Château la Coustarelle Cahors Grande Prestige 2019

La Coustarelle's flagship cuvée shows you exactly what Cahors is all about. You'll get a hit of vanilla alongside those deep, dark fruit aromas. It feels pretty rich in the mouth, loaded with juicy blackberry and a touch of liquorice. Those tannins? Nice and smooth on the finish. It's mostly Malbec (or Cot as the locals call it) with a dash of Tannat for good measure. Aged in oak, and bottled unfiltered to keep all the good stuff in. Deep and dark in colour, this is a seriously well-made wine that shows off southwest France reds beautifully.

A big, robust red like this really complements the deep, savoury flavours found in dishes like beef bourguignon, oxtail stew, or a classic cassoulet.

Château La Coustarelle is a Cahors estate with a deep sense of place. Its roots stretch back to 1870, yet their focus on crafting expressive estate wines is a more recent endeavour. The shift away from the co-op model in the 90s proved wise, and La Coustarelle is now a benchmark for the region. Currently, Caroline Cassot, the 5th generation, carries the torch with thoughtful vineyard management. The estate's evolution over the years is impressive, while the focus on quality and tradition remains constant - a winning combination.