Château Liot

The château

Château Liot is a family estate on the Haut Barsac, where the nearby Ciron and sunny afternoons favor the noble rot. Growers of Barsac may declare their wine as Sauternes or as Barsac, and the Davids call theirs Château Liot Sauternes. Jerry and Elena David are handing on what they know to their son and daughter-in-law, Jonathan and Marie-Amélie David.

The 20 hectares, with vines 35 to 40 years old, are planted to Sémillon, Sauvignon and Muscadelle on red earth and small stones over a bed of cracked limestone, and the whole estate has been certified Haute Valeur Environnementale (High Environmental Value, the French state’s environmental certification for farms) since October 1, 2020. Picking is by hand, grape by grape, in 3 to 6 successive passes from mid-September to early November, at less than 25 hectoliters a hectare. Château Liot is made in barrels and stainless steel vats and ages 9 to 12 months in barrel; Château du Levant, from the same vineyard, is made and aged 16 months in vats. The family also makes Château Saint Jean des Graves at Pujols-sur-Ciron, about 20 hectares of Graves: a white of 50% Sémillon and 50% Sauvignon, picked by hand, and a red of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet, picked by machine.

At a glance

Appellation

Sauternes; growers of Barsac may also use the name Barsac

Commune

Barsac

Classification

No classification

Owners

The David family

Direction

Jerry and Elena David, with Jonathan and Marie-Amélie David

Vineyard

20 hectares on the Haut Barsac; vines 35 to 40 years old

Soil

Red earth and small stones over cracked limestone Terroir of Sauternes →

Grapes

Sémillon, Sauvignon, Muscadelle

Farming

Haute Valeur Environnementale since October 1, 2020; picked by hand in 3 to 6 passes

Cellar

Château Liot: 9 to 12 months in barrel; Château du Levant: 16 months in vats

Wines

Château Liot; Château du Levant; Château Saint Jean des Graves, red and white