Château Montus 2002, Madiran, Château Peyros 1999, Madiran, Domaine de Monte de Luz Tannat, Uruguay
Château Montus 2002, Madiran, 14.5%, €22.35:Alain Brumont reignited interest in Madiran wines in the early 1990s and this vintage of his basic cuvée is powerful, rich and classy. Its 80/20 Tannat/Cab Sauv blend is not for the faint-hearted, however. Le Caveau, Kilkenny; Handmade Wines, Lismore, Co Waterford; Dublin - Fallon & Byrne, Exchequer St; The Corkscrew, Chatham St; Celtic Whiskey Shop, Dawson St.
Château Peyros 1999, Madiran, 12.5%, €16.50:Peyros's 60/40 Tannat/Cabernet blend offers much the same muscular magic, with a few extra years under its belt, and considerably less alcohol. From: Mitchell & Son: Kildare St and Glasthule, Dublin.
Domaine de Monte de Luz Tannat, Uruguay, 13.5%, €11.50:(€9.95 in sale until February 25th). The only other major Tannat-growing region outside Madiran is Uruguay, where this medium-bodied wine is produced by the owner of Château Peyros, Jean-Jacques Lesgourgues. From: Mitchell & Son: Kildare St and Glasthule, Dublin.