Château Lamartine, Cahors

A family estate, this traditional vineyard is located at Soturac on the terraces of the Lot valley.

This large estate originating from Gallo-Romaine era was partly destroyed during the Middle-Age however managed to survive until Philloxera attack in 1878. Some Auxerrois plants were nonetheless conserved by Edouard Serougne who during the 1920s fell in love with the estate owner and with this grape variety. The Lamartine estate was built over a former oak forest and according to legend is the place where Martine, a local girl, used to have her rendez-vous hence the name Lamartine !

Alain Gayraud is a dedicated wine-maker producing relatively small quantities of great wine. Whilst Auxerrois (aka Cot or Malbec) is the mainstay, providing 100% of the superb top cuvée "Expression", it is blended with small quantities of Tannat or Merlot in the other wines. All are drinking well but, equally, these are wines with good futures ahead.