Winegrowers’ Portraits
The 3 starred Majesty
The story begins when a queen met a son of the soil, a man from the wine world, fond of arts and poetry. Together they sealed the fate of Château de Cayx and strived for the recognition of their wines.
The prince, native from a local family, the Monpezats, is fond of this terroir. He courageously undertook to replant the whole vineyard, and has been one of the first to try to reintroduce white grape varieties in Cahors. Indeed historically, Cahors prodced white wines before the phylloxera, and the soil is particularly favourable for its production. The terroirs of Cahors are crossed by the same vein of limestone than Sancerre. This exceptional feature has been underlined by specialist Claude Bourguignon. In 2012 he qualified white Cahors wine as the Burgundy of the Southwest, thus inspiring young winegrowers whereas the Prince had felt the potential long before! For the plant, the team applies the most sustainable farming possible.
Thanks to the rebuilding undertaken by the royal couple, the domain now totals a planted surface area of 22 hectares. For the red varieties, the Malbec of course is dominating, complemented with Merlot and Tannat. The vineyard extends from the second terraces alongside the Lot up to the higher soils with limestone debris. Facing south and leaning on the hill, it is protected from the northern winds. Château de Cayx has chosen for a planting density for some plots of 6,600 stocks/hectare which is considerably higher than the appellation who requires 4,000. The objective is to force the vine to fight in order to strengthen in front of the competition. In a parallel, the chateau has chosen for a work of the soil without inputs. Partial grass cover of the rows and ploughing of the best plots complement the policy. For the plant, the team applies the most sustainable farming possible.Château de Cayx experienced a wind of change with the arrival in 2007 of Guillaume de Monpezat-Bardin, former manager at Baron Philippe de Rothshild, and in 2010 of oenologist Alexandre Gélis of Château Lagrézette. Together they worked at improving the wine and creating new prestigious cuvees.
In 2011, two cuvees of excellence were launched. The cuvee Royale, 1,200 bottles produced, is vinified only in good years. It has not been crafted in 2012 and 2013, maybe in 2014. Stemming from only 30 acres, this 100% Malbec receives the best care as from the grape. Manual thinning out, a horse for the work of the soil, hand picking, manual sorting and destemming. After cold maceration for 3 to 4 days for the extraction of the colour and fruitiness, the alcoholic fermentation undergoes at 26°C during 6 to 15 days during which manual treading is carried out 2 or 3 times. After a last warm maceration at 32°C, the wine is immediately poured in new barrels for two years.
The cuvee Majesté, 100 % Malbec, is produced by 4,000 bottles a year on average. After manual harvest and some time in a wooden tun, filled by gravity to respect the berry, it undergoes the same vinification as Royale. The great care for the grape and the élevage makes of this wine a good example of what Cahors produces best. The vintage 2011 has been awarded 3 stars by the 2015 Hachette Selection guide and one “Coup de cœur”. Among their white wines, the cuvee Altesse is the best of the house. After hand picking in small crates, the grapes are cooled at 6°C for the night and pressed in the morning. The vinification and élevage are fulfilled in barrels for 8 months. The first vintage was 2011 … and there has been no other as 2012 and 2013 were not qualitative enough for the cuvee. Alexandre Gélis trusts in 2014. The range is complemented by Château de Cayx red, Les Marches de Cayx, the second wine, and Cigaralle, a 100% Chardonnay. The cuvée Majesté can age 10 years, Château de Cayx 5 to 10 years. But the chateau prefers to make ready-to-drink wines. According to Guillaume Bardin, the consumers are over the idea of wines to lay down. They want wines they can enjoy immediately.
Alexandre Gélis confides that “the quality of the wines comes from the quality of the grape itself. We operate a vinification respectful of the original fruit and interfere very little. For example, we carry out only three rackings in 14 months. Our wine is not a technical wine, it is the expression of our terroir and the fruit it stems from.” Château de Cayx exports 85% of its production. Historically, the wine meets great success in Danemark as the people is proud of this French wine from their Prince’s vineyard. But the biggest market now is China. Château de Cayx has self-owned shops bearing the name of the domain. And the wine works well! The deep red colour is a sign of excellence for the Chinese; above all they are very respectful of royal families and are very impressed by the label, drawn by the Queen herself. Great art lovers and artists themselves, the royal couple inspired the work of the wine with the sensitivity that helps Malbec to express finesse and roundness to the fullest of its ability.
Château de Cayx
Caïx • 46140 Luzech
Tél : +33 (0)5 65 30 52 50
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