Château Haut-Claverie Sauternes 2020 in a half bottle is a classic Sauternes for moments when you want to combine rich sweetness with precision and fresh tension. The estate in Fargues has been working on this style for generations and even bottles this wine specifically in 0.375 L, which makes it extra attractive for a refined dessert, cheese board, or small gathering. This signature begins in Sauternes itself, where morning mist and sun together enable the development of botrytis. What is botrytis cinerea? It is the noble rot that dehydrates grapes, thus providing more concentration, depth, and sweet intensity.
The origin of this wine lies in Fargues, one of the classic communes of Sauternes.
- Location / Origin: Château Haut-Claverie is located in Fargues, within the Sauternes appellation in the southern part of Bordeaux. This places it in one of the most famous areas in the world for noble sweet wine.
- Vineyard area: The estate covers 16.50 ha in total, of which 13.10 ha is planted with Sauternes. This underlines how strongly the house is focused on this appellation.
- Soil: The vines for this wine are on gravelly clay slopes. This combination gives structure to the vineyard and perfectly matches the estate's classic Sauternes style.
- Climate & influences: The winery benefits from oceanic influence, while the confluence of the Garonne and Ciron rivers creates a unique microclimate. Morning mist followed by sunny hours here creates precisely the conditions in which noble rot develops optimally.
- Vineyard & harvest: The harvest is done entirely by hand, in 3 to 6 successive passes. This way, only the best ripened and botrytis-affected grapes are selected.
In the cellar, Haut-Claverie opts for a classic, precise approach that brings together richness and tension.
- Harvest & Selection: Manual harvesting in multiple passes allows for strict selection, which is essential for a precise and balanced Sauternes.
- Fermentation: Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. This keeps the fruit expression clear and gives the wine its neat, pure aromatic profile.
- Aging / Wood aging: After fermentation, the wine ages in cement and then for 6 to 18 months in oak barrels. This combination provides extra roundness, texture, and a beautifully integrated, classic depth.
- Alcohol percentage: With 13.5% alcohol, this Sauternes has enough power to carry its sweet intensity, while remaining balanced and refined.
The blend remains true to the estate's classic white grapes in Sauternes, without unnecessary embellishment.
- Sémillon – Sauternes: Sémillon forms the historical core of the white plantings on the estate and is inextricably linked to Haut-Claverie's classic signature.
- Sauvignon Blanc – Sauternes: Sauvignon Blanc completes this cuvée and, like Sémillon, is among the officially listed grapes for this wine.
