Château la Rame
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Located in Sainte-Croix-du-Mont, Château La Rame is a family-owned winegrowing estate specialising in sweet white wines. Certified HVE, it crafts cuvées made from Sémillon and other grape varieties grown on clay-limestone soils.
Identity
Château La Rame is situated in the commune of Sainte-Croix-du-Mont. The estate is managed by Angélique Armand and Olivier Allo, with Lucien Llorca serving as consultant oenologist.
History and philosophy
The estate was acquired by the Allo family in 1956. Château La Rame is committed to environmentally friendly practices, as evidenced by its HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale) certification.
The appellations
The wines of Château La Rame are produced under the Sainte-Croix-du-Mont appellation.
Practical information
Château La Rame is located at La Rame, 33410 Sainte-Croix-du-Mont. To contact the estate, call +33 (0)5 56 62 01 50 or email dgm@wanadoo.fr. The property welcomes visitors without appointment from Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 12:00 pm and 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm. Weekend visits are available by appointment. The estate also offers on-site dining, cellar-door sales, and mail-order purchasing.
Find out more
Frequently asked questions
- Who currently manages Château La Rame and who is the oenologist?
- Château La Rame is managed by Angélique Armand and Olivier Allo, with Lucien Llorca serving as the estate's oenologist. Taken over by the Allo family in 1956, the property reflects a long tradition of family stewardship in the historic wine region of Sainte-Croix-du-Mont.
- What is the size of the vineyard and what grape varieties are planted?
- The vineyard of Château La Rame covers a total area of 50 hectares. It comprises 25 hectares dedicated to red grape varieties, predominantly Merlot (60%) and Cabernet-Sauvignon (40%), and 25 hectares planted with white varieties, primarily Sémillon (80%) and Sauvignon blanc (20%). The average vine age is approximately 48 years.
- What are the distinctive features of the terroir at Château La Rame?
- The terroir at Château La Rame is characterised by clay-limestone soils. A defining feature is the presence of fossilised oyster beds, which contributes to the uniqueness of this viticultural microclimate. These geological traits directly shape vine growing and define the distinctive style of the wines produced under the Sainte-Croix-du-Mont appellation.
- What are the flagship cuvées produced by Château La Rame?
- Château La Rame is celebrated for its sweet white wines. Key cuvées include “Château La Rame Tradition”, made from 100% Sémillon and offering aromas of apricot, peach, honey, and candied citrus. The flagship prestige cuvée, “Réserve du Château”, was created in 1983 and is produced only in top vintages through rigorous selective picking. The “Vieux Millésimes Réserve du Château La Rame” is renowned for its remarkable ageing potential.
The vineyard (terroir)
The vineyard spans 50 hectares, with 25 hectares dedicated to red grape varieties and 25 hectares to white varieties. The vines have an average age of 48 years. The soils are clay-limestone, distinguished by the presence of fossilised oyster beds. The white plantings consist of Sémillon (80%) and Sauvignon blanc (20%), whilst the reds are planted with Merlot (60%) and Cabernet-Sauvignon (40%). Harvesting is carried out entirely by hand.
Flagship cuvées
Château La Rame is renowned for its sweet wines. The “Château La Rame Tradition” cuvée is crafted from 100% Sémillon, sourced from vines averaging 50 years of age. This wine reveals aromas of apricot, peach, honey, white blossom, and candied citrus fruit, offering an ageing potential of 6 to 8 years.
The prestige cuvée is named “Réserve du Château”. Created in 1983, this cuvée is produced only in exceptional vintages, crafted from a rigorous selection of the finest selective pickings (tries). The “Vieux Millésimes Réserve du Château La Rame” is renowned for its outstanding cellaring potential, easily exceeding 30 years.
Vinification and ageing
For the “Château La Rame Tradition” cuvée, vinification takes place in stainless steel vats, followed by ageing in oak barrels for 30% of the volume. Harvesting is done by hand with successive selective pickings (tries), essential for the production of sweet botrytised wines.
- Appellation
- Sainte-Croix-du-Mont
- Commune
- Sainte-Croix-du-Mont
- Wine region
- Entre-deux-Mers
- Owner
- Famille Armand
- Technical direction
- Lucien Llorca
- Surface area
- 16 ha
- Certifications
- HVE
- Grape varieties
- Sémillon 80%, Sauvignon blanc 20%, Merlot 60%, Cabernet-Sauvignon 40%
Practical information
- Address
- La Rame, 33410 SAINTE-CROIX-DU-MONT
- Phone
- 05 56 62 01 50
- dgm@wanadoo.fr
- Contact form
- Contact the estate
- Visits
- Oui sans rendez-vous. Du lundi au vendredi de 8h30 à 12h et de 13h30 à 17h30, le week-end sur rendez-vous.