Chateau-Siran Margaux 2020

The family story at Château Siran in Margaux started in the middle of the 18th century, when this estate, rich in biodiversity, with undeniable charm seduced Léo Barbier. The 17-hectares vineyard is positioned in a single block, in the heart of one of the Médoc’s greatest terroirs of Saint Julien. Léo Barbier, a Bordeaux wine merchant, recognized the qualities of this jewel. After it was acquired on 14 January 1859 from Jeanne-Adèle, Countess of Toulouse-Lautrec, he decided to develop and embellish the property. 

His two daughters married the brothers Paul and Alexandre Sollberg in 1866. But the two sons-in-law went bankrupt between 1883-85 and left in a hurry to live in Argentina. In 1885 the family called upon a nephew, Fréderic Miailhe, son of Elie Miailhe and Lovely Sollberg, to manage Siran with a Sollberg son-in-law, Marcel Mortier. Fréderic Miailhe, a wine broker, fell in love with Siran and devoted himself to it. So much so that in 1915, he bought back the shares of his Sollberg aunts.

Louis and Édouard, Fréderic’s sons succeeded him. Louis brought to Siran a passion for Petit Verdots and Merlot, which can be found in other properties that belonged to the Miailhe family such as Pichon Comtesse de Lalande or Palmer. After the death of Édouard Miailhe in 1959, the properties were distributed among his three children. Siran went to his son William-Alain. William-Alain Miailhe managed Siran from 1978 to 1988. He equipped the estate with modern winemaking tools and hired the first consultant oenologists, Émile Peynaud, Guy Guimberteau and then Jacques Boissenot. Brigitte Miailhe, his wife, succeeded him from 1988 to 2007. 

In 2007, their son, Édouard Miailhe, took over the reins of the estate. He has undertaken very important investments to restructure and modernize the vineyard, the vat room, the arrival of the harvest, the aging cellar, the tasting rooms, the shop and the cellar. These considerable efforts allow Siran today to fully assume its place as one of the assimilated Classified Growths of 1855.

Château Siran is an enticing blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, which reflects the identity of its terroir. The relatively high percentage of petit verdot brings a spicy note that reinforces the unique character of Siran's wines. Both powerful and elegant, Siran's wines always seek a balance between the softness of the tannins, the intensity of the fruit and a persistent freshness. Siran wines are known for their aging potential, even long aging that will delight the most patient. 

'For more than 160 years, my family has been striving to produce a wine of pleasure, a wine for sharing, which finds its perfect expression in this beautiful phrase from Stéphanie de Saint-Aubin, Countess of Genlis: "One can only enjoy well what one shares." ' - Édouard Miailhe

With regard to farming, the High Environmental Value (HVE) certification is a recognition of the biodiversity conservation work that has been carried out at the property for many years. It testifies to the teams’ long-term commitment to controlling Siran’s environmental impact. Château Siran is also involved in a VITINNOV collaborative research programme, carried out by the winegrowers who are members of the Margaux winegrowers’ union. The aim of this project is to revitalize the biodiversity of the fauna and flora of the Margaux area. In particular thanks to actions such as planting fallow land with endemic seeds, or replanting trees and hedges, or late mowing, thus favoring green corridors along the perimeters of the vineyards.  

 "A superb 2019 vintage, impressive in precision and density." Spared of frost, spared of hail, benefiting from a nice flowering in June, this vintage will have still had to face two heat waves, a first at the end of June and a second at the end of July with scorching temperatures, exceeding 40 degrees for a few days, tempered by cool nights. The saving rains in September allowed the grapes to reach good maturity. The wine is a great classic Médoc, rich in color and complexity, powerful and delicate at the same time, silky and soft as the great Margaux wines know how to be.