is some years away from its absolute peak of maturity. Being the estate's top cuvée, this is another classic, old-school wine of the very highest quality - Cahors doesn't get much better.