Domaine Berthoumieu Madiran Cuvee Charles de Batz 2018

	From tannat and cabernet sauvignon from over 50 year old vines
	Powerful and oak-matured, with notes of dark fruit and vanilla
	Excellent with confit de canard, leg of lamb or a local pate

Description
The southwestern wine region of Madiran still remains quite under the radar. And while beautiful, prestigious wines are made that rival Bordeaux in terms of strength and ripening potential, but not in price.

Take this beautiful wine from Domaine Berthoumieu, one of the references of the region. The Cuvée Charles de Batz pays tribute to the historical and literary character better known as the musketeer D'Artagnan – just like the wine from Gascony.

It is made from the local specialty tannat, supplemented with 10% cabernet sauvignon. The grapes are harvested from 50 to 100 year old vines, planted on soil rich in lime and clay. The wine matures for a year in (50% new) oak barrels.

The result is majestic. The wine has an intense dark red color, aromas of blackberries, cherries and vanilla, a powerful but polished taste and an endlessly persistent aftertaste. Great with confit de canard or tournedos, for example, and easy to store for years to come.

Drink with
Full-bodied, oak-matured red wine that impresses at the table, for example with leg of lamb from the oven, venison steak with roasted garlic, sage and celeriac or hard cheeses.

Tasting note
Deep ruby red wine with an intense scent of blueberry, plum, fig, vanilla and mocha. Mouth-filling and powerful with ripe black fruit, balanced acidity and firm, polished tannins. Impressively long finish with notes of beautiful oak and cocoa.

Shelf life
Now beautiful; easy to keep for up to 15 years after harvest date.