Château La Clotte-Cazalis: Vineyards
Château La Clotte-Cazalis is located on the lower part of the Barsac appellation, sitting between the railway line (which lies to the west) and the waters of the Garonne (which lies to the east). This close to the Garonne there are naturally more alluvial soils here, with more colluvial soils as you move away from the river. The vineyards of Château La Clotte-Cazalis tend to sit on these colluvial soils of sand and gravel. You have to head westwards, beyond the chemin de fer, to find the characteristic Barsac soils of thin red clay over limestone, the same Calcaire à Astéries which dominates the best vineyard sites in St Emilion.
The various estates which neighbour Château La Clotte-Cazalis reflect this local gradation in terroir; there is little of interest to the east, a few vines perhaps, but then the palus, and beyond that the Garonne. To the north and south there are other less commonly encountered names, including Château de Rolland, Château Saint Amand and Château Roumieu, none of which are Barsac superstars. Only Château Nairac, on the far side of the town of Barsac, breaks the rule. While to the west, in Haut Barsac, we find Château Coutet, Château Climens and Château de Myrat.
