1997 Chateau Montus Madiran Cuvee Prestige, 3-bottle Lot

Chateau Montus traces its history to the 18th century. It is in the southwest of France in the Madiran appellation. In 1980 it was bought by Alain Brumont, who also owns Chateau Bouscasse, La Roche Brumont and Chateau Segondine. Brumont comes from a winemaking family and worked with his father on the family’s small domaine as a teenager. Montus makes numerous cuvees of 100% Tannat and white blends of Petit Courbu and Petit Manseng. Brumont is often referred to as the driving force behind bringing Madiran wines out of obscurity. Robert M. Parker Jr. has written that “In the mid-seventies, I paid a visit to the rustic appellation of Madiran, several hours south of Bordeaux. I met proprietor Alain Brumont, but had no way of knowing at the time that he would emerge as the appellation's most energetic and quality-driven producer…(his) are unreal wines that are purely made, remarkably rich, and so complete and promising that they cannot be ignored.”