Sainte-Croix-du-Mont

France · AOC · South-West

Styles

Natural factors

Appellation limited to the commune of Sainte-Croix-du-Mont, on the right bank of the Garonne, 45 km south-east of Bordeaux.
A bedrock of Astéries limestone overlaid with sandy-gravelly decalcification clays: an environment well suited to viticulture.
A reef of fossil oysters (Ostrea aquitanica) embedded in the limestone cliff; caves have been carved into it for wine storage.
Autumnal mesoclimate: morning mists rising from the Garonne alternating with warmth and wind, promoting Botrytis cinerea (noble rot). (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)

Human factors

After phylloxera, replanting centred on Sémillon with Sauvignon and Muscadelle; AOC recognised in 1936 following a delimitation ruling by the court of appeal in 1930.
Harvest carried out in multiple manual tries of botrytised berries; dry northerly to north-easterly winds in October–November encourage concentration and botrytisation.

Product characteristics

Golden colour deepening to amber with age; young aromas of white fruits and flowers, evolving toward candied fruits, citrus, and toasty notes from barrel ageing. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
The palate is very soft, balanced and delicate, with a rich aromatic finish; youthful wines show lively freshness, becoming more unctuous with age.

Terroir / wine link

Clay-limestone soils → slow botrytis concentration (10–12 days); gravelly soils → rapid concentration, making the timing of each trie critical.

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