Nose
Interesting aromatic complexity, citrus and lime blossom on the nose.
Palate
Ample palate, well balanced with nice freshness and discrete and melded oak notes. A very successful wine.
Growing Conditions
The Château Rahoul vineyards are situated on a sandy-gravel and clay-gravel terroir, typical of the Graves appellation. The vines are managed with meticulous care, where techniques were adapted to the unusual weather conditions of the vintage, essentially to compensate for the persistent drought in the run up to the summer and excess humidity prior to the harvest. This extreme vigilance has been rewarded with grapes ripening normally. The white grapes were picked over the course of several passages through the vines from 30th August to 7th September. The grapes (predominantly Semillon 70%) are vinified and aged on the lees in one year old oak barrels, so as not to affect the magnificent aromatic complexity and fruit freshness backed by appealing richness on the palate.
Sauvignon Blanc yield their best results on the premium quality plots located in Saint-Selve, while Semillon flourishes on the sandy-gravel soils of Portets and Podensac, where it reveals its true worth.
Harvest
We harvest sauvignons and semillons in the morning freshness in order to preserve their natural acidity.
Sémillon and Sauvignon: August 30th to September 7th
Bottling
July 2012
Winemaking
The white grapes, which are predominantly Semillon, are harvested by hand in slatted crates to avoid any damage to the berries. They are then pressed under inert gas to retain the complex aromas and the freshness of the musts.
Aging
The wines are then aged for 8-9 months. Matured on the fine lees with regular stirring (one year old barrels in majority).
Food Pairing
Perfectly matches poultry (ginea fowl, roasted chicken), fishes (lobster, skate with cream and sauces), crustacean (oysters, crab), and cheese (unpasteurized and mature cheese).
