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Madiran

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Madiran

Madiran red wine: a wine of character 

Situated in the Hautes-Pyrénées, Gers and Pyrénées-Atlantiques, between two administrative regions (Aquitaine and Midi-Pyrénées), the Madiran appellation area merges with that of Pacherenc du Vic Bilh and is also part of the Béarn appellation area. The Madiran AOC was granted by decree on July 10, 1948, and applies only to red wines made from this terroir. The Madiran vineyard covers around 1,400 hectares north of Pau.

Within the appellation, clay and limestone soils are favored by the red grape varieties that produce Madiran red wine. Soils dominated by clay and silica favor white grape varieties, the source of dry or sweet Pacherenc wines. The characteristics of Madiran are fully expressed in the crus offered by Château Montus, Château Bouscassé, Domaine Berthoumieu and Domaine Alain Brumont.

Produced in the South-West, at the crossroads of the Gers, Pyrénées-Atlantiques and Hautes-Pyrénées departments, Madiran wines benefit from an ideal geographical location, between sea and mountains. The appellation's 1,400 ha of vineyards are planted on a rich and varied terroir. Combined with tannat, the AOC's emblematic grape variety, Madiran represents an ancient wine, dark to the eye and vigorous on the palate, whose modern history is being written thanks to the commitment of bold, visionary winemakers.

An ancient history at the heart of a rich and varied terroir

Already produced in Gallo-Roman times, the vineyards were developed in the 10th century by religious congregations. On the road to Compostela, Madiran wines were already offered to pilgrims during their stops. In the 1890s, phylloxera devastated the vineyard, but it was reborn and continued to expand throughout the 20th century.

A wide variety of terroirs

This historic wine is characterized by a rich and varied terroir: clayey-limestone, with stony, well-drained soils, ideal for long-keeping wines; clayey, with light, filtering soils, producing supple wines. A third type of soil, made of rolled pebbles, is ideal for Madirans.

The power of an identifying grape variety

An ancient grape variety with a strong identity, tannat is predominant in Madiran AOC vineyards. Rich in anthocyanins and tannins, it lends Madiran red wines all their power and structure. It can be blended with the two Cabernets (Sauvignon and Franc), but the appellation requires that a Madiran wine contain at least 50% tannat. 
The rest of the vineyard is planted with Cabernet-Franc, Sauvignon and, to a much lesser extent, Fer-Servadou, one of the region's oldest grape varieties, now rare.

A demanding grape variety

Over the years, Madiran winegrowers have adapted their winemaking methods to the wine's specific characteristics. To keep the tannins in check, they are obliged to temper the wine by ageing it in the cellar for one year before marketing. 
Producing wines of this appellation also requires mastery of barrel ageing, sometimes over long periods. This softens the tannins and gives Madirans good ageing potential (between 5 and 10 years).

Committed and innovative winemakers

In love with their terroir, some owners have advanced the art of viticulture by adapting to the constraints of their vineyards. In the early 1980s, Alain Brumont was a pioneer when he bought Château de Montus and gave a 100% tannat Madiran wine its letters of nobility. At the same time, he developed the vineyards of Château Bouscassé, a family estate, by inventing new techniques that skilfully combine tradition and modernity. At Château d'Aydie, the Laplace family adapts to the times, while continuing to keep the spirit of Madiran wines alive.

Internationally renowned vintages

Thanks to this constant adjustment by winegrowers to the demands of their vineyards, and the questioning of traditional methods of cultivation, many references have risen to the same level of world renown as certain Bordeaux crus. Following in Alain Brumont's footsteps, other talented players are contributing to the success of this appellation, such as the Bortolussi sisters at Domaine Berthoumieu or Corinne Dousseau at the head of Domaine Sergent.

