Alain Brumont, a visionary in Southwest France, has revitalized Madiran wines and the Tannat grape. His journey began in 1979 with the inheritance of Château Bouscassé, followed by the purchase of Château Montus in 1980. Through his dedication to the region’s terroir, Brumont transformed both estates into world-class status.
Madiran, one of France’s oldest grape-growing regions, is approximately 100 kilometers south of Bordeaux. There are three types of soil: chalky clay, red clay and galets, the same smooth stones that are found in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, except that Madiran’s galets are larger and redder than in the southern Rhône, and date back 45 million years. Convinced that a Grand Vin could emerge from this terroir, Alain Brumont dedicated 20 years to studying Madiran’s unique characteristics and the exceptional potential of its traditional grape, Tannat.
Château Montus, situated in the eastern part of the region at the foothills of the Pyrenees, features red clay and large round rocks. The combination of oceanic influence and cool winds from the mountains allows the grapes to ripen slowly and progressively, imparting Château Montus wines with deep structure, a rich aromatic profile, and a beautiful freshness.
Château Bouscassé, located in the western part of Madiran, benefits from iron-rich limestone clay and sharp rocks. The clay-limestone soils, paired with sunny exposure and the combined influences of oceanic and Pyrenean climates, create ideal conditions for grape ripening.
As Brumont describes, Château Bouscassé is most comparable to Right Bank Bordeaux, while Château Montus more closely resembles the Left Bank.
The Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc varieties used in the red wines express both power and finesse, while white grape varieties like Petit Courbu, Petit Manseng, and Gros Manseng flourish in this terroir, producing elegant and refreshing white wines.
The Best Terroir
In 1990, Alain Brumont discovered a 10-hectare slope located at the highest hillside of Madiran, 260 meters above sea level. Recognizing its exceptional potential, he acquired the land and planted Tannat. This remarkable terroir is the birthplace of the renowned cuvée “La Tyre.”
Brumont Method
Starting with 17 hectares, Brumont now owns over 350 hectares, with meticulous attention to detail. The vines are cultivated across three hills within the appellation, each separated by woods to protect them from contamination. The land is rich in ancestral plant life, and the vine rows are perfectly oriented to ensure the grapes receive 15 hours of sunlight each day. High-density planting of 7,000 vines per hectare allows for only four to five bunches per vine, with some plots yielding just one cluster, in order to achieve perfect ripeness.
In the cellar, fermentation occurs without pumping over, using only the free-run juice to ensure finesse and elegant tannins. Most of their cuvées is aged for a minimum of 30 months, first in barriques and then in 80-hectolitre foudres, with at least 50% of the barrels being new oak. This allows the Tannat to soften its tannins and fully express its potential. All wines undergo additional bottle ageing before being released to the market.
