Half Bottle: Chateau Haut Rian 2023, Bordeaux Blanc

Dry and fresh, with masses of fresh gooseberry fruit and a soft citrus acidity. Whilst the wine is fully dry it is packed with rich gooseberry flavour and has a wonderful fresh zesty acidity that balances the fruit, providing a ripe mouthfilling experience. This is a wine that makes a perfect aperitif, and happily accompanies creamy chicken and fish dishes.

This is a blend of 70% Semillon and 30% Sauvignon Blanc. It is pure and aromatically fresh on the nose leading on to a crisp palate with hints of citrus fruits and gooseberries. Ideal as an aperitif but would also go well with fish dishes. It is also classic in its fresh fruit driven style and the method of production, 'maceration peliculiere', where the grapes are held for a short time on their skins before crushing. This adds an extra level of flavour and structure to the wine, but has to be done with care so as not to add excess tannins and unbalance the wine. The fermentation is then long and slow to allow maximum aromatic development in the fruit.

The wine maker at Chateau Haut-Rian is the very skilled and experienced Michel Dietrich, who has degrees in winemaking from both Beaune and Bordeaux universities. He then spent time in the wine business in Australia before taking over this vineyard, and the wide range of skills and experiences show in the wine. The extra layers of fruit that is the New World trademark are evident here, but balanced with the traditional Bordeaux approach.