From: Bordeaux, France
Varietals: Sauvignon Blanc & a small amount of Sémillon
Tasting Notes and Critical Acclaim: Winemaker notes. The name Caillou refers to pebbles, reflecting the fact that this was once riverbed, when the river Garonne overflowed millions of years ago. The characteristic elegance and finesse of this wine is attributed to its free-draining, gravelly soil and subsoil. Lovely, gentle grassiness and wet-stone minerality, with enough weight to give this real substance. A great example of white Bordeaux wine.
93 Wine Enthusiast
Mainly Sauvignon Blanc with a soupçon of Sémillon, this wine has lemon freshness along with a floral character. The oaking has performed its smoothing magic while retaining the youthful fruitiness. The wine needs to age for several years. Wait to drink from 2024. - Cellar Selection
92 James Suckling
This has aromas of grapefruit, lemons, green apples and flint. Subtle nutmeg. Fresh and driven, with a medium body and plenty of tension. Mineral and fresh finish.?
91 Wine Spectator
A fresh, racy style, offering lime pith, oyster shell and chalk notes that race along, with zips of fleur de sel and quinine. The mouthwatering finish shows nice cut for the vintage. For fans of the bony style.
Pairing: When it comes to pairings, the wine's versatility shines. Creamy dishes such as risotto, fettuccine, and mild curries are ideal companions in this exquisite white Bordeaux. Moreover, its affinity for seafood, grilled fish, and delicate poultry makes it a delightful choice for discerning palates seeking to explore culinary delights. Our favorite seafood pairings include serving this alongside broiled mussels with garlicky herb butter, the always classic Lobster Thermador or Oysters Rockefeller (check out the Oysters Rockefeller recipe below), flounder with brown butter, lemon, and tarragon, sea scallops with brown butter, capers and lemon, and fish cakes.
Oysters Rockefeller
By Melissa Clark
About. At the entrance to Bordeaux, within the captivating embrace of the Pessac-Léognan appellation, lies the distinguished Château Picque Caillou. This illustrious 26-hectare vineyard stands as a lasting legacy of Bordeaux's winemaking tradition and is a close neighbor to the esteemed Haut-Brion and Pape Clément châteaux.
The current custodians of this storied estate, Isabelle and Paulin Calvet, have infused new life into Château Picque Caillou since their acquisition in 1997. With a lineage of Bordeaux wine merchants, Paulin Calvet's dedication to quality has propelled the estate to new heights. In collaboration with consultant oenologist Valérie Lavigne, the team focuses on showcasing the wine's pedigree, elegance, and purity while preserving its inherent fruit character and balance.
Château Picque Caillou draws its name from its pebbly terroir, a reflection of its origins as a riverbed that was formed millions of years ago by the Garonne River's ancient currents. The free-draining nature of the gravel and subsoil imparts a unique grassy freshness and wet-stone minerality, balanced by a substantial weight that gives the wine a sense of substance and depth.
The terroir itself is a reflection of the area's unique conditions. The fast-draining gravel soils and the warming influence of the urban environment result in an early start to the vine-growing season. These gravelly soils encourage the vines to establish deep-rooting systems in the almost infertile subsoil, contributing to the distinct expression of the wine.
