Mad about Madiran
For those who are unable or unwilling to seek to seek therapy, blogging is a godsend. Antagonisms can be aired, repressed feelings can be expressed and phobias can be faced. Another benefit is that new ideas can be investigated and avenues can be explored to the point where the writer becomes better able to cope with the "real" world. Blogging isn't for everyone, of course, but it is free and worth trying before more expensive treatment is contemplated.
All that's got nothing to do with wine, but it's the kind of thing that a certain amount of wine leads one to type. The better the wine, the better the typing, and it's hard to find better than Madiran. For those wondering what this is all about, it might be worth taking a quick look at Saturday's post, The Wine Diet. What's happening is that Rainy Day has decided to head to the wine front, as it were, in an attempt to learn about grapes, food, geography, tannin, weather, tea and longevity. And lots of other things, too. The "wine diet" proper will start in spring, but steps are being undertaken now to prepare for the challenge.
The first step involved the consumption of a bottle of Château d'Aydie 2002, a red wine from the south west of France, which was done with the help of Ann and Terry, two seasoned wine enthusiasts who also happen to be patrons of this blog. And better companions for an adventure would be hard to find. Incidentally, Château d'Aydie was chosen at random, but it turned out to be one of those choices that is replete with symbolism because the estate of Domaine Laplace à Aydie is a family run business in the heart of Madiran that honours the region's taurine tradition and Rainy Day is a famed Taurus! So, there.
Anyway, for those who have never experienced wine of this kind, what follows are observations that might be useful if you're thinking of going down the same road. First of all, the alcohol content by volume is 14.5 percent, so we're talking "big" here. The second thing worth saying is that this wine is a masterpiece. Although a mere four years old, it already possesses enormous complexity.
The colour is ruby red, but as you turn the glass all kinds of hues emerge: black, crimson, blue velvet, violet... The bouquet ranges across the spectrum: vanilla, pepper, blackcurrant, smoke, blackberries, liquorice, cherries, cinnamon, prunes... From eye to nose, this is a pleasure, and then comes the palate: virile, rich, voluptuous, smooth, supple, elegant... The Tannat grape tannins are omnipresent but they do not overwhelm the wine's character. One can imagine how splendid this will taste when it's ten years old. As to appropriate food, you can't go wrong with lamb or strong cheese.
Next week's 100 percent Tannat Madiran wine here will be a Château Montus. Goes well, apparently, with roast loin of wild boar with chestnuts. Got the chestnuts, must find a wild boar now.
