Château Bouscassé : Vieilles Vignes 2020

Characteristics and tasting advice for the Vieilles Vignes 2020 from Château Bouscassé

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a deep red color with intense violet highlights.

Nose

The nose reveals aromas of black fruit (blackberry, blueberry, black cherry), accompanied by notes of roasted meat and sweet spices. Subtle nuances of oak, cigar box and mocha add an extra dimension to the overall expression.

Palate

On the palate, this wine is powerful and structured, with firm yet well-integrated tannins. The palate reveals a lovely concentration of black fruit, licorice and roasted coffee, supported by well-balanced freshness. The finish lingers at length.

Food and wine pairings

This wine pairs perfectly with duck breast, a bone-in rib steak or game dishes. It also matches beautifully with dark chocolate-based preparations or red fruit desserts.

Serving and cellaring

The Vieilles Vignes 2020 benefits from being decanted around 2 hours before serving. Ideally serve at a temperature of 17°C. This wine can be enjoyed through around 2040.

A powerful, structured Madiran signed Bouscassé

The estate

Established in 1980, Château Bouscassé is a family estate in Southwest France, at the foot of the Maumusson-Laguian cliff. The vineyard covers 50 hectares, including 17 hectares of old vines, on a remarkable clay-limestone terroir nicknamed “the Saint-Émilion hillside foothill”. The property belongs to the Brumont family; the current owner is Alain Brumont, who has been at the helm since 1978. A pioneer, he introduced aging in small barrels as early as 1979 and, in 1988, built the first underground cellar in Southwest France.

The vineyard

The vines for this cuvée are planted on an exceptional clay-limestone terroir within the Madiran appellation. Aged from fifty to one hundred years, these old vines benefit from deep root systems, allowing them to draw on the soil’s resources and produce grapes of remarkable concentration. This distinctive terroir gives the wines a pronounced tannic structure and outstanding aging potential.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage provided favorable conditions, enabling grapes to reach fine ripeness and remarkable balance, giving rise to concentrated and harmonious Southwest France wines.

Winemaking and aging

After the harvest, the grapes for Vieilles Vignes 2020 undergo maceration for three to six weeks at a controlled temperature of 28°C. The wine is then aged for fourteen to sixteen months in 100% new barrels, with malolactic fermentation carried out in casks. This long aging on lees helps refine the tannins and bring complexity and depth to the wine.

Grape varieties

Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc