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Château Haut Barrail is a vineyard paradise in the heart of the Médoc.
The history of the estate
Château Haut Barrail was built in 1362. The Gillet family took over the vineyard in 1987 and completely restored the estate before signing its very first vintage in 1995. Prior to this acquisition, the family already owned Vieux Château Landon. After the retirement of his parents, Cyril Gillet became the owner of the estate, and has remained so to this day. In 2012, he sold Vieux Château Landon to a Chinese investor… a financial transaction that enabled him to make a number of improvements to his facilities.
The estate covers 15 hectares, with a further 2 hectares reserved entirely for fallow deer and Sika stags. This specificity illustrates the attachment of the owners to the preservation of nature and local animal species.
Château Haut Barrail is located in the commune of Bégadan, just 20 minutes from the Atlantic Ocean and 45 minutes from Bordeaux.
Terroir and vineyard characteristics
Located on a clay-limestone soil typical of this Médoc region, Château Haut Barrail produces Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, taking full advantage of the surrounding oceanic climate. Thanks to this favorable environment, the Château and its estate are particularly spared the harsh winters that characterize the region.
The estate is made up of vines whose average age is around thirty years. And in terms of production, no less than a dozen wine ranges are produced here.
In order to rank among the finest Médoc wines, the wine produced on the estate undergoes a slow vinification process. After fermentation, the wines are aged in new oak barrels.
Estate wines
Among the cuvées produced by Château Haut Barrail is the famous Cru Bourgeois. The wine is 65% Merlot, aged in barrels for 12 months. This wine is endowed with very fine tannins and red fruit aromas.
Another wine worthy of special attention by connoisseurs of fine wines, Tourelle du Barrail is 50% Merlot. It is aged in shavings. This aging technique, which involves adding wood shavings during and after fermentation, gives the wine a little extra aroma compared to other tank-aged wines.
Photos : Château Haut Barrail
