Liber Pater
Summary
Liber Pater is a 7-hectare micro-estate in Graves' Landiras commune founded in 2006 by Loïc Pasquet, who produces extremely limited Bordeaux wines from pre-phylloxera varieties grown in sandy, gravelly soils with iron-rich alios deposits. Pasquet's radical approach includes ungrafted vines at 20,000 plants per hectare, horse plowing, minimal intervention winemaking, and extraordinarily low yields resulting in wines that command some of the world's highest prices, with the 2019 vintage released at €30,000 per bottle.
Heritage & Leadership
Liber Pater was established in 2006 by Loïc Pasquet in the commune of Landiras within the Graves appellation of Bordeaux. The estate takes its name from the ancient Roman god of viticulture, reflecting Pasquet's dedication to preserving historical winemaking traditions. As both owner and winemaker, Pasquet has maintained complete control over the project since its inception, allowing him to pursue his singular vision without compromise.
The estate gained significant attention in 2011 when its wines began commanding extraordinary prices on the international market. In 2015, Pasquet faced legal challenges from French authorities regarding subsidy applications, resulting in a fine and suspended sentence. Despite these setbacks, he continued his viticultural work, and by 2019, Liber Pater released what became one of the world's most expensive new wines, with bottles priced at €30,000 each.
Vineyards & Wines
Liber Pater's vineyards span approximately 7 hectares in the sandy, gravelly soils of Landiras in southern Graves. The estate's distinctive terroir features a complex mix of gravel, sand, and clay with iron-rich deposits known locally as "alios." This soil composition, combined with the area's moderate maritime climate, creates conditions that Pasquet considers ideal for his viticultural approach.
The vineyards are planted primarily with pre-phylloxera varieties traditional to Bordeaux, including Petite Vidure (an ancient form of Cabernet Sauvignon), Tarney, Castets, and Pardotte, alongside small amounts of Petit Verdot and Malbec. Notably, many vines are planted ungrafted on their own rootstock, a high-risk approach that Pasquet believes essential for expressing authentic Bordeaux character. Vine density is exceptionally high at approximately 20,000 plants per hectare, significantly above regional norms.
Production is extremely limited, with annual output typically below 1,000 bottles, divided between the flagship Liber Pater and a second wine, Denarius. The estate also produces small quantities of white wine from Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc.
Philosophy & Practice
Pasquet's fundamental philosophy centers on recreating the authentic taste of pre-phylloxera Bordeaux wines from the 19th century, before the region's vineyards were devastated and subsequently replanted with grafted vines. This approach involves painstaking historical research and the recovery of nearly extinct grape varieties once common in Bordeaux.
In the vineyard, Pasquet employs labor-intensive methods including horse plowing, manual destemming, and the complete avoidance of synthetic treatments. Yields are kept extraordinarily low, often below 15 hectoliters per hectare. Harvest is conducted by hand with multiple passes through the vineyards to ensure optimal ripeness.
Winemaking follows traditional methods with minimal intervention. Fermentation occurs with indigenous yeasts in small wooden vats, followed by aging in new French oak barrels for approximately 24 months. Pasquet avoids modern techniques such as micro-oxygenation or reverse osmosis, preferring to let the wine develop naturally. The resulting wines are bottled without fining or filtration to preserve their complete character.
Liber Pater's uncompromising approach has positioned it as both an outlier in Bordeaux and a significant voice in the conversation about authenticity and historical continuity in wine production.