2018 Château Laffitte-Teston Madiran "Reflet du Terroir"

Madiran is Bordeaux's southern cousin whose rugged, spicy and powerful wines remain obstinately aloof to international fashions. The unsung Tannat grape is king here, engendering wines that can be so unwieldy that the nominal blending of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon could be said to "soften" the overall impression! 

Sumptuously rusticated, dustily fruited and delightfully gritty, there's some concern that this wine might accidentally use curse words when you bring it home to your mother... but along with everybody else, she'll ultimately be enchanted by its homespun confidence and genuine desire to make everyone happy.

To say that a wine shows best with food can be a bit of a cliché, but Madiran is the perfect example of one that really comes into its own with robust, indulgent fare — like either of the hearty, rib-sticking pasta dishes on offer this month.