Château Tirecul La Gravière - Cuvée Madame 1998
Château Tirecul La Gravière is an essential reference in Monbazillac, revealed to the world in the 1990s thanks to a rare level of demand and an incomparable reading of the clay-limestone terroirs of southern Bergerac. Located on hillsides benefiting from an ideal alternation of morning fogs and sunshine, the estate has mastered the art of noble rot with an almost obsessive precision. Yields are extremely low and the harvests are entirely manual, carried out through meticulous sorting to retain only the most concentrated botrytized berries. The property quickly established itself as one of the most prestigious sweet wine crus in France, to the point of rivaling some giants of Sauternes. The iconic cuvée of the estate, Cuvée Madame is only produced in vintages deemed truly exceptional. The 1998 is one of those blessed years when nature allowed the production of a nectar of extraordinary intensity and longevity.
The 1998 Cuvée Madame is made from fully botrytized grapes, harvested through several successive passes to maximize the concentration of sugar, aromas, and texture. The 1998 vintage, warm and particularly favorable to the development of homogeneous botrytis, allowed for exceptional richness while maintaining a lively acidity, essential for the balance of great sweet wines. After a very slow pressing, the musts ferment in barrels, often new or one-wine barrels, allowing the wood to gradually blend into the dense and profound matter. The long, patient aging refines the structure, enhances spicy nuances, and brings a noble patina while respecting the already extraordinary nature of the wine. The 1998 Cuvée Madame stands out for its phenomenal concentration, almost oily texture, and immense aging potential, today only at the dawn of its aromatic maturity. This rare wine, produced in tiny quantities, is one of the great legends of Monbazillac.
On tasting, the 1998 Cuvée Madame reveals a deep amber robe with coppery and honeyed reflections, a sign of noble and majestic evolution. The nose is sumptuous, with captivating intensity, blending candied apricot, dried mango, quince paste, orange marmalade, chestnut honey, saffron, beeswax, and a touch of gingerbread. On the palate, the attack is velvety, ample, almost liqueur-like, supported by a matter of exceptional density. The sugar, extremely concentrated, is perfectly balanced by a lively acidity that gives the wine impressive energy and length. The flavors unfold in successive layers, ranging from candied exotic fruits to soft spices, culminating in an endless finish evoking blond caramel, dried fig, and white truffle. At the table, this wine pairs magnificently with pan-seared foie gras, poultry with morels, a blue-veined cheese aged like Bleu d’Auvergne, an aged Comté, an apricot tart, or simply on its own, served slowly, for a meditative tasting worthy of the greatest sweet wines in the world.
Grape varieties: 80% Sémillon, 20% Muscadelle
