Château Montus - Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh 2020

Alain Brumont was already at the helm of Château Bouscassé, his family’s ancestral estate, when he purchased Montus at auction in 1979. In 1982, he planted the entire Montus hillside exclusively with Tannat! Aged entirely in new barrels, the wine is extraordinary. Forty years later, in 2018, he welcomed Antoine Veiry, the son of his wife Laurence, who took over as the estate’s technical director after working at Anselme Selosse, with Hervé Bizeul at Clos des Fées, at Les Carmes Haut-Brion, and at Guigal... Surrounded by a young and dynamic team, Antoine challenges and builds upon the legacy of the Brumont era, favoring longer vatting periods and gentler extractions, while preserving the wines’ profile and aging potential. Drawing on a vineyard in its prime (between 35 and 40 years old), he has redefined a modernized lineup. In just a few years, the results have been spectacular, and the third star—already widely anticipated last year—is a well-deserved recognition of a production that stands at the pinnacle not only of its appellation but of the entire region.

Intense and full-bodied, this dry wine offers aromas of ripe orange zest and spicy notes of white fruit. Made from Petit Courbu, one of the region’s rarest grape varieties, this wine offers lovely concentration, balanced by a pleasant acidity on the finish. Ready to drink now.

Complex and bold, the 2020 Montus Blanc Sec features pronounced notes of dried flowers, cedar, lemon zest, and spices. Full-bodied, concentrated, and assertive, this 2020 vintage offers a rich texture and great intensity, with a finish of beautiful depth. Delicious.

Made exclusively from Petit Courbu grapes grown on clay-limestone soils, the 2020 Château Montus Blanc features a medium golden color and a still-vibrant nose with aromas of exotic stone fruits, honeyed orange, brioche, nectarine, and chalky minerality. On the palate, it is rich, medium-bodied, round, and complex, with well-integrated acidity and a lovely finish. This elegant, balanced, and serious white wine is ideal for pairing with dinner and is already a delight to drink today, but I see no reason why it shouldn’t age beautifully until 2032.