The vast majority of the vines in Bordeaux are grafted to protect them against Phyloxera, but here and there you will find a few plots of non grafted pre phyloxera vines.
Just such a spot is in Sauternes on the estate of Château Haut Bergeron . The estate has several unique qualities, one of which is the diversity of the terroir. Although under the same family ownership since the 18th century, the property has been built up since the 50’s by the purchase of various plots throughout the villages that make up the appellation. This diversity from the Barsac clay and limestone to the plateau of gravel in Sauternes – in the shadow of Château d’Yquem- explains the complexity of the classic Sauternes. In certain vintages however Hervé Lamothe will keep back the oldest plot of the vineyard with these non grafted vines that are over a century old and make just 580 bottles (2 barrels) that he ages in new oak for 36 months. Available exclusively at the cellar door each cuvée is named with the age of the vines rather than the vintage; hence in 2001 he produced the Cuvée 105.