Haute Côt(e) de Fruit 2024 Mas del Périé | Southwest

The Fruit de Mas del Périé “ ” “Haute Côt(e)” cuvée epitomizes the quiet revolution that Fabien Jouves has been leading since 2006 on the hillsides of Trespoux, in Cahors, where he has made it his mission to restore to Malbec the freshness and precision that the appellation had long sacrificed on the altar of power. This pure Malbec cuvée boasts a natural freshness rare in this sun-drenched Southwest, which gives the grape a balance and tension one wouldn’t instinctively expect from the variety. An unvarnished, modern, and sincere Malbec, crafted to surprise and win over.

Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin: The Haute Côt(e) de Fruit cuvée from Mas del Périé represents the perfect antithesis of the traditional, thick, and tannic Cahors, and that is precisely what makes it one of the most remarkable and alluring wines of the appellation today.

The nose reveals itself with immediate candor and richness, featuring aromas of well-ripened black and red fruits such as blackberry, black cherry, and blueberry, enhanced by hints of pepper, cinnamon, and wild thyme. A subtle note of candied fruit envelops this generous bouquet, while an almost minty freshness adds an unexpected and particularly alluring dimension.

On the palate, the attack is clean, juicy, and surprisingly easy to drink for a Malbec, carried by tannins of remarkable finesse and silkiness. The body, both full and delicate, is cut by a lively, invigorating acidity that energetically extends the fruit through to a fresh, mouth-watering finish with a hint of roasted notes—a finish that immediately makes you want to take another sip.