Wines

The grapes for this cuvée (95% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sémillon) come from a four hectare hillside parcel of clay and limestone soil with a full southern exposure that overlooks the Garonne River in Sainte-Croix-du-Mont. The vines have an average age of 25 years. After a manual harvest, the grapes are fermented in temperature-controlled vats and left on the fine lees for six months prior to bottling. The overwhelming majority of this cuvée is reserved for our use in the US market (18,000 to 24,000 bottles per annum).

This wine is a relatively recent addition to the range of wines produced at La Rame. The grapes are sourced from a two hectare parcel of younger vines (25 years of age) that are on the flanks of a hill that descends towards the Garonne River in the village of Sainte Croix du Mont. The wine is produced via the direct-press method and is fermented in temperature-controlled vats for six months before it is bottled and released in the spring following the harvest. The grape varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon (80%) and Merlot (20%). About 15,000 bottles are produced annually and we reserve 4,200 for our use in the USA.

The vineyards for this lovely red are at the base of the hillside vineyards of the estate in the village of Sainte-Croix-du-Mont and are composed of sand, limestone and clay. The grape varieties are Merlot (60%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (40%) and the average age of the vines is thirty years. The wine is fermented and aged in temperature-controlled vats and is bottled usually one year after harvest. Approximately 40,000 bottles are produced and we reserve 12,000 bottles for the US market.

The site for this wine, known as La Charmille, is situated on the plateau overlooking the village of Monprimblanc about 45 kilometers south of Bordeaux. The soils are a combination of sand, limestone and clay and here they are planted to Merlot (65%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (35%). The cuvaison occurs in temperature-controlled vats with a maceration on the order of two weeks. The wine is then racked into small barrels, one-third of which are new, for an élevage of 15 to 18 months. Approximately 30,000 bottles are produced, one-fifth of which (6,000) are for our use in the US market.

At their finest, the wines of Ste-Croix-du-Mont can rival the great wines of Sauternes and Barsac which are directly opposite on the other side of the river. The Armand family has invested great effort over the past decades to prove the worth of this appellation. Seeking extreme ripeness, the harvest is done entirely by hand and proceeds in successive passes over a series of weeks. The fermentation occurs over a 3-6 week period at controlled temperatures, aging for two years in “cuve” before bottling. It is frequently blessed with significant levels of botrytis and exhibits a high level of concentration and complexity. Sémillon is the exclusive grape in this cuvée. Harvest levels are low—30 hl/ha (25% less than regulation).

Since 1983, Château La Rame has produced in superior vintages a “Réserve du Château”, which is fermented and aged exclusively in oak barrels, one-third of which are new. The élevage continues for 18 to 24 months and additional aging in bottle occurs prior to release from the estate. The grapes for this cuvée are selected after a rigorous “triage” to obtain only the ripest fruit with the most intense level of botrytis. The “Réserve du Château” is not fined and is only lightly filtered before bottling. It is composed exclusively of Sémillon (old vines of 50 years average age). In cooperation with château La Rame, we often have the privilege of presenting a series of older vintages.