Château Sigalas Rabaud

AOC Sauternes
First Growth

Created in the seventeenth century, the land of Rabaud was acquired in 1863 by Henri de Sigalas. Forty years later, his only son, Pierre Gaston de Sigalas sold the majority of the estate. He only kept ” the jewel of Sigalas,” a south-facing gravelly slope which remains as the current 14 hectares. The de Lambert des Granges family, heir to Château Sigalas Rabaud, perpetuates their family’s legacy by respecting the « terroir » and the selection of the wines in order to produce a great Sauternes. A demanding, manual bay-by-bay selection of pure botrytis cinerea from September to November gives the immense complexity of the great Sigalas Rabaud. This great wine never ceases to amaze with its aromatic richness, its beautiful silky robe and its length in the mouth.

Situation

14ha

Grape varieties

Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc

Soil

Clay-gravelly soil

Available Vintages

1997

Alcohol

13,5°

Blending

Sémillon 90 %, Sauvignon 10 %

Tasting

“1997 is reckoned to be an excellent Sauternes vintage, yet I’ve tasted a few wines that have been a touch disappointing, with very light Botrytis and lacking a bit of depth. Not this wine from Siglas-Rabaud however, that is immediately honeyed, full and ripe, with marzipan and almond notes, lots of nectarine and a suggestion of dried apricot and fig. The palate is flooded with Botrytis fruit, with barley sugar and burnt orange flavours, and a luscious, full-textured mid-palate weight. A really tangy orange and grapefruity finish completes the picture of an excellent Sauternes.” – Tom Cannavan