The Wine Diet and Madiran wines

Over at www.spittoon.biz Andrew reported on the press coverage for a new book by Roger Corder The Wine Diet“ Ever since everyone has been trying to track down Madiran wines in the UK, especially from Chateau d’Aydie.
Many enquiries resulted in the response that these were “not easy wines to sell” which is true as they are little known and quite strong and complex, based on the tannic Tannat grape. But when well-made they can be stunningly rich and smooth – although undoubtedly best with rich food and sipped rather than glugged!
Eventually we discovered that The Wine Society has some stocks of Chateau d’Aydie 2003.
As good (if not better in my view) are the Madirans from Didier Barré at Domaine Berthoumieu, notably his Cuvée Charles de Batz – the only stockist we could find was Bertrand and Nicholas in Buckinghamshire. Also recommended would be the Madirans from Chateau Peyros stocked by Leon Stolarski Fine Wines

For more on Chateau d’Aydie see www.frenchduck.co.uk
For more on Domaine Berthoumieu see www.frenchduck.co.uk