Barsac Wine Region

 

Barsac, Sauternes, Bordeaux, France as a Wine Region

(saw-TURN & BAR-sak)
Liquid Gold
The regions of Sauternes & Barsac are both located southeast of Graves, almost directly south of St-Émilion, and hug the Garonne River as it curves. Both areas are dedicated to producing sweet, white wines. The rains, the mists, the humidity and the climate, all help foster the necessary mold that leads to the unfortified, but lusciously sweet wines produced there. Notable Facts
Semillon is the primary grape here as it takes well to bortrytis, also known as "noble rot." Sauvignon Blanc is used in the blend to add acidity to the richer, thinker Semillon. The process for making the sweet wines of Sauternes and Barsac is long, labored and costly. Adter it has reached maximum ripeness, the Semillon grapes are left on the vine until they are infected with botrytis. This helpful mold then shrivels the grapes, concentrating the sugars but maintaining the acids. Weather is not always agreeable and berries must be picked at just the right moment, all by hand. The grapes yeild less juice than dry wines, due to their shriveled and concentrated state. Some houses, like the famed Chateau Yquem, will not make a wine in a less-than-perfect year. All these factors lead to highly prized, and often expensive, wine. However, the taste is well worth it. In the palate the wines of Sauternes & Barsac are luscious and sweet, yet with the balanced acidity to keep them from being too cloying or candied. Wines with the Sauternes AC must be sweet - dry wines are labeled under the Graves or Bordeaux AC. Barsac wines may be labeled either Barsac AC or Sauternes AC. Typically, Barsac wines are a little lighter in body and less intense than Sauternes.

France as a Wine Country

Capital: Paris
Currency: Euro

When it comes to wine, France is a classic. Classic blends, grapes and styles began in the country and they still remain. Think about it - people ask for a Burgundian style Pinot Noir, they refer to wines as Bordeaux or Rhone blends - Champagne even had to pass a law to stop international wineries from putting their region on the label of all sparkling wine.
The top regions of France are: Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Languedoc-Roussillon, Loire, Rhone. And these regions are so diverse! It makes sense that wine regions throughout the world try to emulate their style. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah are no longer French varieties, but international varieties. They may not be the leader of cutting edge technology or value-priced wines, but there is no doubt that they are still producing wines of great quality and diversity.



Wineries in Barsac

Winery
Château Broustet

Winery in Barsac, Bordeaux, France

Château Climens

Winery in Barsac, Bordeaux, France

Château Doisy-Daëne

Winery in Barsac, Bordeaux, France

Château Doisy-Védrines

Winery in Barsac, Bordeaux, France

Château Liot

Winery in Barsac, Bordeaux, France

Château Nairac

Winery in Barsac, Bordeaux, France

Château Doisy-Védrines

Winery in Barsac, Bordeaux, France

Château D'Archambeau

Winery in Barsac, Bordeaux, France

Château Coutet

Winery in Barsac, Bordeaux, France

Wines from Barsac Region

Wine£
Chateau Coutet 1989 1ere Cru Classe Barsac

Scoring 90/100 Parker points and from the outstanding 1989 vintage "This was one of t..
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90.00
Chateau Coutet 1970 1ere Cru Classe Barsac

This rare sweet white wine from the very good 1970 vintage has a scented bouquet and is fr..
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51.00
Chateau Coutet 1981 Barsac

From the good 1981 vintage this lovely sweet dessert wine is straightforward with fruity ..
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50.00
Chateau Coutet 1959 1ere Cru Classe Barsac

From the outstanding 1959 vintage this stunning sweet white wine has a ripe apricot spic..
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200.00
Chateau Guileronde 1924 2er Cru Haut Barsac

This sweet white wine from the good 1924 vintage is a very deep golden colour and has a sw..
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190.00
Chateau Caillou 1975 Grande Cru Classe Barsac

From the outstanding 1975 vintage this sweet white wine has a glorious colour and is rich..
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80.00
Chateau Coutet 1973 1ere Cru Classe Barsac

This rare sweet white wine from the fine 1973 vintage has a scented bouquet and is fragran..
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60.00
Chateau Climens 2005, Cru Classe, Barsac

Yet again, Climens has made an exquisitely luscious, racy Barsac wine to continue the extr..
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85.00
Chateau Coutet 2007, Premier Cru Classe, Barsac

A property that has produced stunning wines of late, Coutet has excelled again in 2007. Th..
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40.00
Chateau Nairac 2007, Barsac

Initially the nose is closed but deep down, evocative, luscious scents emerge.The palate r..
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40.00
Chateau Rieussec 2006, Cru Classe Sauternes

One of the stars in an extensive line-up of Sauternes and Barsac, Rieussec displays a prof..
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50.00


Hotels in France

Hotel£
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