2001 Château de Cérons Cérons

Chateau de Cerons

Ch. de Cérons is a lovely manor house built in the early 18th century on a terrace overlooking the Garonne River. Located in the heart of the village of Cérons in the Graves region, the estate is surrounded by tall stone walls. The château is located across from a beautiful 12th century church. Xavier and Caroline Perronmat took over management of the family estate in 2012. They accepted the challenge of producing wines of the highest quality in one of the least-known, but oldest appellations of Bordeaux: Cérons. Ch. de Cérons has 26 hectares of vines on a plateau with deep gravel soil overlooking the surrounding area. The Cérons appellation, bordering on Sauternes, is an enclave in the Graves region. The unique terrior produces three different types of wine: red Graves, dry white Graves and Cérons, a sweet white Bordeaux.

Sauvignon Blanc & Sémillon

The blend used for White Graves and Sauternes and rarely encountered outside France. In the great dry whites of Graves, Sauvignon Blanc tends to predominate in the blend, although properties such as Smith Haut Lafite use 100% Sauvignon Blanc while others such as Laville Haut Brion have as much as 60% Sémillon in their final blends. Sauvignon Blanc wines can lose their freshness and fruit after a couple of years in bottle - if blended with Sémillon, then the latter bolsters the wine when the initial fruit from the Sauvignon fades. Ultimately Sauvignon Blanc gives the wine its aroma and raciness while Sémillon gives it backbone and longevity.

In Sauternes, Sémillon is dominant, with Sauvignon Blanc playing a supporting role - it is generally harvested about 10 days before Sémillon and the botrytis concentrates its sweetness and dampens Sauvignon Blanc`s naturally pungent aroma. It contributes acidity, zip and freshness to Sauternes and is an important component of the blend.