Longevity and Old world wines?

Question

Can anyone suggest a wine that is high in the antioxident polyphenol, Madiran wine from southwest France is suppose to be the best, can it be bought at a local liquor store or is it a special order item ? I would like to have a glass with my evening meal but not if it is going to cost me an arm and a leg, your great advice would be much appreciated as to where this item could be purchased and cost, any brand names would help too. Thank you ever so much.

Answer 1

Chateau Bouscasse from Madiran is a well made, affordable wine. This is the entry level wine from that estate, but if you want to splurge they also have a Vieilles Vignes bottling (old vines).

Chateau Montus is also a consistent perfomer. The 2001 was #72 on Wine Spectator magazine's top 100 list in 2004.

This wine, due to it high tannin content, tends to be a bit tough in youth. It would be helpful to decant it for at least an hour before serving or let it age for 1-2 years.

The grape variety used in Madiran for the red wines is called Tannat. This variety happens to produce wines high in tannin. If you find the Bouscasse a bit too tannic for the average evening meal, your local wine merchant may recommend other examples from the Madiran region that are perhaps made in a softer style. Also, the tannat grape is grown in Argentina as well, so you could try a "new world" example at an affordable price.

Cheers!

Addendum:
I think that Old Bob's answer below is not quite correct.
a) Madiran wines should be widely available from most wine retailers, and at a range of prices.
b) Tannat is the primary red grape in the Madiran appellation. Wines from that region must contain a minimum of 40% Tannat. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc may be used in the blend, which would render the wine softer and less ferociously tannic than wines which are primarily made from Tannat.
c) Chilean wines are great, but not quite what the asker is looking for in a wine that perhaps contains more antioxidants than other reds.

Answer 2

Madiran -- made in a small region in the southwest corner of France from Cabernet Sauvignon -- is not that expensive, but is very hard to find in any but highly specialized wine shops.
As or more effective in anti-oxidants: Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon or Carmenere. Most are very reasonably priced. Look for one with a stated alcohol in the 13 per cent range to get full ripeness, and look for one with a Maipo or Rapel appellation to get good character.