Big, spicy, and with lively tannins, firm and chewy in the mouth, a delight with meaty fare. Tannat is the primary grape here, making up 60% of this blend with equal parts of the 2 Cabs, Franc and Sauv. A short 2 week maceration on the skins, then aging in concrete tanks, makes for a less tannic wine than the traditional Madiran, but a long lees aging gives this wine a nice texture. Bright and fresh but full and tannic is a tough balance to strike, but Petit Torus does that admirably.

Red Blend – Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc./ ABV 13.5%