Chateau Lamothe Guignard – Sauternes
Sauternes 2nd Great Growth
Located in the commune of Haux southwest of Bordeaux’s city center, Chateau Lamothe has actively produced estate-bottled wine since the 16th century. The fermentation use natural local yeasts, in barrels. The wine is carefully monitored at all stages. Fermentation calls for maintaining a temperature of between 20 and 22°C. The ageing process for great growth wines is eighteen months to two years in most cases, and sometimes up to three years.
Grape Variety:
75% Semillion, 25% Sauvignon, 5% Muscadelle
Vineyard:
The vineyards of Chateau Lamothe-Guignard is divided in two different soils, most important, is located on several “plateau” with gravelly soil, and the other is one of the best Sauternes’ gravelly and chalky soil facing north and north west’s Ciron’s valleyl’s slopes. Ciron is the river which gives this soil’s climate and brings “noble rot” required for this wine’s elaboration.
In the Sauternais, grapes’concentration results from Borytis Cinerea, also called “noble rot”. This mould grows on grapes and pumps water out of berries to condense sugar and flavors Grapes are picked in several times to select only berries enough condensed. Then, berries are traditionally turned to wine in oak’s barrels.
Winemaking:
From the harvest right through to bottling, no estate mixes grape varieties before fermentation. The blending process comes much later. Direct or indirect pressing requires great care and careful adjustment, including the traditional vertical basket press, the horizontal basket press, and the pneumatic press is used. The fermentation process uses natural local yeasts in barrels. The wine is carefully monitored at all stages. Fermentation calls for maintaining a temperature of between 20 and 22°C. In theory, it will stop naturally when the yeast produces an alcohol concentration sufficient to inhibit its own action or kill itself. The ageing process lasts eighteen months to two years in most cases, and sometimes up to three years.
Tasting Note:
The wine has beautiful deep-gold colour. The nose is subtle with notes of acacia flowers. In mouth, it is rich and expansive, with quite fruity notes in finale.
Pairing Food:
The wine works well with seafood, especially shellfish, pork, veal, chicken, game birds or dishes with cream sauces. Cheese, hard and soft is another great pairing for Sauternes or other sweet wines, especially blue cheese.
Rating: Vintage 2014: 95 Points in Wine Enthusiast
Additional information
| Appellation | Sauternes |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Region | |
| Wine type | White wine |
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