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In this show we welcome back \\xc9douard Miailhe, proprietor of Ch\\xe2teau Siran in the Margaux appellation of the M\\xe9doc (he was on Episode 391, as part of our M\\xe9doc series, discussing his role as the president of the Margaux appellation and a small bit about the Ch\\xe2teau). He joins to talk about many things that we didn\\u2019t cover in the first show, and the exciting things happening now, including the fact that Ch\\xe2teau Siran\\u2019s 2018 vintage was named the #1 wine of 2021 by Wine Enthusiast Magazine!

\\xc9douard Miailhe, owner of Ch\\xe2teau Siran, photo by Wine For Normal People

After meeting \\xc9douard in person, tasting the wines, and seeing what is happening at Siran, I agree that magazine made the right decision. Siran has some of the most vibrant energy in Bordeaux and some of the best wines. And \\xc9douard is really just getting started.

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Ch\\xe2teau Siran

In addition to this, the show covers something we did not at all address in the first show: the role of the Miailhe family as discussed in the book \\u201cWine and War\\u201d by Donald and Petie Kladstrup. The book was written two decades ago but is still a fantastic read. In our first conversation, \\xc9douard never mentioned that his family\\u2019s bravery, sacrifice, and dedication to wine and the essence of being a Frenchman during the war makes them some of the bravest, most empathetic, clever, and principled families in the wine world.

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Here are some of the things we discuss in the show:

1. \\xc9douard chronicles his family history in the M\\xe9doc, and how they came to manage Ch\\xe2teau Siran through family ties in 1888, with wine broker Fr\\xe9deric Miailhe.

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2. We talk about how his great grandfather \\xc9douard Miailhe and great uncle, Louis Miailhe, saved many prestigious Left Bank properties from bankruptcy and ruin -Pichon Lalande, Coufran, Dauzac, and part of Ch\\xe2teau Palmer in the early 1900s through investments that others were unwilling to make.

Ch\\xe2teau Siran

3. I make \\xc9douard discuss his family story in World War II. We discuss weinf\\xfchrers, the invasive and destructive nature of the German troops in Bordeaux, and how his family saved the lives of two Italian Jewish families by sheltering them at Ch\\xe2teau Palmer, until they were able to get papers to smuggle them out of the country. We discuss how the continued acts of patriotism through investment and saving French wine properties in Bordeaux led to the signed picture of Winston Churchill that is at Ch\\xe2teau Siran.

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4. \\xc9douard discusses his aunt, May-Eliane Miailhe de Lencquesaing, who played a role in helping keep the Jewish family alive, became an icon in Bordeaux wine, and later moved to South Africa and started her own brand. \\xc9douard and I discuss his view on women in wine and his family\\u2019s unflagging support of women through the decades.

Marjolaine Defrance, \\xc9douard Miailhe, Charlotte (hospitality manager)

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5. \\xc9douard talks about how the right investments in the vineyard and winery, and the right enologist (a very young, talented, Marjolaine Defrance) led to Ch\\xe2teau Siran being the number one wine in the world according to Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

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Siran\'s 160th anniversary bottle

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6. \\xc9douard talks about the revival of original art on the labels of Ch\\xe2teau Siran. His parents began the tradition of picking a theme for the label that reflected the events of that particular year. The bottles were pieces of art, but also were easily recognizable because of the moment in time they represented. \\xc9douard has revived the tradition for the 2020 vintage, with Frederica Matta, the French and Chilean artist representing the difficult year of isolation in Covid, but the uplifting part of reconnecting with nature, and being grateful for its sights and smells.

Revival of the artist label with the 2020 vintage. Art by Frederica Matta, photo courtesy of Ch. Siran

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7. We end by discussing some of \\xc9douard\\u2019s worries about climate change but also about his hopefulness about the ever-improving quality of Margaux wines and how the appellation seems to be working together better than ever before, a great thing for them and for those of us who drink their wines.

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My opinion: Ch\\xe2teau Siran is a very unique and delicious bottle of wine and extremely well-priced for what it delivers. The addition of Petit Verdot in the wine makes it unlike other wines you may have tasted and it is well worth it to buy it, hold it and taste the beauty in the bottle!!

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