Chateau Haut-Rian, 2008 Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux.

Château Haut-Rian is located in Rions, 30km S.E. from Bordeaux. During the last two centuries, Château Haut-Rian has expanded since Michel and Isabelle Dietrich took over the vineyard in 1988. Its represents now 80 hectares of vines.

Wine maker Michel Dietrich comes from a wine growers' Alsatian family. He graduated from school of Beaune and University of Oenology of Bordeaux. His wife Isabelle belongs to a family of wine growers from the Montagne de Reims, in Champagne. From 1981 to 1987, Michel worked in Australia as director and oenologist for Rémy Martin Vineyards.

The vines of Château Haut-Rian are spread throughout the best hillsides of Rions classified as "Appellation Côtes de Bordeaux". The slopes are all south to southeast facing on primarily limestone soils with gravel. The top of the slopes overlooks the Garonne valley. The red vineyard is planted whith 70 % Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet franc. The vineyard of white wines is planted with 35% of Sauvignon blanc and 65% Sémillon.

Thanks to an atypical development of his art and meticulous work, Michel Dietrich succeeds in creating wines with character. Red wines are matured during several months in oak barrels from the region of Allier. They give wines an incomparable complexity of fruity aromas and woody characteristic.

Tasting Notes: A Blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. The crimson colour comes from a 36 hours maceration. Nice balanced bouquet of autumn fruits with an ample and full-bodied mouth. Very tasty tannins contribute to the excellent length in mouth.