Saussignac

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• Delimited zone encompassing 4 communes, bordered to the north by the Dordogne, to the west by the Seignal, and to the east by the Gardonnette
• Two limestone levels of viticultural interest: the Castillon limestone (hard, cliff face ~10 m) and the Monbazillac limestone (friable, 1 to 4 m) (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
• Tertiary fluvio-lacustrine formations: argillaceous molasse (deltaic plains) and limestones (lacustrine deposits) within the molasse levels
• Swelling clay soils on molasse slopes restrict water uptake; thin chlorosis-prone soils over hard limestone induce low vine vigour (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
• Tempered oceanic climate: stronger summer sunshine and higher cloud cover in summer and autumn than in the neighbouring Bordeaux region

• Monastic origins in the 11th century; in the 18th century, the introduction of Muscadelle B ('muscat fou') encouraged the production of wines with fermentable sugars (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
• Harvesting is mandatorily carried out by successive manual tries, with grapes in a state of over-ripeness through botrytis cinerea or natural passerillage on the vine

• Ageing potential: balance achieved from 2–3 years, with certain great vintages capable of cellaring for several decades

• Morning mists combined with dry afternoon winds in the valley, open to the west, create the conditions favourable to botrytis cinerea

Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.

Sources

• Product specification (BO Agri, PDF), JORF 3 mai 2017
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — IVBD — Vins de Bergerac & Duras