Cahors "Peyres Levades"
100% Malbec (aka Auxerrois locally). "Peyres Levades" is Occitan for "pierres levées", a direct reference to the stoniness of the terrain of this 0.58-hectare lieu-dit. The vines are over 50 years old and yield only 25-30 hl/ha. Besides being notably stony, the soils are the most limestone-packed of the Combel micro-terroirs. The farming is certified-organic and in conversion to biodynamics. The bunches are hand-harvested and mainly destemmed. The juice ferments at cool temperatures with indigenous yeasts in a 50-hectoliter wood tank. Maceration lasts around 30 days. The wine is aged in the same wood tank for 16 months and bottled without filtration and with minimal sulfur. Peyres Levades is by far Combel La Serre's smallest production at around 2000 bottles.