Le Nardian St. Emilion Bordeaux, the Complete Guide

Learn everything about Le Nardian St. Emilion, Bordeaux with wine tasting notes, wine, and food pairing tips, best vintages, a history of the property, information on the vineyards, and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Le Nardian History, Overview

Le Nardian, formerly known as Clos Nardian, is owned by Jonathan Maltus. The vineyards are located just south of the beautiful Saint Emilion village in the commune of Saint Aubin de Branne. Starting with the 2014 vintage, the wine, formerly known as Clos Nardian as we mentioned previously, had its name changed to Le Nardian.

Le Nardian Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The terroir is well suited for producing dry white Bordeaux wine with its clay and limestone soils along with its naturally cooler climate. The minuscule 1.4-hectare vineyard of Le Nardian is planted with old vine, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Muscadelle. In fact, many of the vines are close to 50 years of age.

The oldest vines are planted to Muscadelle which are close to 70 years of age! The grape varieties are planted to 38% Sauvignon Blanc, 38% Semillon, and 24% Muscadelle. Of course, the blend varies from vintage to vintage, as you might expect. Low yields are the goal. The grapes are limited to only 3 bunches per vine.

Because no actual cellars or chateau for Le Nardian exist, the wine of Le Nardian is made at their other estate, Chateau Teyssier in St. Emilion. The modern cellars of Chateau Teyssier ensure that all wine is moved by gravity flow. To produce the wine of Le Nardian, the fruit is whole bunch pressed, using pneumatic presses.

To add more richness and thicken the texture of Le Nardian, a portion of residual is added to the blend. Vinification takes place in barrels and the wine is aged in on average, 50% new, French oak barrels. The wine is aged on its lees for about 8 months before bottling.

Not much Le Nardian is produced each year. In an average vintage, only 250 cases are made of this dry white Bordeaux wine each year. Because the appellations laws do not allow for the planting of white Bordeaux wine grapes, the wine is sold as a generic, AOC Bordeaux Blanc.

The best vintages of Le Nardian are: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2010 and 2009.

When to Drink Le Nardian, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Le Nardian can be served without decanting. Le Nardian offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 1-6 years of age after the vintage.

Serving Le Nardian with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Le Nardian is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. Le Nardian is best served with all types of seafood shellfish, raw fish, sushi, and sashimi. Chicken, port, and veal also match well with Le Nardian. Le Nardian is also a good wine to have with a cheese course.

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