Situated in the heart of South West France, among the vineyards of the Madiran appellation, Château d?Aydie has been run by the Laplace family ever since its inception in 1930.

Originally the brainchild of Frederic Laplace, the vineyard produces wines using the unique Tannat grape variety, which is renowned for containing anti-cholesterol qualities.
While respected locally, it wasn?t until the 1960s that the estate began to attract the attention of a wider audience. Then Estate Manager, Pierre Laplace had a chance encounter with Andre Dauguin, whose restaurant in Auch was among the top restaurants in France in that period. Through his business relationship with Dauguin, Pierre was, over time, able to develop the reputation of Chateau d?Aydie.

These days the estate is controlled by Bernard and Jean-Luc Laplace, who oversee the winemaking and vinification processes, while Mary and Francois Laplace co-ordinate the business side of the estate, ensuring that the Domaine retains its wholesome, family atmosphere.

Chateau d?Aydie produce a style of Madiran that is meant to be more approachable when young, with riper fruit and less brutal tannins. They are regarded as one of the region?s premium producers. This Madiran is a pugnacious vin de terroir with flavours of dark cherries, figs and pepper, and is the perfect accompaniment to this month?s On the Menu.