Chateau du Cros La Tradition Loupiac AC, Famille Boyer

Description

Chateau du Cros La Tradition is the flagship dessert wine from this estate and is only made in exceptional vintages.

Chateau du Cros is the main property of the Famille Boyer and is located in the small Bordeaux appellation of Loupiac. The commune of Loupiac is located between Cadillac and Ste Croix de Mont on the right bank of the Garonne river directly opposite the famous sweet wine growing left bank appellations of Barsac and Sauternes. The Cros vineyard is located in Loupiac 40kms to the south of Bordeaux and consists of some 60 hectares of vines surrounding the medieval Chateau du Cros. The medieval Chateau was inhabited until 1940 but was partly destroyed in World War 2 and has since fallen in ruin. The remains are perched atop a hill which is the highest point to view the Garonne in the Gironde. The family have a very rare, single plot of Semillon vines planted here that are 107 years old. The soils here have a high proportion of limestone which helps to produce wines with good acidity. The vineyards are located only 80 metres from the Garonne River where it converges with the Cirons. The confluence of the two rivers creates a thermal shock resulting in very misty conditions from August through to October – the ideal conditions for the Botrytis Cinerea or Noble Rot that helps to concentrate the aromas and sweetness in the grapes for sweet wine production.

Chateau du Cros La Tradition is made from a particular plot of Semillon vines planted in 1907 located at the top of the hill behind the medieval Chateau. Yields are low and the grapes are hand-picked with 5 selective picking sweeps through the vineyards. After pressing and fermentation the wine is aged for 16 months in French oak barrels.