© 2003-2011 I.Litwar
Nairac situated in Barsac is owned by Nicole Heeter-Tari and her children. There are 17 ha of vines planted with 90% Semillon, 6% Sauvignon Blanc and 4% Muscadelle. Nicolas Tari-Heeter has taken over winemaking from his mother in 1993, he is a very gifted winemaker and is assisted by his sister Eloîse. It's been very clear impression from tasting recent vintages, that Nairac's quality is getting higher and higher. Nairac is heavier than other Barsacs, evolves slowly and needs 4-5 years to really shine. Nicole Tari-Heeter is a very passionate and kind wine personality, who'll make your visit to Nairac a very friendly and exciting one. This property hasn’t really put a foot wrong since 2001 vintage and is making great strides to reach top 5 wines of the district, thanks to its extremely gifted winemaker, Nicolas Heeter -Tari.
Botrytis cinerea alias noble rot in full flavor at Nairac in September 2003. Please look at the "boiling" grape down in the right corner of the picture!
Fog is neccesary for Botrytis cinerea's noble work - Nairac in September 2004
Harvest 2009 in October at Nairac
Close-up of botrytis at Nairac - September 2011
Excellent botrytised grapes at Nairac in September 2011
Nairac 2010 (barrel sample) 95p
Tasted in April 2011. It offered a big range of botrytised flavors like grapefruit, lemon peel, pineapple and pear. Distinguished and long on the palate with great sweetness, acidity and graceful aftertaste. Very precise and thoughtful winemaking. Maybe I'm giving too conservative rating here. Exquisite effort.
Tasted five times - last time in September 2011. Consistent notes. Very aromatic, sweet pineapple, apricot, honey melon, excellent support of acidity to intense and luscious fruit, long and hoyened aftertaste, great complexity and style. Sophisticated and refined. Fabulous stuff.
Nairac 2008 94p
Tasted six times - last time in September 2011. Consistent notes. Extremely low yield because of frost in April 2008, which destroyed more than 50% of buds meaning heavy loss of grapes. It was very grapefruity on the nose, intense deep, with fine acidity and structure, botrytised flavours of honey melon and apricot. Long on the palate with graceful aftertaste. Very precise and thoughtful winemaking. Terrific effort.
Nairac 2007 96p
Tasted seven times- last time in September 2011. Consistent notes.This wine showed big, big nose of intermixing flavors of grapefruit, apple, orange peel and pear. Full-bodied, great depth on the palate and full of freshness. Splendid acidity and beautiful balance. Rich and refined. Smooth and long finish. Fabulous stuff!
Nairac 2006 93p
Tasted seven times - last time in September 2011. Consistent notes. Grapefruity, acacia flower, fine botrytised flavours of peach, apricot and honey melon on the palate. Splendid balance and lot of finesse. Honeyed aftertaste. Just splendid!
Nairac 2005 97p
Tasted eight times - last time in April 2011. Consistent notes. It displayed wonderfully scented and intense botrytis flavours, freshness, beautiful partnership between acidity and splendid sweetness of fruit, enchanting fragrance of acacia flower, sophisticated touch and long lingering aftertaste. Fabulous richness! This is a sublime and breathtaking effort. Nicolas Heeter-Tari thinks this vintage is better than 2001 at Nairac and that it will compete with 2003. I agree! In April 2011, it was more concentrated and had more length than 2007.
Nairac 2004 92p
2004 harvest started on the 30th September and finished on 16th November. 1st tri lasted from 39th September to 7th October, 2nd tri from 11th to 14th October resulting in whole 38 barrels and 22% potential alcohol, 3rd tri between 25th and 27th October (won't be included in Nairac - rain affected grapes), 4th tri between 8th and 10th November, and finally 5th tri between 15th and 16th Novenber. The latter tri was magnificent and rich, resulting in whole 24% potential alcohol. True "vendange tardive"! Tasted six times - last time in September 2011. Consistent notes. Nuts and grilled flavours (reduction), very elegant, splendid balance, stylish and rich wine. Smooth and long aftertaste. A real charmeur wine with 9.5% residual sugar. Good for laying down for 10-15 years.
Nairac 2003 97+p*
The yield per ha here was only 7 hl and remaining sugar in the wine ended at the astonishingly unbelievable level of 12.7%! Tasted four times - last time in April 2009. Consistent notes. Light golden with incredibly pure and intense botrytis, really extravagant fruit-sweetness and richness, fatness and exquisite structure. Incredibly pure style in this wine, which is fabulously constructed. Undoubtely the best vintage for Nairac since the sensational 1997 vintage. When tasted in October 2007, it still amazed me and I upgraded it from 96+p to 97+p. This wine had not only extravagantly high level of botrytis but expressed also incredible balance between its immense sweetness and corresponding acidity. In April 2009, it still was that sensational. Nairac 2003 is together with Climens 2003, de Fargues and dYquem the best wines of the vintage. In April 2011, I felt this wine still was something special, with extravagant style and immense level of sweetness and acidity. Fantastic effort!!
