Domaine Damiens - great organic Madiran wines

At the foot of the Pyrenees, on the rolling hillsides that outline the historic Madiran area, Domaine Damiens embodies a demanding, deeply rooted vision of Southwestern wine. Here, the vineyard seeks neither immediate seduction nor ease, but is part of a patient reading of the terroir, faithful to the Gascon soul of tannat, the appellation's king grape variety, while knowing how to reveal a modern, readable and balanced expression of it.

The estate is today led by Rémi Damiens, a precise and committed winemaker, who has managed to evolve the family heritage towards viticulture that respects the living world and finer winemaking, without ever denying the structure and depth that make Madiran so distinctive. The vineyard covers around 15 hectares, divided between Madiran and Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh, on south and south-west facing slopes, benefiting from generous sunshine and natural ventilation from the Pyrenees.

A hillside terroir, between clay, pebbles and Pyrenean influences

The Domaine Damiens terroir is based on a mosaic of typical Madiran soils, blending deep clays, rolled pebbles, wild sand and limestone subsoils, which give the wines their power but also their ability to retain freshness and length. These soils, which are often demanding, encourage deep vine rooting, an essential condition for tempering the natural vigor of tannat and giving it a more nuanced expression.

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The climate plays a decisive role. Oceanic influences bring a certain mildness, while the proximity of the Pyrenees allows for marked thermal amplitudes, favorable to the preservation of acidity and aromatic complexity. This combination enables Domaine Damiens to produce wines that are structured but never heavy, capable of evolving slowly and harmoniously over time.

A committed viticulture, focused on natural balance

Vineyard work at Domaine Damiens is based on a reasoned approach that is increasingly close to the principles of organic farming. Soils are worked mechanically to limit the use of herbicides, encourage microbial life and allow the vines to draw their resources from deep within the soil. Yields are kept under control, sometimes naturally low, resulting in concentrated yet well-balanced grapes.

The harvest is carried out at optimum ripeness, with particular attention paid to the phenolic ripeness of the tannat, an essential condition for obtaining ripe, silky, integrated tannins. Sorting is rigorous, in order to retain only healthy berries, capable of faithfully translating the character of the vintage and terroir.

Vinification and ageing: taming tannat without travesty

In the cellar, the philosophy is clear: accompany the grape without constraining it. Fermentations take place in vats, with precise temperature control to preserve the fruit and avoid excessive extraction. Maceration is long but measured, allowing us to extract the substance and structure specific to tannat while retaining finesse.

Maturation is carried out in vats, with precise temperature control to preserve the fruit and avoid excessive extraction.

Maturation is adapted to each cuvée, in vats or barrels, with the use of wood always reasoned. Oak is never a dominant aromatic marker, but a tool at the service of balance, bringing depth and a patina to the tannins. The wines thus gain in complexity without losing their identity.

The wines of Domaine Damiens: Madiran in its truest reading

Cuvée "Aramis" - Tannat in its straightforward, accessible version

The Aramis cuvée is undoubtedly the estate's most emblematic. It offers a straightforward, readable reading of tannat, uncompromising but with a real quest for balance. The nose opens with aromas of ripe black fruit, blackberry, blackcurrant and plum, complemented by spicy and slightly licorice notes. On the palate, the structure is assertive but controlled, with present, ripe tannins and a freshness that stretches the wine to a persistent finish. This is a Madiran of character, ideal for accompanying red meats, duck breast or traditional Gascon cuisine.

Madiran cuvée Saint-Jean - The depth and nobility of terroir

From older plots, Madiran Cuvée Saint-jean expresses a deeper, more complex dimension of tannat. The bouquet is intense, blending candied black fruits, cocoa, sweet spices and a touch of undergrowth. The palate is full-bodied and structured, with a tight but elegant tannic structure that promises good ageing potential. Over time, the wine develops tertiary notes of fine leather and truffle, revealing all the nobility of the grape variety and terroir. It naturally finds its place with simmered dishes, a civet or grilled prime rib.

Madiran Tradition - The balance between power and drinkability

This cuvée offers a more immediate interpretation of the appellation, while retaining the estate's serious signature. The nose is expressive, with red and black fruits and a touch of pepper. On the palate, the attack is supple, the structure well-defined, and the finish fresh. This is a wine that can be enjoyed younger, without giving up Madiran's identity, and goes perfectly with simple, generous cuisine.

Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh Sec - The freshness of whites from the Pyrenean piedmont

The Domaine Damiens also signs a Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh sec, made mainly from gros manseng and petit manseng. The nose reveals aromas of citrus, white-fleshed fruit and flowers, with a mineral touch. The palate is lively and taut, supported by a natural acidity that brings freshness and length. This white wine is an ideal accompaniment to fish, seafood or ewe's milk cheeses, emblematic of the region.

A coherent, sincere vision of Madiran

The Domaine Damiens is part of this generation of winemakers who are giving Madiran back its letters of nobility, not by trying to mask the power of tannat, but by channeling it, refining it, making it legible and digestible. The estate's wines are deeply rooted in their terroir, faithful to their origins, and capable of appealing both to lovers of wines with character and those seeking more balanced expressions of the Southwest.

The Domaine Damiens thus embodies an honest and rigorous vision of Madiran, where the strength of the grape variety is expressed with uprightness, precision and respect for time.