Location and boundaries
Barsac is a commune in the French department of Gironde in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region and forms part of the wine-growing area of Bordeaux. The area covered by the Barsac appellation corresponds to the commune on the left bank of the Garonne. In the south-east, the valley of the Ciron separates Barsac from the other communes of the Sauternes appellation; in the north-west, the stream of Saint-Cricq marks the boundary with the Graves area.
Relief, soils and climate
The landscape is largely flat and slopes from the plateau at about 20 metres down to the modern alluvial zone along the Garonne at around 5 metres. The Haut-Barsac plateau consists of rugged Astéries limestone, which is covered by sandy colluvium from an earlier Garonne terrace. This produces a red layer of soil around 40 to 60 centimetres thick. In the lower-lying areas, gravel deposits transported from the Pyrenees by the Garonne can be found, with warm, well-drained soils.
The meeting of the cooler waters of the Ciron with the warmer Garonne favours mist in autumn. Sunny afternoons and natural ventilation allow the grapes to dry out again. The alternation between damp and dry conditions creates the conditions for Botrytis cinerea. Small plots enclosed by walls made of weather-resistant Barsac limestone also form part of the landscape.
Appellation and wine style
The Barsac appellation was first recognised on 11 September 1936 and is reserved for still white wines. Muscadelle, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris and Sémillon are permitted. The grapes are overripe, shaped by noble rot, and are hand-harvested in several passes. At least 6,500 vines per hectare are required; special means against Botrytis and a complete chemical weed control are not allowed.
Barsac wines are sweet still white wines with residual sugar, whose production is based on botrytisation and sugar concentration. Young wines are described as golden, with floral and fruity aromas. With maturity, an amber colour as well as hints of roasted and candied fruits, citrus fruits and honey can develop. Vinification and ageing must take place in a closed building specially intended for this purpose; ageing lasts at least until 15 March of the year following the harvest. Under certain declaration conditions, Barsac wine may also be marketed as Sauternes.
History and selected wineries
Wine-growing in the Sauternes area has been documented since the Middle Ages. Dutch trade in the late 16th and 17th centuries steered production more towards sweet white wines with residual sugar. In the Bordeaux classification of 1855, ten Crus from Barsac were included, including two Premiers Crus and eight Deuxièmes Crus.
Among the classified estates is Château Coutet, which was recognised as a Classified First Growth. The estate is planted with Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle; the grapes are hand-harvested in several passes between September and November, then pressed parcel by parcel, fermented in barrels and aged before the assemblage. Château Climens has been documented since 2010 as a biodynamically farmed estate planted entirely with Sémillon and was classified in 1855 as a Premier Cru Classé.
