Château Lamothe-Guignard

The estate

Lamothe was classified a second growth in 1855, under the widow Baptiste, and later passed to the Bergey family, who gave their name to Château Lamothe-Bergey. Armand Bastit Saint-Martin held it in 1958; in 1961 the property was divided, and in 1981 Jacques and Philippe Guignard bought the part that still carried the Bergey name and put theirs on it instead. The brothers have run it together since. The other half of the old Lamothe is Château Lamothe.

The classified vineyard is 18 hectares within a larger holding, on limestone and clay slopes that fall toward the Ciron, the cold stream whose morning mists bring on the noble rot. It is planted 90% Sémillon, 5% Sauvignon and 5% Muscadelle. Pickers go through the vines by hand at least 5 times, and the yield runs at 12 to 18 hectoliters a hectare. The wine ferments in tank and spends 12 to 15 months in oak, about 1 quarter of the barrels new. In 1991 no wine was made at all. L’Ouest de Lamothe-Guignard is the second wine.

At a glance

Appellation

Sauternes

Commune

Sauternes

Classification

Deuxième Cru Classé 1855

Owners

Jacques and Philippe Guignard, since 1981

Vineyard

18 hectares of classified vineyard within a larger holding

Ground

Limestone and clay slopes falling toward the Ciron

Grapes

Sémillon 90%, Sauvignon 5%, Muscadelle 5%

Harvest

By hand, at least 5 passes; 12 to 18 hectoliters a hectare

Cellar

Fermented in tank; 12 to 15 months in oak, about 1 quarter of the barrels new

Wines

Château Lamothe-Guignard; L’Ouest de Lamothe-Guignard

Years with no wine

1991

Sources: Château Lamothe-Guignard, the estate · INAO, cahier des charges Sauternes · Conseil des Grands Crus Classés en 1855, the classified growths