Château La Coustarelle is a historic vineyard of the Cahors AOC, property of the Cassot family since 1870 — that is 5 generations. Located at Prayssac, on the right bank of the Lot in the "Les Caris" hamlet, the estate covers ~53 hectares and offers an extended range from entry-level to icon cuvées (Grande Réserve d'Athéna, L'Eclat). Today led by Caroline Cassot (5th generation) who joined the estate in 2002.
For general context, see our complete Cahors AOC guide and our Causse vs Valley comparison.
Terroir and vineyard
53 hectares on the 3rd terrace of the Lot Valley at Prayssac. The 3rd terrace, higher and more free-draining than the 1st and 2nd, historically produces the most structured Cahors capable of long cellaring. Clay-limestone soils with quartz and silex pebbles.
The planting is dominated by Malbec (~85%), complemented by Merlot and Tannat on blend cuvées. The Grande Réserve d'Athéna and L'Eclat cuvées are 100% Malbec.
Cassot family — five generations at Prayssac
- 1870: Paul Cassot settles as a farmer at Prayssac
- 1947: Pierre Cassot (3rd gen) takes the name "Château La Coustarelle"
- 2000: Michel Cassot (4th gen) creates the L'Eclat cuvée with the ambition of a Cadurcian "Grand Cru"
- 2002: Caroline Cassot, Michel's daughter (5th gen), joins the estate and progressively takes direction
This near-uninterrupted continuity over 156 years is one of the longest still-active winemaking lineages of the AOC. It distinguishes the estate from recent takeovers or ex nihilo projects.
Flagship cuvées
Tradition
Accessible entry-level cuvée — Malbec-dominant + Merlot, vat ageing, immediate fruity profile. Drink within 5–7 years. Good value for discovering the Coustarelle style.
Pairing: charcuterie, white meats, regional South-West dishes.
Grande Cuvée Prestige
Plot selection, barrel ageing (12–18 months). Balanced structure, 8–12 year cellaring. Wine for classic gastronomy.
Pairing: duck confit, feathered game, Quercy lamb. See confit + Cahors pairing.
Grande Réserve d'Athéna
Value signature cuvée. 100% Malbec from the 3rd terrace, 18-month ageing in concrete vats with natural micro-oxygenation. This concrete-vat ageing technique (no oak) yields a precise and elegant profile, no oak dominance. Complexity without extraction, long finish.
Pairing: signature dishes, mature game, sweetbreads. Cellaring 12–18 years. See game + Cahors pairing.
L'Eclat
Estate prestige cuvée, created in 2000 by Michel Cassot with the explicit ambition of a Cadurcian "Grand Cru". 100% Malbec manually harvested, long barrel ageing (18–24 months), limited production. Serious cellaring wine (15–25 years), allocation at specialist wine merchants.
Pairing: signature dishes, special occasions, mature game, Quercy black truffle pairings.
To note for the wine lover
- Grande Réserve d'Athéna value: for a 100% Malbec 3rd-terrace aged in concrete with micro-oxygenation, it is one of the best deals of the AOC at this complexity level. Excellent for understanding what a "modern" oak-free Cahors is.
- L'Eclat: for wine lovers seeking a Cahors of long cellaring at a reasonable price compared to icon cuvées (Pigeonnier Lagrézette, Probus Triguedina, Icône Mercuès). See our Cahors cellaring guide.
- Rigorous traditional style: La Coustarelle is not organic but tends to its plots and vinifies with precision. For lovers of classic structured style, it is a reference. For more "new wave" styles, see Mas del Périé or Le Clos d'un Jour.
- Family continuity: 5 Cassot generations provide a rare depth of terroir knowledge. Caroline Cassot leads today with both openness (creating L'Eclat, cellar modernisation) and respect for heritage.
Public sources consulted
- Château La Coustarelle — par Amour du Vin — consulted 2026-05-18
- Vignerons Indépendants du Lot — La Coustarelle — consulted 2026-05-18
- Grande Réserve d'Athéna — product sheet — consulted 2026-05-18
- Cahors Vallée du Lot — La Coustarelle — consulted 2026-05-18
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