After our wonderful time in San Sebastian in the Spanish Basque Country we headed over towards Biarritz in France. It so easy to travel between countries in the European Union now with no passport or border control. We drove toward Peau on an almost empty E80 (French Interstate/Autobahn), then turned north towards Aire-sur-l'Adour..our destination was the small town of Madiran, and nearby Chateau Peyros, a small country Chateau which is own by the Lesgourgues Family (also owners of Chateau Haut-Selve in Graves, Bordeaux and Chateau Laubade in Armagnac). Driving through the country side we saw lush vineyards where the little known grape variety "Tannat" is grown. |
| Here I am with Corbere Abereres |
Mr. Corbere Aberes, the care taker of Chateau Peyros greeted us in French and was ready to give a a tour of the Estate.Laura Camino and Emma De Villiers, two young French university students who had summer jobs helping out in the vineyards accompanied us translators.
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The 20 hectares (approx 60 acres) of vines are cultivated through sustainable agriculture. The organic contribution is natural manure produced by a herd of 300 ewes (sheep) that walk around the vineyard from October until May.
Touring the Estate we saw Artwork here and there - a trait of the Lesgourgues Family - they are huge supporters of the Arts.
We had the opportunity to taste some of their new vintage of Greenwhich 43.N which is only made when they have on outstanding vintage. It is a blend of 95% Tannat and 5% Cabernet Franc....even after undergoing malolactic fermentation, this young beast was beautiful - tight with huge tannins...so it's probably best to lay down for several years to come.
You don't have to wait - At Free Market Wine Group we carry a Tannat-Cab-Franc Blend which is already in the market in Indiana.
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| please note the drain in the sink |
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| Tasting the Greenwich Tannat of with Claude evaluating my response |
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| Patty and I outside the Old Chateau |
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