Red dry
This wine is named in honor of the family and reflects the Château du Cèdre philosophy: less intervention, more fruit, a clearer voice of terroir, and greater pleasure without heaviness.
The aroma is open and fruit-driven, with black cherries, blackberries, and plums interwoven with hints of fresh herbs, gentle pepper, and subtle earthiness. This is not a concentrated, extracted style, but a clean, vibrant Malbec where pure fruit expression takes center stage.
On the palate, the wine is juicy and medium-bodied, with soft, lightly polished tannins and a naturally fresh acidity. Flavors are led by dark berries, delicate spice, and a light mineral thread that adds structure without weight. The finish is clean and dry, inviting another sip.
The grapes grow on limestone and clay soils around Cahors, yet Marcel is deliberately crafted as a freer style wine, released from strict appellation rules. This approach allows the wine to preserve fruit purity and youthful energy.
The harvest is done by hand, fermentation takes place with native yeasts, and ageing is carried out in neutral vessels so as not to overshadow the fruit or terroir character. The result is a lighter, modern, and expressive Malbec, perfect both for everyday meals and relaxed, unpretentious enjoyment.
Serve at 14–16 °C – pairs well with roast chicken with herbs, grilled pork neck, and pasta with tomato and roasted vegetable sauce.
Léon Verhaeghe is born in the small town of Moorslede in the Flemish region of Belgium. When WW1 is declared in 1914 and the country is annexed, Léon is among the millions of Belgians who flee to the France. Later, his son, Charles Verhaeghe, meets Marie-Thérèse Rives, whose family owns a traditional multi-crop farm in Vire-sur-Lot. While cultivating the land and his love for it, he develops a growing desire to expand the scope of his practice. He watches with fascination as some of his neighbours transform their grapes: his project is clear. He too wants to produce his own wine.The couple continue their multi-crop farming activities and plant their first hectare of vines alongside the lavender in 1958. This piece of land, characterised by limestone scree cones, forms part of the great terroir we know today. 1973 sees the result of all the hard work. Self-taught, Charles and Marie Thérèse Verhaeghe carry out their first wine bottling, alongside their usual distillation of lavender. When Charles is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1987, the work becomes too difficult. His sons, Pascal and Jean-Marc, decide to return to the estate to help him. Pascal, trained in viticulture and winemaking at Jean-Marie Guffens and then in Napa Valley, and Jean-Marc, a graduate of La Tour Blanche in Sauternes, have the necessary knowledge and desire to manage the vineyard. Working in synergy, they inject their enthusiasm into the business and constantly experiment. Quality becomes the absolute priority.With this common goal, they share the work: Jean-Marc makes cultivating the vines his speciality and Pascal devotes himself to making, maturing, and marketing the wine. In fifteen years, they take Château du Cèdre to the top of the Cahors appellation.
