Domaine La Calmette

Trespoux-Rassiels, Cahors, France

La Calmette was founded by Maya Sallée and Nicolas Fernandez, a young couple who in 2015 came across various parcels in the Trespoux-Rassiels subzone of Cahors and started making their own wines in 2016.

Today they farm over twelve hectares of vines across three distinct soils - Kimmeridgian, Red Clay, and Marl. With their focus being the local Malbec grape, tasting wines from each of these parcels reveals the intricacies and peculiarities of each terroir. Malbec on Kimmeridgian is tense, precise, and with a pronounced acidity. Malbec on red clay or marl, on the other hand, is softer, rounder, has more width. When blended the resulting wines offer a balanced peek into their provenance. 

Trespoux-Rassiels sits at around 350m in altitude, the highest elevation in the Cahors appellation. Here the diurnal range is vast, with very cold evenings leading into very hot days. The resulting wines are fresh, drinkable, with approachable acidity but still retain the deep colour of Malbec and its primary varietal character. 

Although Maya and Nicolas’ approach in the cellar is very minimal and hands-off, their technical background helps them to craft wines of ultimate precision. Maya used to work in an analysis lab in Alsace (‘Duo Oenology’) and consulted with the likes of Patrick Meyer, Christian Binner, Pierre Frick etc, so whilst most decisions are ultimately based on instinct, experience and feeling, there is a scientific backbone to rely on when needed. 

This exciting Domaine currently produces a full range of blends as well as single vineyard wines, as well as a cult Malbec pet nat and a pair of otherworldly and singular whites amongst a few others. Popping a bottle from Domaine La Calmette is always a journey for the senses and for the soul - truly must-try expressions of a region and a grape that have far more to offer than previously thought.