Overview
Located in the south of the Margaux appellation, on a plateau made up of gravelly outcrops, Château Siran possesses stunning terroir. Its 25 hectares in the Margaux appellation, 9 hectares in Bordeaux Supérieur and 2 hectares in Haut-Médoc are conducive to the production of delicate, fine and deliciously flavoursome wines. And it is to this end that Siran’s vineyard manager and cellar-master carry out their painstaking work throughout the seasons, bringing to the tables of wine enthusiasts, beginners and experts alike, the quintessence of our 36 hectare vineyard. Since 2013 the Château has re-opened its doors. Each visit is now an opportunity for us to help you get to know our heritage. From the terrace, with a panoramic view of the vineyard, to the heart of our new “Collections Cellar”, we are delighted to welcome you in a setting that combines the authentic with the modern.
History
On September 14th 1428, Guilhem de Siran swore a feudal oath in the church of Macau to the Abbot of Sainte-Croix de Bordeaux, to whom the parish was attached. At the end of the 17th century, the estate was already producing wine and was to enjoy a fine reputation in the 18th century, at a time when the Miailhe family settled in Bordeaux as wine brokers, a title granted to them by royal concession. It was in the 19th century, on the 14th January 1859 to be exact, that the Château was acquired by the actual family. Their ancestor, Léo Barbier, bought the estate for 100,000 francs from the Count and Countess de Toulouse-Lautrec, the grandparents of the famous painter, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Ever since that time, generations of the same family have succeeded each other in a spirit of respect for the family wine-growing tradition.
Vineyard
Some might say that luck was on the side of this vineyard, given its location a few miles north of Bordeaux on the famous Médoc peninsula and in the heart of the no less famous Margaux appellation. Its 25 hectares set in the Margaux appellation benefit from a terroir of amazing quality. Here, the soils are mainly made up of gravel and pebbles, which retain very little rainwater. The roots of the vines delve very deeply into the subsoil to find their nourishment, causing the vines to undergo the famous “water stress”, which is essential to the production of wines of truly great character.
Grape Varieties
The vineyard also has its own particular grape composition:
- 46% Merlot
- 40% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 13% Petit Verdot
- 1% Cabernet Franc
Vinification and Aging
Nowadays, precision work begins in the vineyard itself -“plot by plot”. Only when the grapes have reached optimal ripeness is the decision taken to start the harvesting. The bunches are picked by hand in small crates and meticulously sorted both before and after the de-stemming process, so that only the finest grapes go into the vats.
Though the wine-making remains traditional, the latest technology is carefully integrated to carry out a plot by plot vinification, to lavish even greater care on the grapes and to be able to extract the best from the fruit. This stage is followed by a period of ageing, which completes the wine-making process and enhances quality. This ageing is done in French oak barrels. Just the right degree of oak ageing is necessary for the balance of the wine’s tannins. Each generation at Siran has made every necessary effort to take this estate to the highest level.
The Wines
The grand vin is Château Siran, sourced from the Margaux vines with an average age of 31 years, and this goes into oak for 12-14 months with 35% new wood each vintage. The second wine S de Siran, also comes from the Margaux vines but these are younger, with a typical age of ten years. It too goes into oak for 12-14 months, but the proportion of new wood is naturally less, typically 15%. In addition, there are two other wines. First is the Bel Air de Siran, once produced from a few hectares of vines (70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot situated between Siran and Dauzac but entitled only to the Haut-Médoc appellation. Another is the Saint-Jacques de Siran, a Bordeaux Supérieur, which is sourced from 9.8 hectares entitled only to the Bordeaux Bordeaux Supérieur appellation. This vineyard is still characterised by sandy gravel, but with more clay, and the vines are 26 years old. It is fermented in steel, like its grander counterparts, and sees out 12 months in oak, including 15% new wood.
