Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

2001 Chateau Peyros, "Greenwich, 43N"; AOC Madiran
blueberries, redcurrants, dark plum, cranberry, rustic, cassis, something to put hairs on your chest, mushroom, herbs, leaves, hints of sous bois, tobacco, roses, violets, poised with nice complexity, dark spices (cardamom, etc), black pepper, rustic power but an elegance and soft structure make this very appealing. A touch of woodspice but I doubt this has seen much new wood unless perfectly integrated already. Earth, wet clay, a touch of salinity and even a slight peaty note. Nice length with more earth, minerals and black fruits, followed by tobacco, a touch of cedar and then the tannins leave the mouth a touch dry. Alcohol is held in check by some crisp acid which you only feel when it hits the sides of the tongue. Smoke! Actually some really good length the more air this gets. Whilst it can't compete with a first growth, it is certainly up there with some of the best Bordeaux can offer. Bramble, truffle, forest fruit, all wild and herby!  *****(*+) or [4.5+4+4.5+4.5=17.5/20]  

I like Madiran and Cahors wines a lot. But you don't see them much here.

Well the label makes me want to try it, anyway....

Someone on this side of the pond tells me it receives 20mnths in new oak.

Perfectly integrated and about €20 a bottle!

I really like Madiran and Cahors also but as Hound says they are hard to find. I buy them whenever I see them and still only have a case or so in the cellar. I just don't get it. With a lot of stores around here geting out of (or completely out of) the Bordeaux business, I would think these wines would show up more and more but even when I do see them, every store has the same one.

Maybe the critics just haven't given them enough air time.

Andy

Yeah Andy I think the rep is for tough, tannic wines (gee, a wine from France, tannic? This makes me wonder how French wines ever became popular in the first place). If the trend continues they will remain in France because us Americans like our Malbec the Argentinian/Parkerian style, soft, mouthfilling and warm, and our Tannat the Uruguayan/Parkeran way, that is to say soft, mouthfilling and warm. Soft, mouthfilling and warm, now that's character!