Tannat
Domaine Berthoumieu
Cuvée Charles de Batz Madiran Tannat 2006
Seemed to have gotten better and mellowed out the big broad tannic notes. Still firm in texture and have a tannic bite but balanced by ripened hard fruit prune notes — 3 months ago
Bodega Garzon
Single Vineyard Tannat 2022
Not much on the nose, but lovely dark colour with a rich and herbaceous roundness, nice tannins — 6 months ago
Bodega Garzon
Reserva Maldonado Tannat 2023
Clear, deep ruby in color; on the nose, it's clean with pronounced intensity primary and secondary aromas of plum, cassis, and smoke; on the palate, it's dry with medium acidity, high tannins, high alcohol, full body, and pronounced intensity flavors of black cardamom, crushed gravel, and black olives. Definitely needs to breath. — 15 days ago
Château Bouscassé
Madiran Tannat Blend 2019
The 2019 shows a darker, riper profile than the ‘17 and ‘18 vintages. Blackcurrant, blackberry compote, and plum dominate at this stage, layered with licorice, cocoa, and a touch of earth. The palate feels fuller and more concentrated as well, but still quite balanced. Fine yet grippy tannins. Only 13.5% abv.
Powerful yet polished, it should evolve beautifully over the next decade. — a month ago
Finca Decero
The Owl & The Dust Devil Remolinos Vineyard Malbec Blend
Delicious. Was gifted this by my wifey and this wine didn’t disappoint. Decant it for a bit if you can- a little bite right out of the bottle but as it aerates it becomes smooth as butter — 3 months ago
Château Montus
Cuvée Prestige Madiran Tannat 1998
There are bottles I expect to be great, and then there are bottles that still manage to stop me in your tracks.
Château Montus Cuvée Prestige 1998 is firmly in that second category.
This wine has rested quietly in my cellar for nearly three decades, patiently waiting, gathering depth rather than dust. Opening it tonight feels less like uncorking a bottle and more like releasing a memory that has been maturing alongside time itself.
I use to secretly hide this wine among a line up of great clarets and it always stood out!
From the first pour, it’s clear: this wine is fully evolved, yet beautifully alive. The once powerful Tannat backbone has softened into something remarkably refined. The texture is silky, rich, almost velvety, no rough edges left, only harmony.
Dark fruit has given way to layers of leather, cedar, dried plum, cocoa and subtle spice. Everything is integrated, calm, confident. A wine that no longer needs to prove anything.
What amazes me most is not just how good it is, but how complete it feels. This is maturity without fatigue. Depth without heaviness. Power transformed into elegance, love it!
I’ve always known that wines from Château Montus, under the vision of the great Alain Brumont, were built for the long haul. Crafted from old-vine Tannat, grown on the steep, clay-limestone slopes of Madiran, Cuvée Prestige is fermented and aged with patience and intent, often spending extended time in new French oak. It was never meant to be rushed i learned decades ago.
Still, every time I open a mature Montus, I surprise myself all over again.
1998 has reached a point where everything makes sense. It is fully on its drinking window, perhaps right at its sweet spot, and it delivers pure pleasure, calmly and generously.
A reminder that great wine is not about price, prestige, power or extraction, but about time, trust, and restraint.
This bottle didn’t just age well.
It became something greater. 95 WBP — 4 months ago
Jay Kline
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2015 pours a deep ruby/purple color with medium+ viscosity and significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing wjth notes of cassis, plum, animale, some anise and other warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. A lovely Tannat that had me craving cassoulet. Drink now through 2035. — 12 days ago