2006 Domaine Laffont Madiran Cuvee Hecate

Domaine Laffont is in Madiran, an appellation in southwest France west of Toulouse. The 9.5-acre domaine is owned by Pierre Speyer, a Belgian businessman with a taste for southwestern wines. He operates the estate himself with the help of one employee. His vineyards are planted on limestone and gravel and he farms organically, using no pesticides or chemicals and harvesting by hand. The French call this hands-off winemaking method biodynamic, or natural, and additional sugar, yeasts and sulfur dioxide are avoided during fermentation. Madiran is considered the region’s great area for red wines and Tannat is the most important local red grape. It is dark and tannic and often blended with Cabernet and other red grapes. Domaine Laffont’s Erigone is 80% Tannat from 45 year-old grapes and 20% Cabernet Franc.