Situation and soil

Sauternes and Barsac are two neighbour communes on a portion of land within the Graves area. They are situated at about 60 kilometers South-West of Bordeaux. Together the vineyards of Barsac and Sauternes represent what is commonly called the "Sauternais". If we include the Entre-Deux-Mers and the near northern Cérons district, Sauternes and Barsac areas represent the stronghold of Bordeaux's late harvesting sweet white wines. The best vineyards spread over the hilltops overlooking the Garonne River. Barsac vineyards are located on long undulations along the left bank of the Garonne. The soil consists of gravel layers sometimes in the form of knolls lying on a subsoil of clay. The Botrytis fungus associated with extremely low yields give truly sensational sweet wines.

Characteristics

It is the commonly called "noble rot" or botrytis cynerea fungus on the grapes which put on the map the famous Barsac-Sauternes wines. This very special rot appears thanks to a little stream called the Ciron, whose presence creates night and morning autumn mists along its banks. The quasi magic combination of heat and moisture allows the development of Botrytis, which concentrates noble elements and the sugar of the grape. Together with Sauternes, Barsac remains the absolute benchmark for all the mellow-like wines produced throughout the world, with an astonishing complexity and richness. In style, Barsac wines may sometimes have more freshness and less concentration than Sauternes. As of the Medoc red wines, Sauternes and Barsac have their own historical 1855 classification.

Main properties of the appellation

• Premier Cru Supérieur :
  - d'Yquem
• 
  Premier Cru :
  - Clos Haut-Peyraguey, Guiraud, Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Rabaud-Promis, Rayne Vigneau, Rieussec, Sigalas Rabaud, Suduiraut, la Tour Blanche
• 
  Deuxièmes Crus :
  - Arche, Filhot, Lamothe Guignard, de Malle, Romer
• 
  Other leading properties:
  - Bastor-Lamontagne, Caplane, Clos Dady, Fargues, Gilette, Haut-Bergeron, les Justices, Lafon, Raymond-Lafon
  

This is a non exhaustive list.

Varietals and technical data (*)

The average production, exclusively in white, is of approx. 18,000 hl within a planted surface of 1400ha.

• Authorized yields: approx. 21hl/ha


• Sugar (grams per liter of must): 221 gr minimum


• Base Alcoholic strength: 12.5% / 13% potential

Main grape variety:

• - Sémillon (70% à 80%),
• - Sauvignon (20% to 30%)
• - Muscadelle (complement.)

(*) Sources:
• Bordeaux and its Wines - Ch. Cocks - Ed. Féret - 17th Edition,
• Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux (CIVB)