Domaine Berthomieu is a small domaine (26 hectares) in the village of Viella, in the north of the Madiran appellation (32 Gers,Occitanie) . The domaine has been in the family since 1850 and Didier Barré is the 6th generation to own and run the domaine. Didier is a real enthusiast, passionate about his wines and respectful of the traditional character of the wine. We are proud to feature his wines which offer tremendous character and style, some of the best in the appellation.
The domaine has two different plots – one on a pebbly, clay plateau to the west of the village facing south towards the Pyrenees, and the other a gravelly slope facing south east to the east of the village.
Many of the vines on the estate are between 40 and 100 years old. These older vines yield fewer grapes, but their long roots will extract more mineral character and trace elements.
The domaine also produces some fine white wines – Pacherenc du Vic Bilh AC – sweet and dry. Both wines are made from very old vines (over 50 years old) and are delicately oaked, using local grape varieties such as Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng and Petit Courbu.
Madiran AC Domaine Berthoumieu Cuvée Charles de Batz 2004
GOLD MEDAL + TANNAT TROPHY + GREAT VALUE AWARD in the INTERNATIONAL WINE CHALLENGE .
Madiran can be a bit tough when young, but this top cuvée made from older vines (more than 50 years old) with 90% Tannat and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in new oak barrels is rich and smooth – with tannins which are gentle and generous. Intensely inky black colour, fat and generous tannins, spicy with hints of elderberry, plums and cocoa and tobacco.
“In this Tannat-dominated blend, the typically chunky tannins are interwoven with flavours and scents of black damsons, flowers, blueberries and creosote! Round, textured and concentrated with a long finish”. Don’t be put off by the “creosote” mention – it is the pure fruit concentration and mellow tannins which make this a real blockbuster, and although it is clearly a “BIG” wine, it is gentle with your mouth and tastebuds.
And to top it all – this wine also gets a GOOD VALUE RED award.
Charles de Batz was the real soldier who was immortalised as d’Artagnan – one of the Three Musketeers of Alexandre Dumas’ novels. This area was the home of the musketeers under the reign of Louis XIV.
The domaine is in Viella (32 Gers,Occitanie) near Aire sur l’Adour
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