"A compelling, deep, dark and detailed wine."
Mike Bennie
About the Wine
Wine was sourced from a vineyard which was, in all likelihood, abandoned during the phylloxera epidemic. Since 2006, Claude and Lydia Bourguignon, with their son Emmanuel, have revitalised the vineyard and brought it back up to health. It is mere metres away from the official border of Cahors, and is a blend of Cabernet Franc and Malbec, with a portion made up of the rare grapes Négrette, Prunelart, Cot à Pied Rouge. Get excited.
This defies all expectations. You'd expect something big and bold from the blend, and the dark colour, but it is a vividly aromatic and refined wine. There is plenty of power, though, in those long chalky tannins. The fruit was fermented in concrete tanks before maturation in old oak, which was a deliberate choice to maintain freshness. It's full of dried rosemary and lavender, with dark plum and cherries, butcher meat and brambly spices. It's truly stunning stuff.
About Domaine Laroque D'Antan
Claude and Lydia Bourguignon are incredibly well respected microbiologists and have worked with some the most esteemed vineyards in the world, advising the likes of DRC, Selosse and Egly-Ouriet. During a routine inspection of the Cahors region in 2005, they discovered what seemed to be an abandoned vineyard 5km outside the town, which was likely abandoned in the 1870s during the phylloxera pandemic. They purchased the site in 2006 and began reinvigorating it with their son, Emmanuel.
It normally takes several years to do this. For this respected pair of scientists, it took two. Plantings were inspired by the history of the region and the current climate. The vineyard, which is mere metres from the Cahors AOC, is now home to Malbec and Cabernet Franc, as well as the near extinct varieties of Négrette, Prunelart and Cot à Pied Rouge for red varieties. White grapes include Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Mauzac and Verdanel. This is an exciting addition to the world of fine wine.

Cahors, France