Terroir:
All the property is established on “lower molasses of the Resident of Agen” i.e. on carbonated clays and feldspathic micaceous sandstones. One of the characteristics of the soil is to profit from a very important silica outcrop which gives a certain acidity on the ground. The general exposure is full south and all the pieces are in more or less accentuated slopes. Encépagement: Important replantings which took place since 1991 made it possible to create homogeneous farming sets with qualitative vines adapted to the conditions of the soil (grounds very limestones and acids). Today, the white vines represent 14 hectares including 15% in Sauvignon, 50% in Sémillon and 35% in Muscadelle. The whole property is planted in narrow vines with 5000 feet/hectare.
History:
Built by the English during “the One hundred year old War” towards the end of the XIII° century, this old fortified house was used as a basis advanced for the one of the largest castles of Périgord destroyed during the wars of religion, the Castle of Montcuq.
On the first chart of Belen, one sees that 2 activities were established near Grande Maison; the vine and size of stone runners for the mills of the area.
Henry IV, in 1608 made gift of the property to a lawyer of Bergerac, Charles de Livardie.
Thierry Després became owner into 1990 of the buildings and a field of 10 hectares including 4 in vines in very bad condition. Since, thanks to purchases and exchanges, the property took again its former size. Today, it counts 20 hectares including 15 of vines because of a vigorous policy of qualitative replanting.
