Intense and alluring aroma of fruit and red berries. When you taste it, you will experience a beautiful Malbec with soft tannins, fruity nuances, and charming, southern French spices. A fine representative of Cahors and the royal wine estate.
Malbec is not widely planted in France, but in Cahors and on the royal wine estate, it is an important grape, creating rich, charming red wines.
91 POINT
DinVinGuide
The aroma has high intensity with vanilla, oak, coconut, dark berries, and sweet tobacco.
Château de Cayx
Château de Cayx, located in the heart of the Cahors district, dates back to the 15th century when it was built to control navigation on the Lot River. The castle is perched on the slope of a hill, offering views of the Lot River and the small village of Caïx, which is part of the Luzech municipality. The royal couple purchased Château de Cayx in 1974, and extensive renovations were carried out. The Prince Consort, who was from the area and a great lover of art, spent several years creating a truly authentic architectural legacy at the castle. Today, Château de Cayx stands as a beautiful 18th-century residence with four round towers dating back to the 15th century, and a corner tower that dominates the structure. In front of the southern facade, a large terrace overlooks the vineyards. The spelling of the name Caïx has changed several times over the centuries. Examples include Caysse, Cays, Cais, or Caïx. Prince Henrik chose the spelling Cayx, as it is easier to pronounce and to avoid a misinterpretation of the French phoneme “ai.”
How does Château de Cayx taste?
For many years, Château de Cayx was known for its stable, classic, but relatively ordinary Cahors wines. However, the estate has taken a quantum leap in quality since 2009 when the young oenologist and winemaker, Alexandre Gélis, was hired. Gélis immediately saw the great, untapped potential at Château de Cayx, and since his appointment, he has worked closely with the Prince Consort towards a more controlled and improved management of the estate’s wines. The results are striking when tasting the latest vintages of Château de Cayx. They are, quite simply, a benchmark for how far one can go with the right mindset and goals—without compromising the authentic and local character of each wine!
Which grapes grow at Château de Cayx?
At the initiative of Prince Henrik, Château de Cayx gradually regained its impressive 21-hectare vineyards, which ideally face south and overlook a bend in the Lot River. The upper part of the terroir lies on predominantly limestone terraces, while the lower part is on limestone terraces with gravel and collapsed material from the limestone plateau. 80% of the vineyards are planted with Malbec, and apart from 4 hectares of Chardonnay, the remaining area is planted with Tannat and Merlot—all cultivated as environmentally friendly and sustainably as possible. Since the vineyards have been gradually replanted since 1975, the average age of the vines at Château de Cayx is around 25 years.