Chateau Siran Margaux
Winemaker Notes: “Produced from soils made up of a deep layer of gravel, the wines of Siran are typical of the great Margaux growths. Both powerful and delicate, they express the perfect balance between tannin, fruit and acidity. They are long-aging wines, which over time develop sweetness on the palate, giving a characteristic silky and velvety mouth-feel. Made from a subtle blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, Château Siran generally expresses finesse, femininity and silkiness rather than the raw power and virility of some Médoc wines. The high percentage of Petit Verdot, which can be as much as 15% of the final blend in some years, brings a spicy finish which enhances the unique character of the wines of Château Siran. Château Siran displays charm when young but is also a wine of very long aging potential. Wine enthusiasts particularly appreciate the complexity of its aromas that it develops over time.”
Proprietor: Famille Miailhe SCEA Château Siran
Managing Directors: Edouard & Brigitte Miailhe
AOC Margaux Area: 25 hectares
Soil: Deep gravel
Grape Varietals: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc
Average Age of the Vines: 31 years
Harvest: Hand picking into 60 liter crates
Vinification: Thermo-regulated stainless steel vats
Aging: 12 months in oak barrels, 35% new barrels
Annual Production: 90-95,000 bottles
S de Siran
Winemaker Notes: “S de Siran is the Second Wine of Château Siran, and is also from the Margaux appellation. It is sourced from the vineyard’s young plots and from a selection of the First Wine that varies according to the vintage. The average age of the vines is between 5 and 15 years and, depending on the vintage, the volume of S de Siran is 30 to 40% of the total volume of production of the estate’s Margaux appellation wine. The grape composition is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. This wine, which we look on as the little brother of the First Wine, is made with the same care and attention that the First Wine receives. It displays both charm and complexity and generally should be enjoyed within 5 to 7 years of age. Ideal drunk young and popular with numerous restaurants, it pairs well with white and red meats as well as with pasta dishes, pies and soufflés.”
Proprietor: Famille Miailhe SCEA Château Siran
Managing Directors: Edouard & Brigitte Miailhe
AOC Margaux Area: 25 hectares
Soil: Deep gravel
Grape Varietals: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc
Average Age of the Vines: 10 years
Harvest: Hand picking into 60 liter crates
Vinification: Thermo-regulated stainless steel vats
Aging: 12 months in oak barrels, 15% new barrels
Annual Production: 30-35,000 bottles
Saint-Jacques de Siran
AOC: Bordeaux Supérieur
Production Area: 9 hectares
Location: Sourced from plots belonging to the estate located on the border of the Margaux appellation.
Soil: Over the centuries, the alluvial soils coming from the Garonne River have covered over the gravel to make a soil which is now made up of clay. This complex terroir produces rich and well-structured wines.
Grape Varieties: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc, the proportions of which vary according to the vintages.
Average Age of the Vines: 26 years old
Annual Production: 25-30,000 bottles
Harvest: Hand picking in 60 liter crates and harvesting machine
Vinification: Traditional, in temperature-controlled vats. Maceration lasts 25 days.
Aging: In barrels for 10-12 months and tank with stave.
Serving Suggestion: This wine is best enjoyed within 4 to 5 years of its production. Its softness and complexity make Saint Jacques de Siran a popular choice among wine lovers.
Bel Air de Siran Haut-Médoc
Technical Team: Jean-Luc Chevalier and Marjolaine Defrance
Managing Team: Edouard Miailhe and Brigitte Miailhe
Overview: This vineyard has belonged to the Miailhe family for six generations. Carefully vinified by Siran’s team who mainly grow Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon to create a fine and elegant wine with a long finish.
Location: Produced from a few hectares of vines situated between Siran and Dauzac but entitled only to the Haut-Médoc appellation.
Appellation: Haut-Médoc
Production Area: 0.5 hectares
Soil: Terrace of deep sandy gravel soil.
Grape Varieties: Merlot 100%
Average Age of the Vines: 25 years old
Plant Density: 9,000 feet/hectare
Viticulture: Sustainable viticulture with chemical treatments except for the compulsory treatment for “flavescence dorée”. Soil ploughing; organic fertilization; ventilation of vegetation: manual trimming, leaf stripping and cluster thinning; voluntary crop limitation.
Pruning Method: Guyot double Bordelais with disbudding.
Harvest: Manual harvest in small crates with manual sorting on table. Intra-plot selection.
Vinification: Fermentation in stainless steel vats. Pumping over and releasing depending on the batches. Vatting period of 18 to 24 days.
Aging: 12 months with French new oak wood.