Capmartin, Vieilles Vignes, Madiran

Nothing much to add to previous note, a very similar bottle. Perhaps with more emphasis on cocoa this time round (someone mentioned this is a fault? is it? I quite like it!) I'm an unashamed fan of Capmartin wines. A lovely wine to have with a garlic and parsley stuffed roast veal joint.

Dark, deep colour. Starting to lose a little of its fruit-forwardness (a hallmark of the earlier drinking Capmartin VV) it still shows some blackcurrant and raspberry with hints of spice, leather and wood. Nice and restrained, nothing overdone, a perfect dinner companion. I've never really aged a Vielle Vignes much before, so I have no idea what the future brings. Certainly its amongst a small minority of Madirans that are enjoyable young, so perhaps if you've got any left crack …

Full nose Floral and fruity with hints of pepper and spice. Initially smooth on the palatte with the expected dryness and tanic follow. Complex structure that softened as the bottle opened (after about 30 min, the nose began to disappear). Served with grilled duck on wild rice pilaf.