words: Edward Deitch
illustration: Marcello Bevilacqua
Published: January 7, 2026
Before there was Malbec from Argentina, there was Cahors.
Never heard of it?
Cahors is the OG of Malbec, the region in southwest France where the variety originated in the Middle Ages and is still grown. For a different take on the grape from Argentina’s ubiquitous Malbecs, the wines of Cahors are well worth trying.
While Malbecs from Argentina are concentrated and fruit-driven thanks to the sunny climate and near-perfect growing conditions, wines from Cahors tend to have a good deal of mineral complexity and are more austere, qualities that I find intriguing.
Cahors lies to the east and south of Bordeaux (where Malbec is also a minor player). While there are similarities to the red wines of Bordeaux, Cahors is often described as more rustic, with words like “sturdy,” “robust,” “rugged,” and “tough” in reference to its firm tannins.
Owing to that reputation, Cahors used to benefit from long aging, but the wines are more accessible today. They are typically dark in color and have dark fruit aromas and flavors, with a minerality that comes from the limestone, clay, and gravel soils on the slopes and plateaus of the Massif Central mountain range where the vineyards lie. Small amounts of Merlot and Tannat are permitted in the blends and, depending on the property, aging takes place either in barrels or concrete tanks. Certain producers now emphasize the freshness of the grape, with some even using carbonic maceration to make the wines softer and more fruity.
Thanks to the phenomenal success of Malbec in Argentina, you’ll now find “Malbec” on just about every bottle of Cahors, just to make sure that everyone knows that Cahors, too, is made from the popular grape. The variety is also known as Côt or Auxerrois here, the latter not to be confused with the white grape of the same name or the Auxerrois region in the north of Burgundy.
You’ll notice that just about all the wines below are priced at under $20, another thing that makes them so attractive. Compared with Bordeaux and many other reds in this price range, you’ll find that they punch above their weight.
Here are seven of the best Malbecs from Cahors:
Georges Vigouroux ‘Gouleyant’ Cahors 2021
The name of this wine, Gouleyant, says it all. It means “easy to drink” in French, and that’s just what it is. The label says it can be found in a lot of French bistros, and if you want a quaffable and affordable wine you can drink with just about anything, this one fits the bill. Lightly tannic with black cherry notes and touches of dried spices, especially fennel seed.
Price: $16
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