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.

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

Nairac 2007 (barrel sample) 94+p

Tasted in April 2008. 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. This wine showed big, big nose of intermixing flavors of grapefruit, apple and pear. Full-bodied, great depth on the palate, splendidly balanced and full of fresh fruit flavors. Extremely well-made wine.

Nairac 2006 (barrel sample) 90-91p

Tasted in April 2007. It caught my attention with delicate and striking botrytis, fine nose of orange peel, apricot, apple and pear, lusciousness and fine balance.

Nairac 2005 95+p

Tasted three times - last time in April 2008. Not consistent notes. Nairac was quite difficult to assess in April 2007, because it seemed very closed. It was a different story in October 2007, when it displayed incredibly intense botrytis, freshness, beautiful partnership between acidity and splendid sweetness of fruit, enchanting fragrance of acacia flower, sophisticated touch and long lingering aftertaste. It was even slightly better in April 2008. 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!

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 three time - last time in October 2007. Consistent notes. Now in bottle. Finely shaped botrytis with grapefruit, apple jam flavors, sugary, harmonious, stylish and rich wine. Fine and long aftertaste. Splendid now, but will improve even more. 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 three times - last time in October 2007. 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 pieced together. Simply a stunner wine of very high calibre, sublime, and which has at least 15 years to satisfy sweet Bordeaux freaks. 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. For me, this is the best vintage ever made by present winemaker, Nicolas Heeter-Tari. Nairac 2003 is together with Climens 2003 the best wine of the vintage and it remains to be seen, what d'Yquem 2003 has to offer. At current price, Nairac 2003 is simply a stellar buy! Fantastic effort!! Wow!!

Simply a revelation!

Nairac 2002 91p

Tasted three times - last time in April 2008. Not consistent notes. Well-developed botrytis, nicely concentrated, tasty and harmonious. A crowd pleaser. Will it take on in body and concentration in bottle? We hope so. THis was from barrel. When tasted in December 2006 and April 2008, it certainly did put on weight and shows now very more structure, more length and more intensity of botrrytised flavours. Delicate effort!

Nairac 2001 94p

Tasted in July 2004. 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. It will surely improve during the next 6-12 years and keep for additional 6-8 years.

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", 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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