Clos Basté - Madiran, Southwest, France
Varietal: Tannat 100%
As someone who fell in love with Madiran in my early wine explorations, it has always been an automatic buy when I see it in other shops or on wine lists. However, Tannat is a gnarly grape with thick tanic skin which is capable of imparting a ton of flavor but also has a tendency to manifest itself as a bucket of tar. Needless to say, there have been some duds along the way. In those moments when I do find a proper expression I am always grateful for this small town in Southwest France that decided to make this grape their flagship.
Why I like it, may be a reason to proceed with caution. My favorite expression of Madiran and this one is no exception, pushes the boundary of how much tannin any one human can handle at one moment but it balances that with dense dark fruit that climbs the sides of your mouth like ivy on a brick wall. This dichotomy leaves you wanting more but needing a respite at the same time. Decant or open a hour early and have with a well marbled piece of red meat.
Organic
