A family story

To understand the identity of the Siozard vineyards is first to take a journey back nearly two centuries. This brings us to the middle of the 19th century, on the banks of the Dordogne, in the heart of what would later become the Barsac appellation. The family’s vineyards have survived a century of turmoil, which has taken its toll on many of their neighbors, and have emerged stronger for it.

Today, the sixth generation is gradually taking over the family business. The program includes a number of major changes to bring Siozard vineyards into the modern age. The first step was to obtain the “Terra Vitis” label in 2016. But we’re not stopping there, as conversion to organic farming is underway. Today, the family’s approach is to respect its terroir, its customers and society as a whole, while protecting the vines through innovative approaches to viticulture.

Bordeaux classics

The Siozard family’s vineyards are divided between Château Lapinesse and Château Claouset. The first is located in Barsac, the second in Entre-deux-Mers. The respective ranges of the two châteaux begin with wines rooted in Bordeaux tradition, testifying to the know-how acquired by the family over the last two hundred years.

For reds, the classic Merlot and Cabernet-Sauvignon dominate the blends. For the most part, they are aged in oak barrels, with a variable proportion of new wood to give the wines the smoky, spicy notes so characteristic of Bordeaux. The result is wines that can be cellared for several years, with a perfect balance between power and delicacy. Prestige” cuvées are distinguished from classic cuvées by the fact that the “Prestiges” are made from the best plots and benefit from more careful ageing.

On the white side, Château Lapinesse is unique in that it produces 100% Semillon, for both its dry wines (Graves) and its sweet wines (Barsac and Sauternes). Although unusual, this results in incredibly gourmet wines, with notes of ripe fruit and honey, without abandoning the freshness we look for in white wines. At Barsac, particular attention is paid to the grapes, which are harvested in successive batches to ensure that they are all ready to produce great wines. The higher you go in the range, the more you end up with great wines, capable of rivaling the most prestigious of their neighbors.