Famille Jouffreau - Clos de Gamot - Le Gamotin 2020
The Joffreau family have lived in the commune of Prayssac since 1290, first as farmers and merchants and, since 1450, as the winemakers of Clos de Gamot. During the phylloxera epidemic in the 1880s, Guillaume Jouffreau collected Malbec vines from Clos de Gamot and successfully grafted them on Herbemont’s rootstock, not only saving the vineyard, but most of the Malbec in the area. These centuries-old vines continue to produce a few clusters every year. The estate consists of 15 hectares of organically farmed vineyards on the second and third terraces of the Lot River on soils of pebbles, gravel, and quartz mixed with alluvium. A broad strip of red clay crosses the vineyard, giving some unique characteristics to the wines from this property. The Joffreau family maintain traditional winemaking practices, eschewing the use of new oak and fancy cellar tricks to manipulate the wine: They produce true, terroir driven Cahors that reflect the family's dedication and hard work in the vineyards.
Clos de Gamot's Le Gamotin (the estate's second label) is made from 100% Malbec grown on clay-limestone soils with bands of galets, silex, and red clay. The fruit for Le Gamotin comes from Clos de Gamot's 2 parcels: one has over 130-year-old vines with the other parcel containing 40- to 70-year-old plants. The grapes are fermented in concrete vats with a 21 day maceration and aged for 18 months in neutral oak foudres. Deep burgundy color with a bright crimson rim. Inviting aromas of baked blueberries, blackberries, ripe plums and a touch of violet plume from the glass. The palate shows a delightful refreshment with vivid acidity and fine-grained tannins that frame the dark fruit flavors and an added clay-minearl note that permeates the long finish. Le Gamotin is a generous wine that shows all Malbec has to offer in Cahors, giving a perfect blend of fruit concentration and rustic charm with the structure to pair with the region's hearty cuisine. As the weather continues to cool, this is the perfect wine to enjoy with hearty stews and rich meat dishes of the season.
