Château Liot
Updated on
Château Liot, a family-run estate owned by the David family in Barsac, produces Sauternes and Graves wines. Certified HVE, it is renowned for its clay-limestone terroir and traditional approach to viticulture and winemaking. Tours and tastings are available.
Identity
Château Liot is an estate located in the commune of Barsac. It is owned by the David family, with Jonathan and Marie-Amélie David as the current proprietors. Édouard Massie serves as consultant oenologist and Guillaume Massieu is the technical director.
History and philosophy
Château Liot is a family winegrowing estate, held by the same family for five generations. This heritage reflects deep roots in the Bordeaux vineyard. Committed to protecting the environment and biodiversity, the estate achieved HVE certification in October 2020.
Appellations
Château Liot crafts wines under the Sauternes and Graves appellations. A surface area of 24 hectares is dedicated to the Sauternes appellation, while 16 hectares are devoted to red and white Graves.
Practical information
Château Liot is located at: 33720 Barsac, France. The estate can be contacted by telephone on +33 5 56 27 15 31 and by email at contact@chateauliot.com.
Visitors are welcomed for complimentary tour-and-tasting experiences, which include a tasting of two wines. The cellar door is open Monday to Friday from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm and from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The estate welcomes groups (5 to 20 people) and pets. Facilities include motorhome parking. Accepted payment methods are bank cheques and cash. Direct cellar door sales and mail orders are available. Spoken languages are French, English and Spanish.
Find out more
Frequently asked questions
- Who are the current owners of Château Liot and how long has it been a family estate?
- Château Liot is owned by Jonathan and Marie-Amélie David. This winegrowing estate is a family business held by the same family for five generations, demonstrating long-standing roots and continuity in the Bordeaux vineyard. This successive handover ensures the preservation of winemaking expertise and heritage traditions across the property.
- Which appellations are produced by Château Liot and what is the size of its vineyard?
- Château Liot produces wines under the Sauternes and Graves appellations. The vineyard covers a total area of 45 hectares. Of these, 24 hectares are specifically dedicated to Sauternes production, whilst 16 hectares are devoted to red and white wines under the Graves appellation. The average age of the vines is around 35 to 40 years.
- What is the terroir composition at Château Liot and how does it influence the vines?
- The terroir of Château Liot features red clay soil interspersed with small pebbles, resting on a bed of fissured limestone. This structure ensures excellent natural drainage, essential for vine health, and allows root systems to delve deep to extract nutrients. The estate is situated on the Haut Barsac plateau near the Ciron river, a renowned catalyst for the development of botrytis, crucial for Sauternes wines.
- What grape varieties are planted at Château Liot and how does the estate respect the environment?
- The grape varieties planted at Château Liot for Sauternes consist of 80% Sémillon, 15% Sauvignon and 5% Muscadelle. For the red wines, the plantings comprise 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet-Sauvignon. The estate is dedicated to protecting the environment and biodiversity, and earned Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) certification in October 2020, confirming its sustainable practices.
The vineyard (terroir)
The Château Liot vineyard spans a total surface area of 45 hectares. The average age of the vines is around 35 to 40 years. The terroir is characterised by red clay topsoil over a bed of fissured limestone, promoting optimal drainage and deep root penetration. It is situated on the Haut Barsac plateau, close to the Ciron river—a key natural factor encouraging the development of botrytis.
The grape varieties planted for Sauternes comprise 80% Sémillon, 15% Sauvignon and 5% Muscadelle. For the red wines, the plantings include 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet-Sauvignon. Château Liot harvests its grapes entirely by hand.
Flagship cuvées
The estate's principal cuvée is Château Liot, a Sauternes wine. The property also produces Château Saint-Jean-des-Graves blanc, crafted from equal parts of Sauvignon and Sémillon.
Vinification and ageing
Winemaking at Château Liot follows traditional methods. The wines are aged in vats and oak barrels. For Château Liot Sauternes, ageing takes place in barrels and stainless steel vats over a period of 9 to 12 months.
- Commune
- Barsac
- Wine region
- Graves & Sauternais
- Owner
- Jerry & Elena DAVID
- Technical direction
- Édouard Massie
- Surface area
- 45 ha
- Certifications
- HVE
- Grape varieties
- Sémillon 80%, Sauvignon 15%, Muscadelle 5%, Merlot 70%, Cabernet-Sauvignon 30%
Practical information
- Address
- , 33720 Barsac France, 33720
- Phone
- +33556271531
- Contact form
- Contact the estate
- Opening hours
- Du lundi au vendredi de 9h30 à 12h et de 14h à 17h
- Visits
- Dégustations exclusives comme « Secret d’Or »