CHATEAU
LIVERSAN

Haut-Médoc

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CHATEAU
LIVERSAN

Haut-Médoc

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Château Liversan is a breath-taking vineyard nestling within the wild beauty of its gravelly plateau with limestone subsoil, overlooking the Pauillac vineyards. Surrounded by protected woodland which separates the estate from the prestigious Pauillac appellation, the boundaries are all vegetal. 50 hectares in a single block, with a variety of terroir and grape varieties (taken over from the 2016 vintage). Sitting on a limestone base, our soils are gently distributed on light, draining slopes, from north to south. Merlot, Cabernet and Petit Verdot have a rightful place in our vineyard and the continuity of the terrain allows for precision planting of our grape varieties. The delicate soil here is soon hit by water constraints with our vines having to face up to this, but with delightfully concentrated wines as a result.

At Château Liversan we strive towards the good health of our plants, our people and the environment. Working and aerating the soil, investing the limestone subsoil, with roots firmly anchored in the ground, as sturdy as our aim to reveal the essence of the terroir through our wines, year after year.

Pruning our precious 6 bunches per vine, selecting the best shoots in May, keeping only the finest bunches, exposing them to the sun, waiting and knowing how to anticipate and be patient in choosing the best maturity for each plot… these are Liversan’s secrets.

The soil is patient: the message of Liversan’s ancient colossus with limestone feet is interpreted by the vine, for all those ready to listen!

Liversan is a long, firm handshake, never crushing, but always giving time to taste and transmit the emotion found here.

History

In the 18th century, the Marquis de Latresne family, Knights of the Order of Malta, were the first owners of Château Liversan: they were responsible for really putting the estate on the map at the time.

Several owners followed, including a German family, the Voncampes.

In 1984, the estate was taken over by Prince Guy de Polignac (born in 1905). A relative of the Monaco royal family, he looked to acquire a vineyard in the Bordeaux region after his experience in Champagne, with Pomery. To this day, the family coat of arms is engraved on the entrance to the Château.

The Lapalu family has tenant farmed the estate since 1995. In 1996, “Les Trois Châteaux” was created, combining Châteaux Patache d’Aux, Lacombe Noaillac and Liversan. When Antoine Moueix Propriétés took over the Lapalu estates in 2010, investments were made in Château Liversan’s winery and vineyard, in order to hoist both wine and estate to the highest level of Haut-Médoc Cru Bourgeois.

Since July 2019, Château Liversan has been part of a joint venture with Chinese group Changyu. The partnership aims to continue estate development (grubbing-up, replanting), in order to optimise wine making and maturing facilities and to promote the international reputation of a Château with immense quality potential.

Vineyard and cellar

Château Liversan’s 51-hectare vineyard is planted with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. This Haut-Médoc -Cru Bourgeois is located in Saint-Sauveur, bordering Pauillac. The estate was classified as a Cru Bourgeois in 1932.

Revealing an exceptional terroir

The terroir is composed of homogeneous soils: on the surface, the first 30 centimetres are composed of sandy-silt gravel. The subsoil is more subtle with gravelly clays, quartz fractions and some limestone fragments. Fossil-rich limestone is found throughout the subsoil of the 51-hectare vineyard. At Château Liversan, all herbicides have been eliminated. The introduction of sexual confusion methods on certain plots and the elimination of endocrine disruptors, is accompanied by the use of biocontrol and new alternative practices. Our new plant protection programme aims for zero residue in wines. This work was recently rewarded by the High Environmental Value Level 3 certification from the 2018 vintage. Château Liversan is Antoine Moueix Propriétés’ fourth AFNOR certified estate. Noble maturing techniques and rigorous plot selection enhance the expression of the terroir in our wines.

