The Baldès Family
Juliette Baldès
A winemaker of her time
A DEEPLY ROOTED PASSION, A VISION FOR THE FUTURE
Daughter of Jean-Luc and Sabine Baldès, Juliette embodies the 7th generation of Clos Triguedina. But before taking up the family torch, she chose to travel far, to observe, understand, and draw inspiration. From Argentina to Italy, from New Zealand to Canada, she worked in wineries of all sizes, experienced extreme climates, and refined both her eye and her senses.
It was in Argentina, the adopted homeland of the grape, that she fully grasped the singularity of Cahors Malbec:
“Over there, the wines are fruity, supple, and charming… Here, they have more structure, more depth. In Cahors, it’s the terroirs that tell the story, far more than the grape itself. The difference lies in the roots, ours run deeper, expressing the terroir.”
When she returns, Juliette does not come back empty-handed. She brings with her a fresh perspective on the craft, blending discipline, curiosity, and a desire to do things differently. She understands that the future lies as much in honoring the family heritage as in embracing openness, innovation, and new ways of thinking.
A DEMANDING TECHNICIAN, IN TUNE WITH NATURE
Juliette is an attentive winemaker, deeply connected to both her vines and her wines. Driven by the desire to preserve her family’s legacy while anchoring it firmly in the present, she champions an approach based on sincerity, precision, and the sharing of authentic experiences.
« For me, a great wine is one that moves people, that tells a story, that brings people together. I want to create cuvées with meaning and offer immersive experiences, as close as possible to the land and the people who bring it to life. »
THE VOICE OF A NEW GENERATION FROM CAHORS
Juliette belongs to a generation that challenges conventions without ever denying its roots. Wine is her language, one of sharing, conviviality, and connection.
Through festive, cultural, and social events, she creates moments of connection where Clos Triguedina can be discovered differently: more freely, more openly, more vibrantly.
Jean-Luc Baldès
A driving force behind the revival of Cahors
A TECHNICAL PIONEER,
A COMMITTED WINEMAKER
Jean-Luc Baldès has never sought the spotlight, yet he has helped shape the future of the Cahors appellation. In the 1970s, as the vineyard slowly rebuilt itself, he revolutionized practices. In 1976, he installed the first stainless steel winery in the appellation, inspired by the greatest Bordeaux estates. In 1978, he was among the first to master temperature-controlled fermentation, ensuring precision and purity of fruit.
A DEMANDING AND CONFIDENT VISION
He is convinced that Cahors deserves recognition among the great wines of the world. Jean-Luc Baldès envisions a “black wine” that combines power, freshness, and depth, but also finesse, structure, and elegance. This pursuit leads him to rethink wine hierarchies, to create single-parcel cuvées such as La Trilogie, and to strive toward a form of « Grand Cru of Cahors », even without official classification.
BALANCE AS A SIGNATURE
Each wine crafted by Jean-Luc Baldès reflects a mastered terroir and a balanced style, far removed from fleeting trends. As he often says: « Power should never overpower elegance. True wine leaves a lasting impression without ever imposing itself. »
This philosophy defines one of his emblematic cuvées, Probus. While Jean-Luc draws inspiration from the nobility of Bordeaux and the precision of Burgundy, he never imitates. Instead, he forges a unique identity — that of Clos Triguedina — where terroir expresses itself freely, without artifice. Vintage after vintage, he has restored the prestige of the Cahors appellation.
Challenging the codes of Cahors
Among his most emblematic creations, The New Black Wine is undoubtedly the most personal. Inspired by a forgotten medieval wine once served at the courts of England and Russia, this cuvée pays tribute to the historic black wines of Cahors, once transported by river barges to Bordeaux.
Rather than reproducing the ancient method of direct heating in cauldrons, Jean-Luc innovates. He dries the grapes on racks in his cousin’s plum-drying oven, just two kilometers from the estate. This carefully controlled drying process gives the wine exceptional concentration, while preserving the freshness of the fruit and delivering remarkably velvety tannins.
Produced in limited quantities, The New Black Wine is a wine for those who reject certainty. Its singular profile — intriguing to some, fascinating to others — will captivate the most curious and open-minded. At the crossroads of history and avant-garde, this cuvée reveals a sense of mystery — the hidden face of Cahors.
1994, A Turning Point
RECOGNITION OF A MASTER WINEMAKER
In 1994, Jean-Luc Baldès was named Winemaker of the Year by Guide Hachette, Fleurus, and Gault & Millau. This distinction rewarded his unwavering commitment to quality, his exacting standards in both vineyard and cellar, and the precision of his blending.
He also joined the Académie du Vin de France, alongside some of the most iconic winemakers, embodying the memory and excellence of French wine heritage. A discreet, rare, yet meaningful recognition, reflecting his unique place in the world of Cahors.
Sabine Baldès
The voice of Burgundy in Quercy
FROM BEAUNE TO CAHORS:
A WINEMAKING DESTINY
Sabine Baldès was born in Beaune, the historic capital of Burgundy wines. Raised in a family deeply rooted in wine culture, she grew up with the belief that wine is not merely a beverage, but a language, a culture, and a heritage.
Her sharp and discerning Burgundian perspective naturally led her to pursue excellence wherever she went.
In 1996, then a young project manager working with local authorities, Sabine discovered the Lot region… and Jean-Luc Baldès. It was both a personal and professional turning point. She chose to stay, to commit, and to dedicate her high standards to a still under-recognized terroir.
« I came with my Burgundian roots, and I planted here the seeds of my future », she often says. With a background in law and a strong sense of organization,
Sabine brings structure, method, and ambition to the Baldès Family. Her strength lies in connecting the estate’s heritage with its future, alongside Jean-Luc and their children. She believes in the educational power of wine — provided it is made accessible without being oversimplified. She is the voice that enlightens, explains, and inspires.
THE SOUL OF WINE TOURISM AT THE ESTATE
In 2014, Sabine Baldès decided to fully dedicate herself to the estate. She identified a clear need: to create a visitor experience worthy of the work carried out in both vineyard and cellar.
This led her to envision and oversee the creation of the Pavillon des Vins, a contemporary building with understated elegance — a symbol of an estate deeply rooted in tradition, yet firmly looking toward the future.
She reimagined hospitality in its entirety: themed guided tours, educational tastings, terroir discovery trails, and insights into winemaking and the estate’s history. Everything is designed so that each visitor leaves with an emotion, a memory, and a deeper understanding of wine.
Thanks to her vision, the estate has become a leading wine tourism destination in Cahors, welcoming over 3,000 visitors each year and standing as one of the highlights of the Lot Valley. With a strong conviction:
« It is not for the visitor to adapt to the estate — it is up to us to welcome them into our story with simplicity and high standards. »
COMMITMENT AT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING
Under Sabine’s leadership, Clos Triguedina became, in 2024, the first estate in the Cahors appellation to be certified Vignerons Engagés, a label built on the three pillars of sustainable development: environmental, social, and economic.
She ensures that every team member is valued, that working and visiting conditions are of the highest standard, and that a company culture aligned with family values — kindness, excellence, and commitment — is upheld.
« Commitment cannot be declared. It must be built. » Thanks to her, Clos Triguedina is not just a winery — it is a living, collective, and inspiring project.
