By Aris Sklavenitis, Sommelier

Château Montus Blanc 2015, Petit Manseng–Petit Courbu, Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh, France

Château Montus is located south of Bordeaux in the Madiran region, near the Pyrenees on the border with Spain. It is owned by Alain Brumont, who took over the family business of Château Bouscassé in 1979 and purchased Château Montus in 1980, with the first vintage released in 1982. The Madiran region is known for its remarkable, dense red wines with rich aromas and tannins, comparable to those of Bordeaux. The main grape variety in the area is Tannat—a variety widely planted in exotic Uruguay. Brumont had a particular passion for Tannat, dedicating one-third of his vineyards to it.

In this piece, however, we will explore the region’s lesser-known white wines. While the red wines carry the Madiran appellation, the whites and dessert wines fall under the Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh AOC, one of the oldest in the region. Château Montus Blanc is a blend of the grape varieties Petit Manseng and Petit Courbu. The origins of these two grapes trace back to the South of France (Petit Manseng) and to Spain—specifically the Basque Country—where Petit Courbu is known as Hondarrabi Zuri.

Château Montus Blanc is a wine beloved by discerning wine enthusiasts. It is released ready to drink but also has excellent aging potential. The vineyards are approximately 30 years old. Fermentation takes place in large 600-liter French oak barrels, which impart a balanced aromatic intensity, and the wine then ages in these barrels for about 14 to 15 months.

It shows a medium golden color with yellow highlights. On the nose, it presents intense aromas of ripe stone fruits like peach and apricot, citrus peel (orange, grapefruit, lime), and ripe green fruits such as apple and pear. There are also notes of dried white flowers, nuts, oak, and vanilla. On the palate, it is dry, with balanced acidity, high alcohol, full body, a rich texture, and a long fruity finish. This is a wine that can easily age for the next decade—a low-risk investment with exceptional “value for money.” A gastronomic wine with wide pairing potential, it could be enjoyed with black Iberian pork, sea bass fricassee, lamb rack with sautéed wild greens, grilled large oily fish, fish head cooked bianco-style, and much more.

Score: 18.5/20

20 – Truly exceptional
19 – Outstanding wine
18 – A wine of superior quality with particular depth
17 – A wine of superior quality
16 – A high-quality wine with aging potential
15 – A pleasant, fault-free wine suitable for consumption