2001 Château Montus - La Tyre Madiran

Until Château Montus owner Alain Brumont arrived from nearby Bordeaux in the 1980s, the once proud appellation of Madiran had been all but forgotten. The region's indigenous Tannat grape produces a stunningly powerful and distinctive "black wine," with oodles of ripe, dark, peppery fruit that is absolutely delicious. Château Montus, owner of virtually all of the best vineyards of the appellation, was widely acknowledged as producing the very best Madiran. Yet, like other producers, Montus had not solved the vexing problem of keeping the Tannat's massive tannins from overwhelming the fruit, as it tended to do. With the help of top oenologists from Bordeaux, Brumont implemented several innovative techniques, such as malolactic fermentation in new oak barrels, and
more frequent racking. These techniques have successfully tamed the Tannat's macho tannins, while preserving its marvelously dark, rich fruit.