Sainte-Croix-du-Mont

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).