Despite the phylloxera disaster, the local wine industry was kept in place. But the hybrids used produced only pale copies of the original wines. In 1947, some vintners decided to found the Parnac cooperative winery. Their objective was to restore the Malbec variety, the grape originally used to produce the Cahors black wine. They ended up acquiring seedlings from an estate grower in Bordeaux. The current vineyards originates from these plants.

Unfortunately, in 1956, the frost ruined once again many wine growers from the area. But none of them despaired and all got quickly back to work. The Cahors Wine Brotherhood was created in 1964. In 1971, the Cahors Black Wine was promoted to Controlled Appellation. At the moment, some 4,500 ha can produce Controlled Appellation Cahors wines.

The 100 Years War put an end to a long period of prosperity. A 1373 mandate offered an advantage to the wine production of Gironde, as it overtaxed the wines of the hinterland, especially Cahors.

Despite this discrimination, which was only to be abolished in the 18th century, Cahors remained a renowned wine, appreciated by the likes of François I, who asked for a wine with the "Cahors" grape variety to be planted at Fontainebleau, and Peter the Great of Russia who imposed it upon the Orthodox Church. In his World History of Wine, Hugh Johnson pointed out in refernce to the 17th century that, when it comes to red, the Dutch preferred strong and dark beverages, like Cahors, their ideal wine.

Juel M. Darkly is the author of a great blog on wine and music. It's funny, young and trendy as well as well documented on wine and music. I tremendously enjoyed it and I strongly recommend it to anybody in love with wine and music.

Anyway - I'm out of subject, as my English teacher would tell me. Let's go back to Nick Cave and the Black Wine of Cahors. This is the dark and romantic side of the wine that suggested to Juel to recommend the Cahors wines to the artist: "Some wines aspire to ring-tones, these wines are epic ballads. They take some time to yield in the glass, they are not instant and fun, you could say they are gruff and unfriendly; but once the story in the glass unfolds, it’s worth the wait."

This post reads as a poem. Enjoy!

The long established vineyard Clos Montmartre in Paris, just behind Sacre Coeur, must now face new competition. It is the Bretonneau hospital in the 18th arrondisment that has launched its first vintage of Clos Bretonneau. Three years ago they planted 125 Malbec vines and at the end of May the first vintage, the 2007 were presented. A very decent, fruity and unpretentious wine, in particular considering the vines are only three years old.

The wine is vinified at the hospital in its own wine cellar equipped with stainless steel tanks and all! Veronique Desjardins, the hospital director, sees the new vineyard as an important part of the therapy for the patients (old-age people needing constant hospital treatment): "It revives old memories – who has not harvested grapes once when young? It becomes a discussion subject and the patients can even help with the harvest." To serve wine at the meals at the hospital is self evident in this place.

Consulting winemaker is Fabrice Duron from Chateau de Gaudou in Cahors. "Clos Bretonneau is a micro-cuvée", he says, "but it's made just like the wines I make at home and I'm very proud of this vintage. But the vines are young and it will only get better!"