France, Bordeaux

Sauternes Premier Cru 1855 At 14ha, Sigalas-Rabaud is the smallest of the Premier Cru Sauternes estates. It has been owned by the same family since Henri de Sigalas purchased Château Rabaud in 1863. His son, Pierre, sold off a good portion of the estate in 1903 to Adrien Promis, giving rise to the neighbouring Château Rabaud-Promis. Oddly, between 1929 and 1949, the two estates employed the same Estate Manager and they were virtually run as one, but they are today quite seperate. The vineyards are planted with 98% Semillon and just 2% Sauvignon Blanc. The influence of oak in Sigalas-Rabaud is, perhaps, a little lower than other Sauternes. Until 1990, wines were fermented in stainless-steel and aged only partially in wood. Even today, although fermented and aged in barrique, only a third of barrels are new each year.