Château du Cedre Eau de Vie de Marc de GC / NV / 500mL

Description:

Château du Cèdre Eau de Vie de Marc de Cahors NV is a grape marc spirit from the Cahors region of south-west France, warm and faintly rustic in the best sense. Bottled in 500mL, it sits somewhere between a digestif and a fireside sipper, with the dark-fruited character of Cahors still recognisable behind the spirit.

The nose opens on dried fig, walnut skin and stewed plum, with a lift of orange peel and a touch of pipe tobacco. Give it a few minutes in the glass and something softer arrives — vanilla bean, toasted grain and a hint of prune.

On the palate the Eau de Vie de Marc de Cahors is dry and full, with a heat that builds slowly rather than catching at the back of the throat. Texture is oily and coating, the grape skin character showing as a slight grip through the middle, and the finish runs long on nuts, dried fruit and a clean bitter edge that keeps it from turning sweet.

Serve it in a small glass after dinner, at room temperature or a touch cooler, alongside strong washed-rind cheese, dark chocolate, walnuts or a slice of fruit tart. It also does honest work poured over a short black.

The half bottle is the sensible size here — spirits do not age in glass, but an opened 500mL is finished long before the character flattens, which makes it a good option if a full bottle of marc tends to linger in your cupboard.