2012 Château Montus Madiran

The aromas here are dark, savory, charcoal and smoke. Really compelling and full of complexity, on the palate the wine is super-concentrated. Tons of earth and minerality, that will hit every square millimeter of your palate and then drip off slowly. This is a big, bad wine. I get customers coming in all the time asking for great, under $40 earthy Bordeaux. And honestly? This will do the job so much better.

The often overlooked appellation of Madiran is ruled by one very important property; the Chateau Montus. Montus and its Tannat driven flagship red is one of the most impressive wineries and wines from the region. With an addition of 20% Cabernet Sauvignon the wine comes off as familiar yet unusual. Tannat has a rough and tumble quality that feels both primal and exotic. Yet, there is a velvety texture to this wine that reveals its lofty pedigree. Put this wine in your repertoire of winter drinking and put a few bottles in the cellar. At seven years old, this beauty is just starting to hit its stride.

Bouscasse was the home estate for Alain Brumont. There, he followed in his father's footsteps as he began to transform the Madiran region. Montus is the turning point though. When he acquired this noble estate, he began to create some of the boldest and most expressive Madirans to come from the region. Brumont considers these his ultimate expressions from the region. The 2012 Chateau Montus shows you what just a few years can do to develop and lengthen these wines. Filled with spices and leathery goodness, the Montus delivers depth and richness and some of the most velvety and plush tannins one could hope for in such a mouth-filler of a wine. Currants, graphite, smoked brisket, this wine is teeming with expressiveness. This is hearty wine that will please the most ardent fans of big Bordeaux and Cabernet offerings. A must buy for the collector and curious alike!

The nose of this wine drags you into the glass, you can feel the power it's almost like gravity sucking you in. On the palate the wine's tannic structure is surrounded by a thick, spicy, layer of unctuous fruit that softens and eases the tannin's punch. This is Cellar Selection and one can see why unless you're really into cold nights with lots of Cassoulet! Very solid wine, just a big boy