Madiran: the 2015 vintage

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France is a land of wines, and the reputation of many of our appellations extends beyond our borders. But other appellations deserve to be better known, as they have nothing to envy of the great Bordeaux or Burgundy crus. Let’s discover the 2015 Madiran vintage.

The Madiran appellation

The Madiran appellation is located in the South-West of France, more precisely in the Gascon basin. Of the 53,000 hectares of vines that make up the South-West wine-growing region, Madiran accounts for 1,400. The appellation, recognized as an AOC in 1948 by the Institut National de la Qualité, covers 3 départements: Gers, Pyrénées Atlantique and Hautes-Pyrénées. 200 growers produce Madiran wine, including 50 independent growers and 150 cooperatives. Bottles of Madiran are mainly sold in France, but 20% of production is exported (notably to Belgium and Germany).

Although wine has been flowing in Madiran since 800 BC, the history of Madiran wine really began in the 10th century with the Benedictine monks who founded the Priory and helped boost production. As Madiran is located close to the route of Santiago de Compostela, Madiran wine quickly became famous thanks to the pilgrims passing through. After the devastation caused by the phylloxera crisis at the end of the 19th century, the vineyards were gradually rebuilt and underwent rapid development in the 1980s, with the arrival of a new generation of winegrowers.

Madiran’s main grape variety is tannat, an autochthonous (i.e. native to the region) variety with well-defined tannins. It can be blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and/or Fer Servadou (another native grape variety) to bring roundness to the wine. Situated 60 kilometers north of the Pyrenees and 100 kilometers east of the Atlantic, the Madiran vineyards have to cope with a complex climate, due in particular to high rainfall.

The 2015 vintage

The 2015 vintage of the Madiran appellation is considered a great vintage. Indeed, 2015 was a particularly hot year, with a heatwave during the summer. The hot weather was beneficial to the cultivation of tannat, a grape variety that appreciates sun and heat. What’s more, the vines were generally well protected from the vagaries of the weather for the rest of the year, enabling us to reach the harvest with both quality and quantity intact.

Tannat is a fairly tannic grape variety, so it’s best to leave it a few years before tasting bottles of Madiran. The 2015 vintage, after 8 to 10 years of ageing, is now reaching maturity. Drunk younger, the Madiran 2015 is supple and fresh, fragrant and fruity. When fully ripe, it reveals the raspberry aromas characteristic of this appellation, supported by subtle notes of black fruit. On the palate, this wine is sensual and fleshy, carried by aromas of spices, black fruits and toast. A perfect accompaniment to cassoulet or Auvergne blue cheese.

Château Bouscassé’s Cuvée Argile Rouge, accompanied by a shallot steak, is a fine illustration of the high quality of this vintage.