Discover Château Liversan’s terroir in video

Discover Château Liversan’s terroir

Simple harvesting and vinification methods

Grapes are picked mechanically using machines equipped with on-board sorting devices. Bunches are also placed in a vibrating cone and sorted on a roller table, for selection of only the best grapes at optimal maturity. Our wine team carries out only simple, natural operations: grapes are not pre-crushed, since filling the vat is enough to crush the berries. Fermentation starts spontaneously with the temperature rising slowly to reach 28°C. Extraction is carried out by pumping over, as defined by the cellar master each morning. Racking is sometimes carried out at the heart of the fermentation process. Full separation of juice from skin makes it possible to create new zones of contact between the juice and the cap. We believe in minimal intervention while respecting plant matter and gentle wine making techniques. Vatting duration varies from one vat to another: tasting guides us in keeping young wine under the cap. While most of the second fermentation takes place in vats, some require new barrels provided by a panel of selected coopers. Tasting is used to make choices for barrel maturing of our wines.

Philippe Marchal

Technical Director of Château Liversan

Wines are matured in French oak barrels for enhanced expression of terroir

Part of the malolactic fermentation process uses new French oak barrels from a selection of coopers. Château Liversan’s standard maturing process is 25% in new barrels, 25% in one-wine barrels, 25% in two-wine barrels and 25% in vats. Expression of a site, of a terroir. Wood should be an enhancer, without usurping the personality of the wine. Thus, choice of wood is redefined yearly.

Estate’s Technical Information

APPELLATION : Haut-Médoc
DISTINCTION : Cru Bourgeois
LOCATION : Saint-Sauveur. To the west of Pauillac, with less Gironde influence. Altitude of 13 metres
CLIMATE : Temperate and oceanic
GRAPE VARIETIES : Merlot (55%), Cabernet Sauvignon (39%), Cabernet Franc (4%), Petit Verdot (2%)
SURFACE AREA : 51 hectares
TERROIR : sandy-silty gravel on the surface, gravelly clay with quartz fractions and limestone fragments at depth, with fossil-rich limestone subsoil
PLANTING DENSITY : 9,000 vines / hectare
AVERAGE AGE OF VINES : 30 years
AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES : soil maintenance by ploughing, winter plant cover, organic compost, use of biocontrol, deployment of alternative control methods (essential oils, clay, talc), leaf thinning
HARVESTING : mechanical, with on-board sorting
VINIFICATION : thermo-regulated stainless-steel tanks from 25 to 200 hectolitres
MATURING : in 225-litre barrels for the duration of the 12-month maturing process, with tests in 500 litre barrels. 25% in new barrels, 25% in one-wine barrels, 25% in two-wine barrels and 25% in vats
CONSULTANT OENOLOGIST : Stéphane Derenoncourt
CERTIFICATIONS : HVE3 in 2017

Château Liversan

The vineyard is located at an altitude of 13 metres and enjoys north/south exposure. Vines are planted on a plateau of fine gravel on limestone subsoil. Wine is vinified in thermo-regulated stainless-steel vats, followed by maturing in French oak barrels for 12 to 14 months with 25% in new barrels, 25% in one-wine barrels, 25% in two-wine barrels, and the remaining 25% in stainless steel tanks. Fairly deep, ruby red. Very expressive, light and woody with fine complexity. Tannins are delicate and silky smooth with wonderful concentration.

  • AOC : Haut Médoc
  • Distinction : Cru Bourgeois 
  • Grape varieties : 50% Merlot, 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot
  • Serving temperature : 14 to 16°C
  • Cellar potential : between 5 and 10 years
VINTAGES

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Les Charmes de Liversan

Château Liversan’s “younger brother” comes from a selection of plots with younger vines. The wine is characterised by its fruit and harmony. Like Château Liversan, it is vinified in temperature-controlled stainless-steel vats, followed by maturing in stainless steel vats or wood (French oak) for 6 to 9 months. On the nose, blackberries and fresh fruit reveal a gentle tannic presence. Excellence concentration and a delightful attack of red fruit on the palate, underpinned by supple tannins and refreshing acidity.
  • AOC : Haut Médoc
  • Serving temperature : 14 to 16°C
  • Cellar potential : between 2 and 5 years
VINTAGES

2016

2017

2018

château liversan

Château Liversan
146 Fonpiqueyre
33250 Saint-Sauveur