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Château Caillou - Grand Cru Classé
Château Caillou, Sauternes Grand Cru Classé (Barsac): sémillon sweet wine, direct from the estate...
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Château Caillou, the art of Sauternes as a Grand Cru Classé of Barsac
Château Caillou Grand Cru Classé
A Grand Cru Classe in 1855, Château Caillou produces great sweet wines of Barsac (Sauternes), south of Bordeaux. A family estate of 18 hectares on a clay-limestone plateau, in the Ballan family since 1909. Cuvees Château Caillou, Cuvée du Centenaire and Les Tourelles de Caillou, dominated by Sémillon.
Château Caillou, a Grand Cru Classe in 1855, was bought at auction in 1909 by Monsieur Ballan. In 1997, his granddaughter Marie-José managed the property with her husband Michel Pierre, until 2017, when their two sons, Jean-Noël and Sébastien, took over the family business. The vineyard extends over approximately 18 hectares of vines, in Barsac, a village located south of Bordeaux, on a clay-limestone plateau scattered with pebbles.
Sémillon and the art of noble rot
The majority grape, Sémillon, has as its essential virtue its ability to develop noble rot, essential to Sauternes. It favours the concentration of sugar in the grape berries, inducing a low yield. The late harvest is carried out by hand, in several passes through the rows. A meticulous selection on each bunch explains the exceptional and unique character of the Sauternes production. The choice of coopers as well as the blending of different years of barrels bring all the complexity to the wines and allow them to develop a recognised aromatic richness.
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A family estate, a continuous transmission
Since the acquisition by Monsieur Ballan in 1909, Château Caillou has never left the family. Marie-José, his granddaughter, took over in 1997 with her husband Michel Pierre, before passing it on in 2017 to their sons Jean-Noël and Sébastien. A rare continuity, which perpetuates in Barsac the demanding art of Sauternes, from the vine to the barrel.
The cuvees of Château Caillou
Three sweet Barsac wines, from the most accessible to the prestige cuvee, all dominated by Sémillon and noble rot. To discover direct from the estate.
Château Caillou Grand Cru Classé
Sweet - AOC Barsac (Sauternes), Grand Cru Classé 1855
The estate's grand vin, a classified growth of Barsac since 1855, in Sauternes. Dominated by Sémillon touched by noble rot, it is a sweet wine of great aromatic richness, concentrated and complex, aged in barrels. A wine for cellaring, the most accomplished expression of the Barsac terroir.
Cuvée du Centenaire
Sweet - AOC Barsac (Sauternes), prestige cuvee
The exceptional cuvee of Château Caillou: a rare and prestigious selection, the summit of the estate's savoir-faire. An intense, deep Sauternes of great complexity, for great occasions and cellaring.
Les Tourelles de Caillou
Sweet - AOC Barsac (Sauternes), the accessible cuvee
The estate's most accessible cuvee, ideal to discover the Sauternes of Château Caillou: a generous, balanced sweet wine, on fruit and freshness, faithful to the house style.
The art of noble rot
Manual late harvest, grape-by-grape sorting, barrel ageing
Sémillon, the majority grape, develops the noble rot that concentrates the sugar in the berries and induces low yields. The late harvest is carried out by hand, in several passes, with a meticulous selection on each bunch. The choice of coopers and the blending of different years of barrels bring complexity and richness.
A great Barsac Sauternes, direct from the estate
Barsac, a great terroir of sweet wines
A neighbour of Sauternes, with which it shares the appellation, Barsac stands out for its clay-limestone plateau scattered with pebbles, which brings freshness and finesse to the sweet wines. The morning mists and sunny afternoons favour the development of noble rot. Château Caillou, a Grand Cru Classe, expresses there all the richness and elegance of the great Sauternes.
The art of Sauternes at Château Caillou
A Grand Cru Classe of 1855, in the Ballan family since 1909, 18 hectares on the Barsac plateau, Sémillon and noble rot, late harvests sorted by hand and ageing in selected barrels. Concentrated, complex sweet wines for cellaring, from the accessible Les Tourelles cuvee to the prestigious Cuvée du Centenaire.
Why choose Château Caillou?
A Grand Cru Classe of 1855. One of the great sweet wines of Barsac, in the Ballan family since 1909.
The art of noble rot. Sémillon, late harvests sorted by hand, low yields.
