Late Harvest

Château Sigalas Rabaud

Premier Cru Classé 1855 2012, 37,5cl

Sauternes, Bordeaux

Château Sigalas Rabaud

The Terroir: Planted on a slight south-facing slope, the vineyard grows on the famous “Sauternes terraces,” oriented south and at altitude, characterized by a base of clay covered by a silico-gravelly soil deposited by the Garonne River 600,000 years ago. This soil allows for perfect nourishment of the vine and provides beautiful maturation.

To the northwest flows the Ciron, a small river with cold waters that promotes the formation of mists essential for the development of Botrytis cinerea.

This famous fungus enables the appearance of noble rot. The golden berries then acquire a violet hue, become covered with a light white fuzz, and subsequently shrink. This concentration is accompanied by a multiplication of aromas and flavors in the grapes.

“In the end, this terroir is one of the small miracles that a core of devoted connoisseurs places at the pinnacle of Sauternes.” — Olivier POUSSIER, Best Sommelier in the World, Wine Guide of France.

Vinification: A beautiful attack of botrytis allowed the harvest to start on September 25th for the production of Le Château Sigalas Rabaud. The small surface area and the homogeneous terroir of Sigalas offered, as always, the possibility to harvest quickly a “noble rot” of great purity. Five passes were necessary. It is a very vibrant year with beautiful concentration.

Aging: 18 months in French oak barrels.

Winemaker: Eric Boissenot.

Pairing: Capon with raisins, stuffed with foie gras, sautéed small potatoes, and porcini mushrooms.

Allergens information

Contains sulphites.

Château Sigalas Rabaud

A story that dates back to the 17th century, when the magistrates of the Bordeaux parliament discovered the potential of the great terroirs on the left bank of the Garonne. Counselor Rabaud then established a vineyard of 60 hectares south of the Ciron, the famous Garonne tributary. In 1832, the Jullien Guide (the reference guide of the time) rated the quality of Rabaud’s production at the level of Yquem and Rayne Vigneau, and during the 1855 classification, alongside Châteaux Latour, Haut Brion, among others, Rabaud was elevated to the rank of 1er cru.

In the hands of the Sigalas family since 1863, the Château is currently managed by Laure de Lambert Compeyrot, who, armed with a solid scientific background acquired at Montpellier Supagro and the Bordeaux School of Oenology, represents the sixth generation.

This family of winemakers, the oldest owner of a 1er cru classé of 1855, strives for perfection.

With its fourteen hectares, Château SIGALAS RABAUD is the smallest of the first growths. At the center of the estate, the 17th-century chartreuse, a close neighbor of Château d’Yquem, is harmoniously surrounded by the cellar and outbuildings.

85% of the vineyard is planted with Sémillon, 15% with Sauvignon, two of the great emblematic grape varieties of Sauternes. The terroir is enhanced by “mass selection,” which involves preserving the DNA of outstanding old vines. Over time, this maintains the original character of SIGALAS wines.

With the aim of respecting the terroir and passing on a living soil to future generations, meticulous tools for preserving biodiversity and plant heritage have been implemented, and the estate achieved the highest certification of Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE3) in 2016.

Address

Château SIGALAS RABAUD
33210 BOMMES
FRANÇA