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Château Peyros - Madiran Greenwich. 43N 2020

2*Coup de Coeur Hachette

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90-91/100 Vert de Vin

tannat
powerful
elegant
charmer

"If elegance were a wine... Favorite 1jour1vin ! "

"A rare wine, made only in great vintages; also rare in terms of volume, as it comes from a small 1.5-hectare parcel crossed by the Greenwich meridian and planted with venerable Tannat vines aged between 55 and 100 years. Rare, finally, for the remarkable quality of this 2020, whose key word is "elegance". Elegance with a lively bouquet of black fruits, pepper and menthol. Elegance on the palate, full-bodied, fresh, powerful without being rigorous, built on fine-grained tannins and stretched out into a long, deep, seductive finish. Already a devilishly charming wine, this Madiran is far from having said its last word". (Le Guide Hachette 2025)

Château de Viella - Madiran Tradition 2022

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4/5 (3 reviews)

92/100 Vert de Vin

(Vintage 2021 notes)
terroir wine
Gem
quality-price

"A delightful value for money, elegant and fruity!"

This Tradition 2022, with its vermilion color and bluish highlights, has a nose of red fruits and spices. A clean, balanced, smooth attack is accompanied by elegant, full-bodied, coated tannins, ideal for accompanying a fine grilled duck breast...

Château Montus - Madiran 2019

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5/5 (1 review)

94/100 Robert Parker

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16,5+/20 Jancis Robinson

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92/100 Vinous

tannat
structured
duck confit

"Nicknamed the Petrus of the Southwest, it ticks all the boxes of a great terroir wine!"

"The 2019 Château Montus shows the evolution of this property's style, displaying more density and seriousness without more extraction than its 2016 counterparts. It offers aromas of loamy soil, blueberries, blackberries, spice and pencil lead, followed by a round, enveloping and charming palate, with a layered fruit core and a long, velvety, penetrating finish. This blend of 80% Tannat and 20% Cabernet Franc highlights the roundness and fleshiness of the clay soils. A must-have for the next decade and beyond. (Wine Advocate 2024)

Château Bouscassé - Madiran 2018

Rated 4/5Rated 4/5Rated 4/5Rated 4/5Rated 4/5

4/5 (21 reviews)

95/100 Wine Enthusiast

tannat
rich
to be penned

"A fine wine for laying down, to be enjoyed with an excellent duck breast... "

"A magnificent Alain Brumont wine that is still young. Deep in dark Tannat flavors and dense structure, the wine is powerful with its black fruit and texture. Smoky, ripe, the wine's barrel aging is intended to smooth and give depth as it matures. Drink from 2026. (Wine Enthusiast 2022)

Domaine Sergent - Madiran 2019

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4/5 (4 reviews)

1*Étoile Hachette

black fruits
coated tannins
chicken tagine with eggplant
quality-price

"A fresh, round Madiran

"Ripe grapes, long ageing, fruit and a touch of wood, this is a wine of good composition". (Le Guide Hachette des Vins 2022). This Madiran has a fresh nose with aromas of black fruits and spicy notes. Round and fleshy, the palate offers a silky structure.

Domaine Sergent - Madiran Les Noyers 2021

Rated 3/5Rated 3/5Rated 3/5Rated 3/5Rated 3/5

3/5 (4 reviews)

1*Étoile Hachette

tannat
wooded
rich
red meat

"Rich and harmonious

"The only tannat at work in this expressive Madiran, open to red fruits enhanced by spices and smoky notes. The palate is supple, round and well-fruited, supported by a fine freshness, tannins and well-established woodiness". (Le Guide Hachette 2024). An excellent accompaniment to grilled beef...

Château de Viella - Madiran Prestige 2020

90/100 RVF

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Médaille d'Or Concours Paris

tannat
generous
intensity
prime rib

"The estate's very old vines melt the material with a concerted, matte richness that lets the black fruit show through on a note of soy. The tight, noble-wooded attack becomes clearer on the more forthright finish". (Le Guide RVF 2024). Potential in this intense, generous Prestige!

Alain Brumont - Madiran Le Rouge d'Alain Brumont 2018

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3.5/5 (2 reviews)

fruity
round-tipped
barbecue
immediate pleasure

Alain Brumont Rouge 2018 is a fruit-driven wine, with notes of red and black berries on the nose, accompanied by hints of fruit coulis and black pepper. Fleshy and round, the palate is supple and thirst-quenching. An easy-drinking wine of pleasure, fresh for a Madiran... A must-try, with a fine grill for example!

