# Château La Rame Réserve du Château Sainte-Croix-du-Mont (2020)

- **Producer:** Château La Rame
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** dessert
- **Grapes:** Sémillon
- **Region:** Bordeaux, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.0%
- **Average price:** €30
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 8–10 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** apricot, peach, mango, pineapple, lemon, vanilla, toast, brioche, dried apricot, marmalade, dried fig, honey, hazelnut

## About this wine

Château La Rame is one of the oldest and most prestigious estates in Sainte-Croix-du-Mont, located 40 kilometers southeast of Bordeaux overlooking the Garonne River. Owned and managed by the Armand family, the estate features a rare geological formation with subsoils composed of prehistoric fossilized oyster shells. The Réserve du Château is the winery's top flagship cuvée, crafted exclusively from 50-year-old Sémillon vines on hillside slopes in exceptional vintage years.

## Interesting facts

- The vineyard sits atop an extraordinary 22-million-year-old subsoil layer composed of fossilized oyster shells.
- First produced in 1983, this prestige cuvée is made exclusively in exceptional years with ideal noble rot.
- Grapes are manually harvested in successive passes (tries) to select only berries affected by Botrytis cinerea.

## Food pairing

High residual sweetness requires either rich salty elements, such as blue cheese, or luxurious white protein dishes. The vibrant natural acidity cuts through rich fats while complementary honey and stone fruit flavors highlight fruit-based desserts.

## Wine making process

Grapes are harvested entirely by hand through successive passes (tries) to pick individual berries affected by Botrytis cinerea (noble rot). After gentle pneumatic pressing, ambient yeast fermentation occurs in French oak barrels (33% new). The wine undergoes aging in French oak for 18 to 24 months. It is bottled without fining and with only light filtration.