An exceptional barrel ageing. Choice of coopers and blending of different years, for complexity.
Three cuvees to discover. Les Tourelles de Caillou, the Grand Cru Classé and the Cuvée du Centenaire.
Frequently asked questions about Château Caillou
What makes Château Caillou unique among Sauternes?
Château Caillou is a Grand Cru Classe of Barsac since the historic 1855 classification, on a clay-limestone plateau scattered with pebbles, south of Bordeaux. Its majority grape, Sémillon, develops the noble rot essential to Sauternes: it concentrates the sugar in the berries and imposes low yields. The late, manual and selective harvest, and barrel ageing (with a meticulous choice of coopers) give sweet wines of a recognised aromatic richness, concentrated, complex and for cellaring.
Where is Château Caillou located?
In Barsac (33720), a village located south of Bordeaux, on a clay-limestone plateau scattered with pebbles. The vineyard extends over approximately 18 hectares, in the heart of the appellation of the great sweet wines of the Sauternes area.
What is the history of Château Caillou?
A Grand Cru Classe in 1855, bought at auction in 1909 by Monsieur Ballan. In 1997, his granddaughter Marie-José managed the property with her husband Michel Pierre, until 2017, when their two sons, Jean-Noël and Sébastien, took over the family business. A continuity that perpetuates the art of Sauternes in Barsac.
Is Château Caillou organic?
The estate does not communicate a specific organic or environmental certification. Its demand is read in the work in the vineyard and the cellar: a late harvest carried out by hand in several passes, a meticulous selection on each bunch, and a careful barrel ageing, guarantors of the exceptional character of the Château Caillou Sauternes.
What are the cuvees of Château Caillou?
Three sweet Barsac (Sauternes) cuvees: Château Caillou Grand Cru Classé (the grand vin), the Cuvée du Centenaire (the prestige cuvee, rare and intense) and Les Tourelles de Caillou (the most accessible cuvee, ideal to discover the estate).
What is the Cuvée du Centenaire?
The exceptional cuvee of Château Caillou: a rare and prestigious selection, the summit of the estate's savoir-faire. An intense, deep Sauternes of great aromatic complexity, designed for great occasions and long cellaring.
What is Les Tourelles de Caillou?
The estate's most accessible cuvee, ideal to discover the Sauternes of Château Caillou. A generous, balanced sweet wine, on fruit and freshness, faithful to the house style.
What is Sauternes and noble rot?
Sauternes is a sweet white wine born of noble rot (Botrytis cinerea), a fungus that develops on the grape in the particular conditions of the Sauternes area (morning mists and sunny afternoons). It concentrates the sugar and the aromas in the berries, at the cost of very low yields. Sémillon, the majority grape of Château Caillou, is particularly suited to it.
How are the grapes harvested at Château Caillou?
The harvest is late and carried out by hand, in several passes through the rows, in order to pick only the berries affected by noble rot at their peak. A meticulous selection on each bunch, sorting after sorting, explains the exceptional and unique character of the Sauternes production.
How are the wines of Château Caillou aged?
The ageing is done in oak barrels. The choice of coopers as well as the blending of different years of barrels bring all the complexity to the wines and allow them to develop a recognised aromatic richness. Each cuvee requires time, attention and patience.
What food pairings work with a Château Caillou Sauternes?
A Barsac Sauternes like Château Caillou pairs wonderfully with foie gras, blue cheeses (roquefort), fruit or cream desserts, but also, more surprisingly, with spiced poultry or a sweet-and-savoury dish. It is also served very well as an aperitif, well chilled.
Can you buy the Château Caillou wines directly?
Yes: the cuvees and the different vintages are available here, direct from the estate, shipped with care across France and Europe.
Direct from the estate, the art of Sauternes in Barsac
Château Caillou: a Grand Cru Classe in 1855, a great sweet wine of Barsac (Sauternes), in Barsac (Gironde), south of Bordeaux, on a clay-limestone plateau scattered with pebbles. A family estate of 18 hectares, in the Ballan family since 1909 (today Jean-Noël and Sébastien). Majority grape: Sémillon, essential to noble rot; manual late harvests, barrel ageing.
Cuvees Château Caillou Grand Cru Classé (the grand vin), Cuvée du Centenaire (prestige) and Les Tourelles de Caillou (accessible), sweet Barsac wines