Le Clos d'un Jour is one of the most singular artisanal estates of the Cahors AOC. Founded in 1999 by Véronique and Stéphane Azémar on 7 hectares at Duravel, on the 3rd terrace of the Lot, the estate stands apart through a unique educational approach: three cuvées from the same Malbec, vinified with three different ageings (concrete vat / oak barrel / ceramic jar). Confidential production, AB-certified from the start, allocation at the best natural wine merchants.
For general context, see our guide to organic Cahors winemakers and our article on new generations.
Terroir and vineyard
7 hectares on the 3rd terrace of the Lot at Duravel — free-draining clay-limestone terroir, favourable to rich cellaring wines. The estate is planted at 90% Malbec + 10% Merlot. Living soils (competition with natural cover crop), Ouessant sheep for natural inter-row mowing, manual work to the maximum in the vineyard.
Artisanal vinification: indigenous yeasts, no oenological inputs, minimal SO₂ or even absent on some batches. Unfiltered bottling.
Véronique and Stéphane Azémar — artisanal boldness
Stéphane Azémar, on professional retraining, set up with Véronique in 2000 on this small 7-ha estate. Organic conversion from purchase, AB certification obtained respecting the regulatory delays. Assumed artisanal approach: confidential production, few cuvées, careful and differentiated ageings.
The couple chose to stay small to preserve quality, refusing opportunistic expansion. Today, the estate produces ~30,000 bottles per year across three principal cuvées.
Flagship cuvées — three ageings, one terroir
This is the pedagogical particularity of Le Clos d'un Jour: same plots, same grapes, three distinct ageings that produce three radically different expressions of Malbec.
Le Clos d'un Jour (concrete vat)
Eponymous cuvée. 90% Malbec + 10% Merlot, ageing exclusively in concrete vat (no oak). Direct fruity profile, supple tannins, immediate accessibility. The introduction to the Azémar style.
Pairing: charcuterie, white meats, bistronomy. Cellaring 5–8 years.
Un jour... (oak ageing)
100% Malbec, 18-month ageing in French oak barrel with variable new-oak proportion by vintage (10–30%). Complex structure, toasted notes + black fruit, long cellaring.
Pairing: duck confit, Quercy lamb, feathered game, slow-cooked dishes. Cellaring 10–15 years.
Un jour sur terre (ceramic jar)
Signature cuvée of the estate. 100% Malbec, 18-month ageing in 100-litre ceramic jar — no oak, no stainless steel. The ceramic lets the wine breathe without bringing exogenous aromas. Pure mineral profile, expression of Malbec without an oak filter, very precise finish.
Pairing: Quercy black truffle (see our dedicated article), grilled firm-fleshed fish, fine bistronomy. Cellaring 10–15 years.
This cuvée has been regularly awarded by Guide Hachette (2016, 2018, 2022 vintages).
To note for the wine lover
- Ideal comparative tasting exercise: buying all three cuvées of the same vintage and tasting in parallel lets you concretely understand the impact of ageing on Malbec expression. A rare pedagogical opportunity in Cahors.
- Limited availability: with ~30,000 bottles/year for 3 cuvées, allocations sell out quickly. Building a relationship with the organic wine merchant or by email directly to the estate is recommended.
- Natural style but accessible: unlike some natural wines that can be polarising, Le Clos d'un Jour produces precise and technically controlled cuvées. Perfect for the wine lover discovering the natural/organic profile.
- Cellaring: the Un jour... and Un jour sur terre cuvées are serious cellaring wines (10–15 years). Not to be opened too young — see our Cahors cellaring guide.
Public sources consulted
- Le Clos d'un Jour — official site (leclosdunjour.fr) — consulted 2026-05-17
- La Passion du Vin — estate profile — consulted 2026-05-17
- K&L Wine Merchants — Le Clos d'un Jour — consulted 2026-05-17
- Guide Hachette des Vins — Un jour sur terre 2022 — consulted 2026-05-17
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