Château de Cérons

High on a terrace above the Garonne River, Château de Cérons is a wine estate that dates back to the end of the 17th century. Located in the village of Cérons, on a gravelly terroir, the estate produces renowned sweet and gravelly wines. It offers red cuvées, Bordeaux vins d'Or and Cérons dry whites.

The producer

This magnificent wine-growing chartreuse is listed as a historic monument. Since its creation, the Château de Cérons has always been dedicated to the cultivation of vines and the production of wines. The Marquis de Calvimont in the 18th century, then the family of architect Roger Expert, were among the estate's owners who set out to improve the quality of Cérons wines.

In 1958, the estate was bought by Suzanne and Jean Perromat. Both heirs to families with a long winemaking history, they brought to Cérons their passion and the know-how inscribed in the traditions they had received from their own forebears. The château has been run since 2012 by Caroline and Xavier Perromat, their son and his wife.

The winery

The vineyard covers 30 hectares of exceptional Bordeaux terroir. Two particularities distinguish the appellation. The first is the asteriated limestone subsoil underlain by alluvial gravel, and the second is the microclimate, which provides ideal conditions for the development of Botrytis Cinerea. This unique terroir is fully expressed in the wines of Château de Cérons. The cuvées are marked by a beautiful minerality and offer a unique, highly precise aromatic palette.

The grape varieties include Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle and Sauvignon Gris for the whites and the kings of Bordeaux for the reds: Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

In a constant quest for quality, Xavier and Caroline Perromat committed the estate to the EMS (Environmental Management System) approach as soon as they took over in 2012. As a result, they have developed environmentally-friendly integrated farming practices: organic treatments, use of plant cover, individualized monitoring for each plot, exclusively mechanical weeding, etc. These changes were rewarded in 2019 with HVE (High Environmental Value) certification.

The wines

The Château de Cérons en AOC Cérons millésime 2016 is a great sweet Bordeaux wine. The blend gives pride of place to Sémillon, with 88% of this grape variety. It is complemented by Sauvignon Blanc and Gris and a touch of Muscadelle. Hand-picked, the grapes are harvested at over-ripeness and only those showing Botrytis at the "rotten-roasted" stage are selected. The result is a balanced, fresh wine with an aromatic bouquet characteristic of this terroir. The nose is very fresh, with a fruity palette of yellow peach, lemon, heather honey and acidic nuances. A powerful, straightforward wine.

The Château de Cérons en AOC Graves Rouges millésime 2019 is an aromatic, rich wine with great power and balance. It is made from a blend of 40% Merlot and 60% Cabernet Sauvignon. The nose is fruity and deep, with hints of strawberry, cherry and chocolate. The palate is greedy, with very velvety tannins. The cuvée has received numerous accolades from the specialist press: Decanter gave it a score of 91/100, James Suckling 90/100 and the German magazine vvWine 18.5/20.