Première Cuvée 2024

Château Haut-Grelot did not start out as a grand estate, but as a small farm in the hamlet of Les Grelots (German: the bells - also visible on today's label). In the 1920s, Julien's great-grandfather and grandfather grew wine and raised cattle alongside it. In 1927, the crucial puzzle piece was added: their own well, which connected everything. In 1975, Joël Bonneau, Julien's father, took over, switched entirely to viticulture, and opened the door to direct sales in 1981. The idea behind it is simple: wine should regain a face and a conversation.
Today, Julien Bonneau and his sister Céline run the estate in the fourth generation. Approximately 67 hectares, of which about 25 hectares are white and 42 hectares are red. The grape variety palette ranges from Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Muscadelle to Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec. In the cellar, modern equipment meets a deliberately artisanal approach. Julien likes to speak of a balance between innovation and tradition. Technology is a means to an end, not the style.
Precise work is done in the vineyard: debudding, leaf removal, green harvesting, intentionally keeping yields low. This way, the grapes hang more loosely, get more sun and air, and ripen more calmly.
The terroir plays like a two-part harmony. Close to the Gironde estuary: sandy-gravelly slopes for juice and energy. Further inland: sandy-clay-loamy soils that add structure. The result: aromatic, fine white wines and fruity, powerful red wines with silky tannins. Bordeaux, but with more river wind at its back.

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