Château Montus 2020

Tasting notes and serving suggestions for Château Montus 2020

Tasting

Color

A deep purple hue with an almost black core, the color evolves toward ruby tones at the rim.

Nose

The nose reveals remarkable aromatic complexity with intense notes of wild blackberry and blackcurrant, joined by ripe plum. Hints of licorice, white pepper, tobacco, cocoa and garrigue herbs enrich the bouquet.

Palate

On the palate, the wine impresses with its dense, velvety texture. Powerful tannins show elegantly refined definition, supporting a concentrated core with flavors of dark fruits, stewed plum and black cherry. Nuances of cocoa, leather and slate-like minerality unfold progressively. A tangy freshness maintains balance despite the concentration. The finish lingers beautifully with impressive persistence.

Food and wine pairings

This Château Montus 2020 is a perfect match for aged red meats such as a rib steak or a grilled ribeye. It also pairs superbly with game in sauce, duck confit, Southwest cassoulet, or a wild boar stew. Dishes featuring noble mushrooms such as porcini, as well as aged cheeses, also make excellent pairings.

Serving and cellaring

Château Montus 2020 will benefit from being decanted for at least one hour before serving to fully reveal its aromas. Ideally serve between 15 and 17°C. This wine can be enjoyed from around 2027 and will continue to evolve until around 2035, or even beyond under optimal cellaring conditions.

A powerful, refined Madiran by Alain Brumont

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 elevates the nuances and identity of Tannat, the region’s signature grape variety, through high-quality wines whose reputation quickly spread beyond borders.

With their finesse, power and elegance, Château Montus wines are the pure and authentic expression of the finest terroirs of the Southwest. 

The vineyard

The Château Montus vineyard stretches across exceptionally steep hillsides, with slopes reaching 20 to 40%. These parcels benefit from ideal south and southwest exposure. The soil is characterized by a surface entirely covered with large reddish pebbles of Pyrenean origin resting on deep clays in yellow, orange and reddish hues. This free-draining, warm terroir enables optimal ripening of Tannat. Yields are deliberately limited to five or six bunches per vine. The vines, aged 30 to 40 years, are managed under sustainable viticulture and harvested exclusively by hand within the Madiran appellation.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage in the Southwest was marked by an exceptionally mild winter, the warmest recorded since 1900. Early spring was punctuated by frosts in early April, fortunately less devastating in Madiran than in other regions. Summer proved particularly hot and dry, with high temperatures in July and August creating moderate water stress that favored grape concentration. Disease pressure remained limited. Harvest began in mid-August, one to two weeks ahead of the usual schedule. The 2020 vintage is defined by excellent quality, with fine tannins, lovely natural acidity and remarkable fruit concentration.

Vinification and aging

Grapes for Château Montus 2020 are hand-harvested and sorted bunch by bunch. After a two-day cold soak, fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled wooden or stainless-steel vats at around 28°C. Maceration continues for three to six weeks to extract tannins and color in depth, with regular punch-downs. Malolactic fermentation is carried out partly in wooden vats. Total aging lasts 36 months: 12 months in barrels (50% new and 50% one- or two-wine barrels), followed by 24 months in 80-hectoliter oak foudres, allowing slow oxidation and harmonious integration of oak influence.

Grape varieties

Tannat (80%)
Cabernet Sauvignon (20%)