Château Closiot covers eight hectares, making it one of the smallest in Barsac (for comparison, Climens has 30 and Coutet 18). The vines sit on the Clos Bonneau, an exceptional terroir where red earth dotted with pebbles rests on the Barsac plateau’s typical limestone base. Notably, the soils are relatively cool, imbuing Guffens’ wines with mineral steel and freshness to offset the late-picked fruit. Surrounded by Climens, Doisy-Védrines and Coutet, the clos is planted almost exclusively to Sémillon, complemented by Sauvignon Gris, Muscadelle and Sauvignon Blanc. It includes a generous four-hectare parcel of 100-year-old vines.
Rather than use the morning mists, Guffens prefers harvesting under the first rays of the sun to obtain concentrated botrytis. His team harvests a meticulous selection of berries in six picks over ten days. The wine ages in 50% new oak for one year before going back to vats for 12 months to preserve the freshness and tension typical of the region’s great terroirs.
Composed of 98% Semillon and 2% Muscadelle, this is a Barsac of extraordinary aromatic intensity, concentration and energy. The nose has notes of jasmine, honey and saffron alongside roasted pineapple and peach. On the palate, expect a beautiful array of sweet citrus, honeyed peach and candied ginger, slowly tapering to a long finish that remains wonderfully refreshing despite its 138 g/L residual sugar.