Serpent à Plumes Vin de France
At a Glance
- Size: 5.00 ha (12.37 ac)
- Varieties: 75-90% Malbec, 10-25% Merlot
- Vine Age: Planted from the 1970s to early 2000s
- Terroir: West-facing, 300-330m altitude. Kimmeridgian limestone and marl bedrock, fairly deep clay-limestone soil.
- Viticulture: Organic (AB), biodynamic methods.
- Vinification: Some whole cluster inclusion and a percentage of the fruit pressed immediately. 6-15 day ambient yeast fermentation with gentle infusion. Aged about 12 months on the lees in concrete and stainless steel tanks. No fining, no filtration. Minimal SO2 adjustment at bottling (10 ppm).
Additional Info
In 2016, this wine actually came from the same parcel as Bois Grand. The quantities of each variety were different: 50% Merlot, 50% Côt, and they were separated for fermentation and maceration, then blended for aging. In order to have the AOC Cahors, this wine must be at least 70% Malbec, which was not the case in the first vintage. Maya and Nicholas decided not to seek out the appellation in the following year (though they had the right to do so), preferring to keep their options open to use more Merlot in the future.
The 2020 vintage includes some declassified 2019 Butte Rouge and Bois Grand.