Our quality commitment Natural, fruity, genuine… In addition to the high level requirements of the AOC standard (“Appellation d'origine contrôlée” i.e. Label of certified origin) and to the guaranty of the "mise en bouteille au château" standard (bottled in the estate winery), Château Bessan produces genuine and natural quality wines, elaborated with much care for the vineyard and its terroir, as well as for the environment.   Hand-picked grapes Hand-picking allow us to process in the winery wholesome, non oxidized, selected grapes. Our pickers know the rule: no leaves and no foreign matters in the harvest basket. Thanks to this accurate and demanding work, quality grape must is obtained which will give a naturally, elegant and attractive wine, pleasant to drink.   Château Bessan’s choices   Grape varieties: Bordeaux wines are traditionally a blend of grape varieties. Château Bessan has selected two pairs of varieties for red and for white wines. Red wines are a blend of Merlot and Cabernet-Sauvignon which produce fruity and elegant wines, which become more complex after maturing. The proportion of each grape variety varies from "Bordeaux Rouge" (more fruity) to "Premières Côtes de Bordeaux Rouge" (rich with tannins giving a good maturation capacity). The exception to the rule is Rosé or Clairet as we say in Bordeaux (from which comes de the term “claret”) made only with Cabernet Sauvignon giving a lively, fruity wine. White wines are made with Semillon and Sauvignon. In the dry white wine, Sauvignon is the main component giving a pleasant aromatic nose. On the contrary Semillon will be in majority in sweet white because the noble rot develops remarkably on this variety.   Traditional cultivation Soils are cultivated mechanically many times along the year in order to allow soil aeration, to help the development of life in the soil and organic matter rot. This traditional method also allows rain water to penetrate into soil rather than flow down the slope on a hard surface. Depending on the characteristics of the growth area on the estate and its climatic exposure, allowing grass to grow in the vineyard can be advisable, in order to limit the vine’s vitality.   Vineyard maintenance Château Bessan’s vineyard has been planted according to the local traditional method named "palissage": plants are tied with wires and stakes. It is maintained on a daily basis, season after season, in the local traditional method. The search for quality is ever present when pruning the vine in order to produce a limited amount of grape, well distributed on the plant. Depending on the style of wine that will be produced, the pruning will be different: either a spur pruning or a single Guyot (cane pruning), the number of buds is always worked out to adjust to a desired yield and to a well balanced distribution of grapes, generally by by eliminating one bud out of two on the vine.   Wine making Château Bessan produces natural wines. We are very strict on our policy to not add aromas, nose or tannins which do not specifically come from our grapes. In this manner, the unique presence of our terroir is enhanced, bringing to your table a pleasant, healthy and natural wine ready to drink. Your meals will be 100% friendly with our wines!