Domaine Berthoumieu - Madiran La Fé (Sans Soufre Ajouté) 2019

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5/5 (1 review)

92/100 Wine Enthusiast

tannat
structured
coated tannins
juicy

"Bold and structured, this rich wine was bottled without sulfur. It has a lovely juicy texture and a beautiful framework of black fruits. These go hand in hand with the wine's dense structure, which promises considerable aging. Drink from 2026. (Wine Enthusiast 2022)

Château d'Aydie - Madiran 2017

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3.5/5 (2 reviews)

94/100 A. Larsson

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93/100 Wine Enthusiast

tannat
generous
potential
textured
game

"Intense aromas combining floral notes with hints of black fruit, blackcurrant, prune and walnut, with fine notes of wood and toast. Very dense, vigorous palate offering floral flavors of black fruit, crème de cassis and kirsch, still young but with exemplary tannins leading to a very long, muscular finish. A great wine, but even better after 2025. (Andreas Larsson)

Alain Brumont - Made in Rang 2017

Rated 3.1/5Rated 3.1/5Rated 3.1/5Rated 3.1/5Rated 3.1/5

3.1/5 (16 reviews)

fruity
spicy
barbecue
immediate pleasure

"A Madiran at this price is a real bargain".

Made in Rang is a fruity wine, with notes of red and black berries on the nose, accompanied by hints of fruit coulis and black pepper. Fleshy and round, the palate is supple and thirst-quenching. An easy-drinking wine of pleasure, fresh for a Madiran... A must-try, with a fine grill for example!

Domaine Berthoumieu - Madiran parcellaire Aulet 2019

Rated 4/5Rated 4/5Rated 4/5Rated 4/5Rated 4/5

4/5 (3 reviews)

Coup de Coeur 1jour1vin

-

1*Étoile Hachette

tannat
silky
coated tannins
red meat

"A wine with a heady nose of stone fruit, cherry or plum brandy. On the palate, it appears full-bodied and warm, but the tannins are already well coated and the finish balanced. A wine with an accent". (Le Guide Hachette des Vins 2022)

Château Montus - Madiran Cuvée Prestige 2012

Rated 3.7/5Rated 3.7/5Rated 3.7/5Rated 3.7/5Rated 3.7/5

3.7/5 (3 reviews)

94/100 Wine Enthusiast

-

1*Étoile Hachette

tannat
generous
rich
ripe fruit
red meat

"Dark tannins still envelop this rich wine. This dry core is accompanied by ripe fruit and a solid structure. This Madiran estate wine is designed for long aging. Drink now, but for best effect, wait until 2023. (Wine Enthusiast 2021). An atypical, generous character, a rich, opulent wine... A beautiful Madiran! Delivery in wooden cases for orders of 6 bottles of this wine (excluding Point Relais delivery).

Alain Brumont - Torus 2016

Rated 3.7/5Rated 3.7/5Rated 3.7/5Rated 3.7/5Rated 3.7/5

3.7/5 (6 reviews)

spicy
fleshy
barbecue
grilled meat

A wine with a new style, fruity and spicy, Torus is the result of a selection of vines less than 20 years old from the Montus and Bouscassé terroirs, and carries freshness, fruit and spice, highlighting the local Tannat grape variety and terroir. A concentrated, fruity red, with flesh, suppleness, depth and a mellow finish with spicy notes... A bold, modern Madiran!

Domaine Berthoumieu - Constance 2016

Rated 4/5Rated 4/5Rated 4/5Rated 4/5Rated 4/5

4/5 (3 reviews)

14/20 Bettane & Desseauve

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88/100 Wine Enthusiast

(2015 vintage notes)
accessible
small price

"Excellent value for money

The nose reveals straightforward notes of blackcurrant, blackberry and raspberry, accompanied by fine spicy notes. On the palate, a generous, aromatic wine with velvety tannins. A fine entry into the world of wine!