Graves in its sweet guise
Graves supérieures shares exactly the production area of the Graves appellation, south of Bordeaux along the Garonne, but is distinguished by its wine type: it is reserved for sweet whites. It is a discreet but historic facet of the region, once as widespread as the dry whites.
The terroir and the harvest
The soil is that of Graves: terraces of gravel and pebbles mixed with sand and clay, laid down by the Garonne. To produce a sweet wine, the grapes are harvested overripe, through successive manual selective pickings, and must reach a high minimum sugar richness (around 195 grams per litre of must), for a deliberately limited yield.
The style of the wines
Sémillon, the main grape variety, brings richness and sweetness, balanced by the freshness of sauvignon and the complexity of muscadelle. The result is sweet, unctuous and fragrant white wines, less concentrated than a Sauternes but elegant — perfect as an aperitif or with sweet-and-savoury cuisine.