2022 Domaine La Calmette ‘Trespotz’ Malbec

Maya Sallée and Nicolas Fernandez are part of the new generation redefining Cahors. After meeting in Alsace and working vintages across New Zealand, Uruguay, Mexico and the US, the trained agronomists were drawn to southwest France by its soils, altitude, and affordability... eventually settling in the village of Trespoux-Rassiels in 2015. Inspired by a tasting with Fabien Jouves that revealed a lighter, more expressive side of Cahors, they purchased a one-hectare plot of 30-year-old vines and began farming organically from day one. Today, Domaine La Calmette spans seven hectares of high-altitude vineyards rooted in red clay, marl, siderolithic soils, and prized Kimmeridgian limestone... the same bedrock behind the minerality of Chablis and Sancerre. Maya, who grew up in Latin America with a family background in organic coffee trading, and Nicolas, originally from Rioja, bring a balance of precision, global perspective and respect for the land. They farm biodynamically and have also begun reintroducing white varieties to the region. In the cellar, their approach is minimal: ambient fermentations, gentle handling, extended lees contact and only minimal sulphur at bottling. The wines that result are bright and alive, speaking to a clear vision of thoughtful, transparent farming and winemaking.