2008 Domaine Labranche-Laffont Madiran

Community Tasting Notes (6) Avg Score: 88.8 points

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  7/16/2019 - Weinberg Falls Does not like this wine:

  I read a book lately which discussed the elements involved in tasting a wine. One of the more complex or obscure elements of taste is how the wine goes down - does your body ENJOY receiving this liquid? It's a difficult metric to describe, and something so subtle or subjective that I rarely see it being mentioned on here. This wine is a wonderful example of a drink that is almost defined by this element; a few minutes after drinking this, both my girlfriend and I felt awful!
  
  I know Madirans are rustic by nature, but swallowing this bitterly tannic and woody black liquid was tough going. Perhaps this was a bad bottle, but there were elements there that indicate that at some stage this could be a pleasant drink. There is a wonderful dark chocolate and plum nose, and, just before the tannins suck the life out of your tongue, a palette of blackcurrant, prunes and clove. I'm sceptical, however, that humanity will survive the period of ageing or decanting this wine would require to be anything other than utterly ropey.

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  5/8/2017 - Bro Likes this wine: 89 Points

  Je réitère mon appréciation de ce vin et de son excellent rapport qualité prix ... Achat à renouveler ...

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  5/6/2017 - Bro Likes this wine: 89 Points

  Robe d'un rouge violacé ... Nez sur le sous-bois, les épices et le bois ... Papilles sur le cèdre, les mûres et la réglisse ... Longue finale et bon rapport qualité prix ...

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  3/30/2013 - forceberry wrote: 89 Points

  Opaque black-red color that reminds me more of blackcurrant juice concentrate than anything vinous! The nose is quite rich and expressive with aromas of blackcurrants, some leather, a little ripe red fruit and integrated hints of vanilla and spicy oak character. On the palate the wine feels very fresh, youthful and concentrated with flavors of blackcurrant, dark cherry, black forest fruits and some tannic astringency with toasty hints of oak looming in the background. Acidity is quite modest here, but instead the tannins are very prominent, aggressive even, keeping the wine very tightly-knit, structured and dry-tasting. The astringent, tightly-wound finish is quite long with long-lingering flavors of toasted spicy oak, tannic bitterness, some bright minerality and hints of savory forest fruits.
  
  A classic, tannin-driven Madiran that feels very tight and structured despite its modest acidity. Probably not the best choice for a wine bar wine, because this feels still very primary and even with more bottle age, you'd need something hearty to go along with this. This is definitely stuff I'd leave in a cellar for a decade or more. Not recommended for people who are afraid of tannins. Very good value at 7€ for a 12 cl glass.

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  6/21/2011 - avp wrote:

  Raspberry to currant fruit on the open nose with a touch of oak spice.
  Medium bodied, tight and refreshing structured palate with bright fruit, oak spice and decent length.
  Very young traditional Madiran. Needs a few years to develop complexity.

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View all 6 Community Tasting Notes

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