Les Lions de La Louvière, AOC Graves supérieures, white sweet, 2023

Les Lions de La Louvière | Dessert white

AOC Graves supérieures

Presentation

The Cuvée des Lions de La Louvière is a rare, luscious sweet wine, produced only in years when exceptional climatic conditions (heat, high air humidity, etc.) come together. These unique circumstances encourage the development of Noble Rot—the remarkable natural process behind the world-famous wines of Sauternes—on our Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Nature follows its own whims: this extraordinary combination of meteorological phenomena occurs only once every five to seven years, roughly every five or seven vintages!

The wine

Varietal

Sauvignon blanc : 100%

Alcohol content

13% vol.

Weather conditions

2023 was marked by a uniform start to vegetation: bud-break dates returned to normal, foliage developed rapidly and the bunches emerged beautifully. Heavy rainfall in the spring tarnished the start of the season somewhat, with mildew appearing in places. There was no hot summer in 2023, but relatively cool nights and warm but not excessively hot days in July and August created ideal ripening conditions for the grapes, which produced remarkable aromatic potential.

Harvest

08 September 2023

Tasting

This wine has a golden yellow colour with a beautiful shine, enriched with amber highlights.
The nose is complex and elegant, blending floral notes (acacia, orange blossom) and aromas of candied fruit, dominated by apricot. A slightly spicy, brioche and honeyed touch adds depth and richness.
On the palate, the attack is smooth and velvety, carried by a round, controlled and harmonious texture. The finish reveals a fresh and delicate menthol note, which balances the sweetness and prolongs the sensation in the mouth.
Suave, long and luminous: a sweet profile balanced by freshness, creating a tasting moment that lingers as an unforgettable memory.

Technical information

Terroir

Deep gravel with fine limestone over small areas at the foot of the slopes

In the vineyard

Pruning type: Guyot double
Grape Harvest: By hand in several passes

Winemaking

After settling, in oak barrels. .

Ageing

For 18 months in oak barrels (35% new) on full lees with bâtonnage.

Serving

Serving

Serve between 9°C and 12°C

Ageing potential

Over 15 years

Food pairings

Foie gras toasts, prawns in coconut milk curry (mildly spicy), chicken supreme with preserved lemon, blue cheese platter (Roquefort / blue-veined cheeses), passion fruit and pineapple pavlova.

Château La Louvière

Château La Louvière

Located a few kilometers south of Bordeaux, Château La Louvière is an emblematic property of the Pessac-Léognan appellation, renowned for its fine Bordeaux wines. With a winegrowing history spanning over 700 years, the Château produces red wines of great finesse and elegant white wines with excellent ageing potential. The wine tourism area and boutique welcome you all year round for wine tours and tastings in Bordeaux, an immersive experience at the heart of an exceptional terroir.