Madiran
Oceanic, with Pyrenean influence
The Pyrenean-foothill home of Tannat, whose very tannic, deeply coloured wines were the reason micro-oxygenation was developed.
Overview
About Madiran
Madiran lies on hills near the Pyrenees, in the south of Gascony, and Tannat is the main grape, at least 40% of the blend and often much more, together with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Fer Servadou. Its wines were once so hard that growers worked out ways to soften them, and Patrick Ducournau's development of micro-oxygenation here has since been copied around the world.
The same hills make Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh, a dry or sweet white wine from Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng and Arrufiac.
Madiran is marked on the map.
France
Shaded: Gers, Hautes-Pyrénées, Pyrénées-Atlantiques. Map units are states, provinces or départements, so a smaller place appears as the larger area that contains it.
The land
Climate & terroir
Climate
Oceanic, with Pyrenean influence
A mild, fairly wet Atlantic climate, with warm, dry autumns and warm winds from the Pyrenees that help late-ripening Tannat.
Terroir & soils
What the vines grow in
Clay and limestone slopes with a covering of pebbles, on rounded hills.
Go deeper
Rules, years & producers
Alain Brumont (Château Montus, Bouscassé)
The estate that made Madiran's modern name for powerful Tannat.
Château d'Aydie
A family estate with old vines.
Domaine Berthoumieu
A family estate for both Madiran and Pacherenc.
Plaimont
A large cooperative group across the area.
What's grown here
Grapes
Each grape's page links back here.