Three-Pack: Domaine d'Homs Cahors, Petit Page | 2022

Meet French Malbec. If Argentine Malbec drinks more like Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon, then French Malbec leans towards Cabernet Franc or Syrah. We started pouring this by-the-glass two weeks ago, and it has quickly become one of our sleeper darlings. Certified organic, Domaine d'Homs is in Cahors, the cradle of Malbec, about a two-and-a-half-hour drive east of Bordeaux. Traditionally, Cahors was known for its sturdy, borderline harsh reds, influenced by its cool continental climate and gravelly-limestone soils. But climate change, thoughtful farming, and a new generation of “less is more” winemaking are changing the rustic narrative. Meanwhile, over in sky-high Mendoza, Malbec has adapted to the intense UV exposure by developing smaller berries and thicker skins—a natural armor that drives deeper color and that velvet chew. Certified organic and aged entirely in concrete, this Cahors shows off Malbec’s Parisian bistro persona with dusty roses, damp violets, sweet cigar, and tangy coffee spice. Stripped of the fluff, the “chew,” dressed in linen from head-to-toe, this is the kind of Malbec everyone needs in their life. ~Allegra Angelo