We’re delighted to offer members a rare opportunity to purchase three amazing value vintages of fully mature Madiran from an estate with some of the finest terroir in the region, Domaine Pichard. The wines, from 2011, 2015 and 2017, have been sitting undisturbed in the cellars at the estate since being bottled. They offer a wonderful opportunity to explore classic, old-school examples of one of the great long-lived wines of France without breaking the bank.
Order by midday, Wednesday 18th November
Madiran in south-west France is home to the tannat grape which thrives in the heat and quite high annual rainfall here in sight of the Pyrenees. The wine is famously a keeper, capable of ageing over many years and often needing that time to unfurl and soften its tannins. A great food wine, it’s the perfect answer when a full and gutsy red is required.
When these three wines were produced, Domaine Pichard was considered unusual, being planted with a high percentage of cabernet franc, virtually unique in Madiran at the time. Today, more and more producers are following suit, including cabernet franc in the mix to add an extra dimension to the flavour profile. The Cuvée Aimé is the more tannat-dominated of the two, with around 80-85% in the blend supplemented by cabernet franc. More powerful and tannic than Signature, it offers classic Madiran for ageing. Signature is more supple and fresh thanks to cabernet franc having a more-or-less equal voice with the tannat in the blend.
All three vintages would benefit from 30+ minutes in a decanter to unlock the full gamut of flavours.
