TN: 2004 Château Bouscassé Madiran Vieilles Vignes

2004 Château Bouscassé Madiran Vieilles Vignes - I don't see these wines that often in my market - a tad oddball, made from Tannat grape with may be closest to Petite Sirah in terms of presentation and taste. Made down near the Pyrenees, I was lucky enough to be able to visit the area some years ago. Rural, rustic and nice people glad to have people interested in their wines. This one was still very dark - a black/red, nose with hints of bitter dark chocolate and some espresso coffee and plummy fruit. In good shape and interesting. A wine to be respected even if not enjoyable for everyone. I liked it.

[Jenise]

I think it's easier to "respect" the wine when it's a sunk cost in your own cellar. Those of us with nothing at stake would probably hate it.

I think it's easier to "respect" the wine when it's a sunk cost in your own cellar. Those of us with nothing at stake would probably hate it.

It is obviously time for a Tannat tasting!

Tannats tend to be rustic rather than refined (just as quite a few durifs/ petite sirahs are). Both have lots of tannin and dark fruit. One can enjoy both. And my investment in a wine has no connection to my eventual assessment of them. I respect or disrespect wines the same whether they came from my cellar or elsewhere. I have often bought wine 'blind' based on reviews, even when I didn't intend to drink them for years - sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn't.

Bruce and I tasted some very young tannats in the Madiran - some were close to being barrel samples. I've tasted quite a lot of barrel samples of other styles, particularly Bordeaux (thanks to Bill Blatch, for a decade and more - sadly he died earlier this year). It is very interesting to taste wines as 'infants' and again when mature. They all have their attractions it is just that Tannat has a narrower scope than, say, cabernet.

[Jenise]

Then you're a better man than I. I like to think I'm objective but can't completely swear that I'm not occasionally kinder to something because I owned it, but at the same time I can go parental and be extra disappointed because I expected more.

I do remember the first Madiran I ever had, it was at the Gav. Not sure who brought it, but I was the one who guessed what it was--strictly based on what I'd read about the grape and knowing it didn't fit any other mould I was aware of. Didn't find it at all appealing.