2001 Château Caillou

Château Caillou is a 40-acre estate in Haut-Barsac. Most of its vineyards are designated as Grand Cru Classé according to the 1855 classification. Although the estate was producing wine in the 17th and 18th centuries, its modern history dates from 1909 when Joseph Ballan acquired it. He passed it on to his daughters. Today the estate is run by the founder’s granddaughter, Marie-Josee Bravo, and her husband and sons. Château Caillou makes a highly regarded Sauternes, several second label Sauternes, and a dry white wine.

Sauternes makes the world’s most famous dessert wines. Though the appellation lies within the Graves region of Bordeaux’s left bank, the appellation makes only sweet wines from white grapes, primarily Semillon sometimes blended with small amounts of Muscadelle. The five communes within Sauternes are Barsac, Bommes, Fargues, Preignac and Sauternes. Barsac also has its own appellation and, typically, Barsac wines are slightly drier and lighter than other Sauternes. Sauternes are made when weather conditions result in a mold called Botrytis cinerea developing on the grapes, which causes them to become especially sweet. Sauternes are not produced every vintage, so successful vintages become especially collectible. Sauternes estates were classified in 1855, and Château d’Yquem, the appellation’s most prestigious estate, was ranked in a class by itself as a Premier Grand Cru. Château d’Yquem wines are among the most prized wines in the world.