CHÂTEAU HAUT-RIAN

A real jewel in our Bordeaux portfolio. Michel Dietrich is Alsatian by birth and a graduate of both Beaune and Bordeaux. He worked for 6 years in Australia prior to settling in Rions in the Premières Côtes. He has brought all of his winemaking heritage expertise and passion together to produce a superb range of wines.

Our visits each year to Michel and Isabelle are always during a relaxed evening. Michel’s wines and Isabelle’s delicious cooking are a delight after a hard day of tasting. Their daughter Pauline has now joined them. She is also an oenologue and will bring continuity and assurance for the future.

Their flagship wine is their stunning Bordeaux Blanc Sec made from 60% Sémillon and 40% Sauvignon Blanc. One third of the dry white blend is given a partial macération pelliculaire (a brief macération on the skins) and the juice is cold settled and racked and simply fermented at low temperature in stainless steel. The rosé is always a real success, vibrant and juicy. It is a blend of 25% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and receives one night’s maceration, and is then vinified as a white wine, with a cold fermentation. The red wine is a revelation, and we now have a worthy red to match their wonderful white wine – a mouthful of fresh red fruits! A really good House Claret.

A new addition is an organic red made from 7 hectares of old vines. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Gradually they will convert land to be cultivated organically. They are already certified as “Terra Vitis” since 2017 and Bee-friendly with HVE (Haute Valeur Environmentale) since 2018.

All the wines are delicious, including a lovely sweetie – Cadillac 2018.

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