Château Tirecul La Gravière - Cuvée Madame 2021
Since the 1990s, Château Tirecul La Gravière has established itself as one of the greatest names in Monbazillac, renowned for its exceptional mastery of noble rot and its meticulous approach to the vineyard. Located on the clay-limestone slopes of Colombier, the estate benefits from ideal conditions to produce deep and luminous sweet wines, thanks to the alternation between morning mists and sunny afternoons. The harvest, carried out entirely by hand through successive selections, aims to keep only the most botrytized and concentrated berries. This extreme requirement, combined with very low yields, quickly propelled Tirecul La Gravière to the rank of international references, sometimes compared to the greatest crus of Sauternes. In this quest for perfection, the Cuvée Madame represents the rarest and most ambitious expression of the estate. The 2021 vintage, produced in very limited quantity, fits within this line of wines with an opulent and vibrant style.
The 2021 Cuvée Madame is born from a drastic selection of Sémillon and Muscadelle uniformly affected by noble rot. The vintage, marked by a cool late season followed by a return of humidity favorable to botrytis, offered grapes of great aromatic purity and remarkable richness. The juices, obtained by slow and delicate pressing, ferment in barrels with a variable proportion of new wood, allowing the wine to develop depth, complexity, and texture. The extended aging refines the natural concentration, softens the spicy notes of the oak, and brings a noble richness that characterizes great age-worthy sweet wines. The estate’s iconic cuvée, Madame is only produced when conditions allow an expression of extraordinary intensity, and 2021 is a striking illustration. This rare wine, generous yet superbly balanced by a precise acidic framework, is destined for very long cellar aging.
On the palate, the 2021 Cuvée Madame shows a deep golden robe with amber highlights, announcing richness and concentration. The nose opens with a sumptuous bouquet of candied apricot, ripe mango, blood orange, forest honey, quince paste, and precious spices such as saffron. On the palate, the attack is broad and velvety, with a dense and enveloping texture that coats the palate without heaviness thanks to a chiseled acidity. The flavors evolve in layers, revealing in turn candied exotic fruits, orange zest, blond caramel, roasted mirabelle plum, and a touch of beeswax. The finish is endless, deep, blending sweetness, freshness, and a subtle salinity that balances the richness. This great sweet wine pairs wonderfully with pan-seared foie gras, poultry with morels, refined sweet and savory cuisine, aged Roquefort, old Comté, or a dessert based on apricot or exotic fruits. It can also be enjoyed alone, as a meditation wine, to fully appreciate its aromatic immensity.
Grape varieties: 80% Sémillon, 20% Muscadelle
