This wine surprised me.  Being from Madiran AOC (which is located in South West France in the Pyrénées Mountains on the border with Spain) I anticipated it would be very concentrated and tannic. 

Wines from Madiran AOC may only be red (there’s a sweet and dry white AOC too which covers the same area of production, but they’re produced under a different name – Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh.  Try saying that 10x in a row.  Was anyone in the marketing department thinking?).

Ah, but I digress… About 60% of a Madiran blend is supposed to be Tannat and it’s supported by Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Fer Servadou (aka Braucol).  Some of the wines are actually 100% Tannat though, despite the rule.  Tannat, you may know, is also the main grape of Uruguayan wines, having been transported there by French immigrants from this region.

A beautiful shade of medium ruby, this wine has medium plus aromas of deep, black fruit with a little nutmeg.

On the palate, it’s dry with surprising medium plus acidity and ripe but strained tannins.  The body is equally surprising in that it’s slender; not what I’d anticipated.  Flavours show deep cassis and black plum with black and raspberry, nutmeg and a little dash of sage.

The finish is light and the alcohol a little hot, but overall this has some nice flavour and aroma notes.  It’s tasty, but don’t age it – enjoy with charcuterie.

WSET Good