Clos Triguedina Balmont 2002

Winery Description

Geographical Location
This estate is located to the west of the town of Cahors, across four communes: Puy l'Evêque (capital of the Cahors vineyards), Vire sur Lot, Floressas and Touzac.

The familial estate extends over close to 70 hectares. It is made up of clay-silica and clay-limestone terraces, which are soils that favor the production of Grands Crus.



History
Since 1830, eight generations of vintners have ensured the continuity of the estate ...

• In 1830, Etienne BALDES planted his first parcels of Cahors in Clos Triguedina. Protected by a microclimate, it was only partially affected by the great freezes of 1956, which made it possible today to have a relatively old encépagement for our top-of-the-line cuvées.
• René BALDES, renowned vintner, participated in the creation of the first Cahors wine syndicate as well as the Confrérie . He was also the most in-demand vine grafter in the region.
• Jean BALDES built the first stainless steel vat in the Cahors AOC in 1976. During his life as a vintner, he doubled the area of the vineyard and drove toward the production of fine wines.
• Jean Luc BALDES today, ensures the hereditary continuity at the head of the estate and has made a reputation for himself as the "maître du Malbec".         

Regularly celebrated in the media and decorated by the juries of national and international competitions for his red and white wines, he leads the wines of the estate to the peak performance of the appellation. Today, he has 25 years of winemaking on this land to which he remains passionately attached.

The Vineyard
The cultivation of the vineyard is traditional and the soils are regularly plowed. The production is limited to 45 hectoliters per hectare and we have practiced green harvests and de-leafing for many years for the conglomeration of our vines.
Jean-Luc Baldès is striving, with the objective of developing his high-quality production, to restructure the vineyard: today, Clos Triguedina has the largest high-density vineyard area (8,000 plants/hectare), and each year, two hectares are refreshed.
Its encépagement is divided up into:

Main Varietal:
Malbec (also called Côt or Auxerrois) occupies 75% of our vineyard’s area. This is the base varietal that gives our Cahors wine its character: its color (dark red), its fullness and its cellaring potential.
Complementary Varietals:
Merlot adds roundness, fruit and bouquet.
Tannat reinforces the qualities of the Malbec (incidentally it is from the same ampelographic family). It produces wines that have a long cellaring potential.

The Cellar and the Storehouse
In the interest of tradition and progress, the storehouses have been modernized and comprise of a set of completely stainless steel fermentation tanks with temperature control. The separation table represents a recent investment; it strengthens the quality of the harvest before it enters the storehouse.
Clos Triguedina is perfectly positioned for the pursuit of certifications of quality.

Aging the wines
The cask storeroom contains close to 800 barrels, of which a third are refreshed each year. The aging is carried out for 12 to 18 months in barrels, large tuns or tanks.
The wine is then bottled and laid down for 6 months before being sold.
The aging is done exclusively in French barrels from the Allier department.

Tasting notes

Dark red, shiny color.
Elegant nose with notes of red berries with hints of licorice. Well-balanced and harmonious on the palate.

This wine pairs well with: truffles, grilled red or white meat accompanied by boletus (cèpes), game or cheeses

Serving temperature: 16˚ C to 18˚ C

Vinification

South West - AOC Cahors