Madiran Charles de Batz 2019 Domaine Berthoumieu

The Madiran Charles de Batz 2019 from Domaine Berthoumieu is the flagship cuvée of this historic estate founded in the 1850s at Viella, in the heart of d'Artagnan country. This wine marries power with elegance, offering generous fruit supported by tightly woven tannins. Scored 94/100 by Wine Enthusiast for the 2018 vintage, this wine for serious ageing bears the name of Charles de Batz Castelmore d'Artagnan, the legendary Gascon musketeer under Louis XIV who inspired Alexandre Dumas's most famous character. A tribute cast in Tannat: powerful, concentrated, profound and absolutely resolute.

Terroir and vineyard

Domaine Berthoumieu sits at the heart of the homeland of Louis XIV's famous Musketeers, on the commune of Viella in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques. The Madiran appellation nestles in the hills of Vic-Bilh, those Gascon heights overlooking the Adour, blessed with a warm microclimate of Atlantic character where the river acts as a natural barrier against northern and western rainfall. This exceptional clay and stony terroir, where vines over 50 years old thrive, is precisely the source of the power, concentration and aromatic complexity that define Charles de Batz's greatness. The blend comprises 90% Tannat and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Tannat, the native red grape of Gascon South-West France, ranks among the richest in tannins and polyphenols in French viticulture: prized for its remarkable antioxidant properties, it produces wines of a power, longevity and depth that few other varieties can match. Fermentation takes place with 30 days of maceration in 50 to 80 hectolitre vats with manual punch-downs. Ageing lasts 18 months in oak barrels, 50% new and 50% one wine old. Since 2020, the estate has undertaken conversion of the entire vineyard to organic farming.

Tasting profile

The robe is dark red, almost black, with a density and opacity that immediately signal the wine's power and concentration. The nose is remarkably rich and complex: notes of spice mingled with elderberry, blackberries and plums open with a depth and intensity typical of Madiran, accompanied by touches of mint, dark chocolate and well-integrated oak. Generous dark fruits shine through the tannins and ageing, lending a sumptuous character to this concentrated wine. On the palate, the power is immediate and gripping: a generous, well-nourished flesh carried by finely-textured tannins of tight grain, born from the long maceration and barrel ageing. Natural acidity brings tension and length to a concentrated, profound mouthfeel. The finish is long, persistent and remarkably complex. A serious wine for ageing, ready to drink from 2025 onwards and built for the next fifteen years.

The domaine

Domaine Berthoumieu was founded in the 1850s by Virgile Dutour on the commune of Viella. Across its 25 hectares, this property produces ambitious wines that always marry personality, identity and balance. Didier Barré ranks among the very finest producers of Madiran according to those who know the appellation best: his wines are genuine expressions of terroir, without compromise, developing at their own pace with natural majesty. Since 2020, the estate has begun converting the entire vineyard to organic farming.

Food pairings

This Madiran Charles de Batz pairs beautifully with long-simmered Gascon cassoulet, grilled ribeye with wild mushrooms, herb-crusted lamb cutlets, duck confit with Sarladaise apples, wild boar civet with forest berries, or aged cheese such as Ossau-Iraty. A minimum two-hour decant is essential in its youth. Served between 15 and 17°C, it will reveal all the tannic power, fruity generosity and absolute nobility of Gascon Tannat at its finest.