Chateau Bouscasse Menhir 2007

cooked black cherry, black licorice, black cardamom, cedar, and earth

This wine is a project by our good friend Alain Brumont, who is something of a legend in his native Gascogne. The southwest of France is commonly known for its distillation of Armagnac and high-acid, low alcohol wines. However, this is not the whole story, and Alain has spent decades revitalizing properties in the Madiran region, home to the Tannat grape and some of France’s most complex and cellar-worthy reds. This weekend, we have the rare opportunity to try one of Alain’s wines at full maturity.

The “Menhir” is named for the standing stones that can be found in this region of France, relics of the country’s pre-Roman history. As the name would imply, this is an old and traditionally made red wine which has stood the test of time. A blend of equal parts Tannat and Merlot, this wine is harvested by hand and both ferments and matures in new French oak. When you open this wine, you will want to decant for up to half an hour. This wine does not need long to get going, and wears its age well with notes of cooked black cherry, black licorice, black cardamom, cedar, and earth. Drink now through 2025 with peppered salami and olives, duck cassoulet, or beef carpaccio.