The Rivière family’s story started in 1875 when Hector Rivière, Jean-Pierre and PhilippeRivière’s great-grand father launched his wine merchant business and purchased Château Gaubert, an estate in the Saint Emilion appellation. He hold it uplater on. In the fifties, the family acquired Closdes Menuts and itsone-hectare land. Their father Pierre, is responsible for the extension of the “maison de négoce†with private customers and of Clos des Menuts to not less than twenty hectares inthe late 80s.
In 1968, Jean-Pierre Rivière joined the family business. The negoce activities were then opening up to the export, mainly with Northern Europe, North America and Japan. In 1977,Philippe Rivière, in turn, joined the family adventure then going on for more than a century.
Today, Clos des Menuts lies on thirty-eight hectares, partlynext to the walls of the medieval village, mainly west of the commune. The limestone-and-clay and sand-and-clay soil over a hard pan and iron-dross subsoil allows excellent draining. This terroir perfectly suits the noble grape varieties : 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc.
Superb Medieval Monolithic Caves
Situated in the very centre of Saint Emilion, Clos des Menuts owns some superb medieval monolithic caves, among the finest in the village, with a steady 12° temperature. A somewhat religious atmosphere prevails there, very propitious to the oak-barrel ageing of these great growths. The caves can be visited, and a reception and tasting room is open all year round, to the great delight of the wine amateurs.
Appellation: Saint Emilion Grand Cru Contrôlée
Characteristics :deep and intense crimson robe. Fine nose of ripe grapes, with elegant toasted and vanilla oak aromas confirmed in the mouth. Elegance, balance and harmony.
Staff - Owners : Jean-Pierre & Philippe Rivière - Wine Maker : Stéphane Derenoncourt Terroir - Area planted: 25 hectares - Soil : Limestone and clay, mainly sandy-clayey withhardpan and iron dross subsoil. - Varietals : 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5%Cabernet Franc - Average age of the vines : 30 years
Cultivating and Maturing - Harvesting : by hand, carried in smallcrates with selective sorting. - Yield control : grass growing, green harvesting. - Vinification : vinification chai with thermoregulatedconcrete vats. -Maturing : 18 months in oak barrels, 1/3 new every year. - Fining : in vats, with egg white.
