This is a rare, carbo, vin de soif from Chteau Combel La Serre (Julien Ilbert)who works awhopping twenty-twohectares of vines in and around Cahors, Southwest France.

Tasting Notes: Young, bright and light take on Southwest Malbec (aka Ct, aka Auxerrois) which has a reputation for being much bigger, hotter, and more traditional. Black fruit and spicetell the story here, with an easy-going thirst quenching bottle of light red being the conclusion.

Vinification: From David Bowler’s wonderful website:

“100% Malbec (aka Auxerrois in local parlance). From a pebbly 1.35-hectare parcel on clay-limestone soils juste derrire chez Carbo— from behind the house of Carbothe double-entendre name Carbo being a reference to vineyard neighbor Monsieur Carbonier as well as the vinification method. Farming of these 35-year-old vines is certified-organic and harvest is by hand. The whole clusters are carbonically macerated for about 6 days in a sealed tank with CO2, before pressing and fermentation with native yeasts. The wine is classified as an IGP Ctes-du-Lot because there is no allowance in the Cahors AOC for carbonic maceration.”