Simply a revelation!
Nairac 2002 92p
Tasted four times - last time in April 2009. Consistent notes. It certainly did put on weight when in bottle. Fresh apples, pear, splendid acidity, nice intensity of botrytised flavours, fresh on the palate, smooth and subtle. Delicate effort!
Nairac 2001 98p
Tasted twice - last time in April 2011. Not consistent notes. "This is a heavy style of Barsac. Thick, dense and sugary botrytis. Complex and and very long on the palate. Multi layered and very stylish, but not showing all the goodies at the moment." - this was my TNs from July 2004. Tasted nearly 7 years later in April 2011, this wine was simply sensational and a proof what ageing of wine can bring forward. It had astonishing level of purity, botrytised flavors of acacia honey, candied orange peel, créme brulée/caramel and honey melon, astonishing richness, acidity, sweetness and length. Heavenly stuff. Vast increase of 4 points in my rating (from 94 to 98p), but truly deserved!
Nairac 2000 0p
Tari family didn't find this vintage worthy of Nairac's status and did therefore declassify whole production.
Nairac 1999 90p
Tasted in September 2003. Spicy, well-defined botrytis again, mango and orange with scent of acacia honey, harmonious and tasty. This wine makes you fell very happy. Really well-made and splendid quality. Keep it until 2014.
Nairac 1998 90p
Tasted in September 2003. Strong, splendi d botrytis, toffee and brown sugar, long and well-structured. Already a delightful glass of wine. 90p.
Nairac 1997 96p
Tasted twice - last time in September 2004. Very tiny yield of 5 hl/ha! This one is a real beauty! Fabulous botrytis, exceptional sweetness and corresponding acidity. Incredibly sophisticated, rich and complex. Best vintage for Nairac ever?! I agree with Jean-Marc Quarin - this wine is simply unforgetable. 96p.
Nairac 1996 92p
Tasted three times - last time in September 2004. Orange peel, very spicy fruit (mango and peach), finesse, splendid structure and long aftertaste. Simply delicious. Has improved significantly since being tasted in 2002. 10-15 years more.
Nairac 1995 90p
Tasted twice - last time in September 2004. Consistent notes. Fine botrytis, delicate and in fine harmony with acidity. Very gracious and elegant, round and delightfully tasty. Give it 10 years more.
Nairac 1994 88p
Tasted twice - last time in September 2004. Consistent notes. Fine botrytis, quite light but also elegant, very charming, round and tasty. Really good for the vintage and a pleasure to drink now.
Nairac 1993 84p
Tasted in September 2003. Quite light, fragile and with weak botrytis. Round, pleasant wine, which is quickly on way down.
Nairac 1992 88p
Tasted in September 2003. Surprisingly fine botrytis and surprisingly fresh attitude. Nicely concentrated, elegant and charming. At its peak now and tasting really good.
Nairac's so-called "second wine", which isn't really that but a wine giving more immediate appeal and easier to understand, Esquisse, was tasted in October 2007 in vintages 2005, 2004 and 2003. Here, 2003 was the best one (91p) with heavy botrytis, rich flavors and fine concentration. It has a unbelievable 10% residual sugar. 2005 (90p) impressed a lot with fresh aromas of grapefruit, mango and honey melon. 2004 (88p) was significantly lighter and less rich than 2005.
Eloîse Heeter Tari (left) and her mother Nicole Heeter-Tari (right)
Nicolas Heeter-Tari, Nairac's extremely talented winemaker
*The story of NAIRAC 2003 - tasted from 10 different barrels/pickings in April 2004
Picked on 22-23.09.2003 - in the front of château, Sémillon grown on sand/clay/gravel, 30% potential alcohol. Extremely sugary liquid and fabulous botrytis.
Picked on 24-25.09.2003 - Sauvignon Blanc, 22% potential alcohol, high acidity.
Picked on 25.09.2003 - Sémillon coming from clay/limestone soil, 24% potential alcohol. Rich and complex, sweet and with fine acidity.
Picked on 26.09.2003 - right corner of the vineyard, Sémillon from gravelly soil, 27% potential alcohol. Stronger and richer than picking from day before.
Picked on 26.09.2003 - northern part of the vineyard, Sémillon, 14% potential alcohol. Light.
Picked on 27.09.2003 - parcel near Climens, Sémillon grown on clay/limestones, 25% potential alcohol. Reminds of picking from 26.09.2003, but more nuances here.
Picked on 29.09.2003 - parcel near Climens, Sémillon, 22% potential alcohol.
Picked on 01.10.2003 - in the front of château, Sémillon, 26% potential alcohol. Very sweet and long.
Picked on 02.10.2003 - Muscadelle, 24% potential alcohol. Extremely aromatic.
Picked on 02.10.2003 - in the front of chateau, Sémillon, old vines resulting in unbelievable 32% (!) potential alcohol. Pure essence!!!
Picked on 06.10.2003 - parcel near Climens, Sémillon, 21% potential alcohol. Extremely aromatic.
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