Cérons

France · AOC · South-West

Styles

Natural factors

Zone covering 3 communes in the Gironde (Cérons, Illats, Podensac), on the left bank of the Garonne, 35 km from Bordeaux
Unique soils: ridges of residual gravel over a clay-limestone bedrock, separated by sandy depressions aligned along the Saint-Cricq stream
Substratum of limestones and marls (tertiary marine sedimentation), overlaid by Quaternary deposits linked to the Garonne and glacial episodes
"Sable des Landes" (Quaternary aeolian sand) blankets the formations to the west and fills the spaces between the gravel ridges

Human factors

From the late 17th century onward, successive passes through overripe or botrytised grapes: individually scissor-selected "roasted" berries, with harvesting exclusively by hand
AOC established in 1936, formally requiring successive tries through grapes in a state of overripeness (noble rot)

Product characteristics

Complex aromas of honey, acacia, and citrus; a full, unctuous palate thanks to Botrytis cinerea
Elegant, fresh wines with a pronounced liveliness, lighter in style than Sauternes, with a cellaring potential of 5 to 15 years

Terroir / wine link

Varied soils (excluding thick clay, aeolian sands, and palus): this diversity contributes complexity to the aromatic expression of the crus

Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.