Château de Géraud, Monbazillac
Château de Géraud, Monbazillac
Their vines planted across sweeping alluvial terraces that gaze upon the River Dordogne, the Gérardin family have owned the hills and slopes around the village of Saussignac since the 18th century. The first bottlings on the property itself began in 1920, and with 39 productive hectares, the family have established themselves as one of the most important independent producers of Monbazillac and the Côtes de Bergerac. The slopes they cultivate face north, with their aspect attenuating sun exposure and leading to correspondingly higher humidity. As the autumn mists rise from the river below, Château de Géraud enjoys perfect conditions for the development of Botrytis, their cépages of Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle withering and concentrating on the vine. Château de Géraud have admirably strict selection practices for Monbazillac AOC, which, combined with the native quality of their holdings, leads to a particularly rich, concentrated and luscious expression of the appellation.
Chateau Géraud are one of the few Monbazillacs that make a viable lower-cost alternative to Sauternes without a substantial sacrifice of quality, a particular boon in hospitality settings. Their wine is honied, exotic and balanced, evolving rich notes of pineapple, mango and ripe grapefruit, sumptuous fruit character complexified with flavours of spice and brûlée. It’s difficult not to drink, but if you are patient, it will age gracefully for decades.
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