Peyros Madiran Vieilles Vignes 2018 750

The winery grounds at Chateau Peyros are the former home of a convent. If you were to climb up to the steeple of the nearby church and look around 360 degrees, you would be fortunate enough to take in a beautiful vista: gently sloping hills covered in greenery in the distance, and a lush expanse of green grass surrounding the estate. This tiny producer of Madiran embodies the rustic, old world side of the appellation, and their Vieilles Vignes showcases exactly why Bordeaux and Napa lovers alike should be drinking the wines from this little known area. The primary grape in Madiran is Tannat, famously noted for its thick skins and high concentration of antioxidants. The resultant wine shows what such skins can do: their Vieilles Vignes (old vines) is big, broad-shouldered, and burley, but it doesn’t sacrifice the classically French puckering acidity. Chewy, leathery, and robust, Madiran is not for the faint of heart, but its ample acidity and bone dry finish keep it nimble and approachable despite its formidable tannic backbone. Lovers of full-bodied reds – look no further than Madiran!