Château Montus XL 2016

Tasting characteristics and advice for Château Montus XL 2016

Tasting

Appearance

This 2016 vintage displays a deep ruby-red hue, almost black, with intense, bright purple highlights.

Nose

The bouquet reveals great aromatic complexity. It opens with powerful aromas of concentrated dark fruits, notably blackberry, blackcurrant and black plum, accompanied by nuances of black olive. As it aerates, the bouquet evolves toward spicy notes of pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg. Tertiary notes then emerge with elegance: bitter cocoa, velvety mocha, tanned leather, balsamic touches and tobacco aromas.

Palate

On the palate, Château Montus XL 2016 impresses with its power and concentration while retaining remarkable finesse. The attack is immediately present without aggression. The tannins, though rich and structuring, have a velvety, rounded texture resulting from extended aging. The palate reveals ripe-fruit aromas that blend harmoniously with notes of cocoa and vanilla. The underlying acidity brings a dynamic tension and a fine vertical lift to the whole. The finish stands out for its exceptional length, with cocoa and spicy aromas that linger long in retronasal perception.

Food and wine pairings

This wine pairs beautifully with hare à la royale, a grilled or roasted côte de bœuf, as well as game such as wild boar, venison or pheasant. Noble mushrooms such as porcini or truffles also make excellent accompaniments. For cheeses, opt for mature, well-developed varieties such as Ossau-Iraty or Salers. It also elevates regional dishes from the South-West such as duck confit or cassoulet.

Serving and cellaring

This Madiran is ideally enjoyed at a temperature between 16 and 18°C. Aeration in a decanter for one to two hours before serving allows the wine to fully reveal its aromatic qualities and soften its tannic structure. It has immense aging potential and can be cellared until around 2045. It is recommended to wait at least fifteen years before starting to drink it to fully appreciate its evolution.

An exceptional Madiran from the emblematic terroir of Château Montus

The estate

At the helm of Château Bouscassé, a family estate for several generations, Alain Brumont acquired Château Montus in 1980. A pioneer and visionary, Alain Brumont enhances the nuances and identity of tannat, the region’s grape variety, through wines of great quality whose renown quickly spreads beyond borders.

With their finesse, power and elegance, the wines of Château Montus are the pure and authentic expression of the greatest terroirs of the South-West. 

The vineyard

The Château Montus XL vineyard is located on the steep slopes of the Madiran appellation, with gradients of 20 to 40% and a south to south-west exposure. The terroir is made up of rounded pebbles set deep within red clay at a depth of three to five meters, providing excellent drainage and optimal root oxygenation. This distinctive soil structure promotes high ripeness levels and concentrates phenolic compounds in the berries. The vines are farmed under sustainable practices, with hand harvesting and rigorous bunch selection.

The vintage

The year 2016 was marked by particularly favorable weather conditions in the Pyrenean foothills. It began with a mild winter and a temperate spring that encouraged early vine growth. Summer, milder than average but defined by relative drought, slowed the vine’s development, resulting in gradual ripening. September rainfall brought the necessary moisture to complete grape maturation, allowing tannat to reach an optimal balance between sugar, acidity and ripe tannins, along with great concentration and fine freshness.

Winemaking and aging

Vinification takes place in stainless-steel tanks with precise temperature control. Skin maceration lasts between three and six weeks, allowing optimal extraction of polyphenolic and tannic compounds. Fermentation temperature is maintained at around 28°C. A regular punch-down system optimizes the interaction between the juice and the fermenting solids. Malolactic fermentation is carried out partially in wooden vats. The exceptional aging of this cuvée takes place on lees for forty months in new 600-liter barrels, an extraordinary duration that gives the wine remarkable complexity and depth. This extended aging practice allows controlled oxidation and progressive extraction of wood compounds, creating harmonious integration.

Grape variety

Tannat (100%).