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Clos Troteligotte
Amidst oak forests and wild meadows lies Clos Troteligotte – 19 hectares of vineyards like an island in the green. Emmanuel Rybinski came from Normandy to Cahors and found here a place where Malbec is allowed to show finesse.
Since 2017, the estate has been working according to Demeter guidelines. The wines bear names such as K-nom or K-or – an alphabet that Emmanuel devised for his various cuvées. Many of them are made without added sulphur.
More about Clos Troteligotte
A Clearing in the Forest
The location of Clos Troteligotte is unusual for Cahors: the 18 hectares of vineyards are surrounded by forest, a natural protective belt of oak trees and wild meadows. Sheep graze between the rows, wildflowers attract insects. Emmanuel Rybinski uses this isolation – fewer interventions are needed here, nature regulates itself. The Malbec, called Côt here, roots deeply in the limestone soils of the Lot Valley. The Kimmeridge limestone soils are geologically related to Chablis and give the wines an unusual minerality for Cahors.
An Alphabet of Its Own
K-nom, K-or, K-lys, K-barré – Emmanuel has developed his own naming system for his wines, playing with the French word "Cahors". Each letter represents a cuvée with its own character: K-nom is the classic Cahors, K-or brings more body, K-lys shows the floral side of Malbec. The wordplay is intentional – this is someone who likes to give his wines a touch of humour. The labels, designed by local artists, are as individual as the wines themselves.
Demeter in the South-West
In 2017, Clos Troteligotte received Demeter certification. The biodynamic work shows in the detail: horn manure and horn silica, compost teas, preparations made in-house, spontaneous fermentation in the cellar. Emmanuel came to wine by a roundabout route: after years as an engineer, he took over his parents-in-law's estate in 2007 and immediately converted to organic farming. Many wines are made without added sulphur – the Waz-K Pétillant Naturel from Chenin Blanc, for instance, a sparkling counterpoint to the dark Malbec.
Malbec with Drinkability
Cahors often stands for powerful, tannin-driven red wines – the historic "black wines" once prized in Bordeaux for blending. Emmanuel Rybinski takes a different path: his Malbecs are dark in colour, but show freshness and drinkability. Fermentation takes place with whole bunches, maturation in used barriques and concrete tanks. Those seeking similarly rigorous biodynamics will find it at La Soufrandière in Burgundy, for example. Here as there, the principle holds: the effort in the vineyard makes the difference in the glass.