Château Sigalas Rabaud 2014 - 1er Cru Classé de Sauternes

Bettane & Desseauve

About wine:

Always aromatic with yellow fruit notes, less sweet than some of its peers but remarkably balanced, it will find its place at the table alongside dishes that it deserves to inspire.

About the estate:

Directly adjacent to Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Sigalas-Rabaud is a small vineyard covering 14 hectares in a single block (the smallest classified growth in Sauternes), ideally exposed and capable of producing a very sweet wine of transcendent finesse. Due to its early ripening, grape rot develops in a particularly noble way here, as proven by the great vintages of the last twenty years. Laure Compeyrot de Lambert is steering the estate towards more respectful viticulture and producing dry wines with character.

Guide Hachette des vins

About wine:

Produced in one of the finest terroirs in Sauternes, this wine truly reflects its origins. While its golden color is of medium intensity, it is enlivened by brilliant highlights and the bouquet is already very expressive, blending subtle fragrances of lime blossom with more intense notes of candied apricot, orange, and vanilla. Supple, round, and rich, the palate is in harmony with the nose, unfolding rich aromas of candied yellow fruit before offering a delicate woodiness with hints of vanilla and coconut on the finish. A racy sweet wine that will delight lovers of traditional Sauternes. The previous vintage was voted a favorite.

About the estate:

Established in the 17th century by a family of magistrates in the Bordeaux parliament, Ch. Rabaud was acquired by Henri Sigalas and became Sigalas-Rabaud in 1863. In 1903, his son Pierre sold 30 hectares to the Promis family, keeping only "the jewel of the terroir," or the current 14 hectares, planted on a ridge of gravel on clay. The estate then underwent a turbulent period (leasing, mergers, divisions) until the family lands were taken over in 1951 by Marie-Antoinette de Lambert des Granges, née Sigalas, whose granddaughter, Laure de Lambert Compeyrot, is now in charge.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About wine:

Pale lemon in color, the 2014 Sigalas has a wonderfully exotic nose of tropical fruits with hints of honeycomb, fresh ginger, allspice, and a touch of lime blossom. The rich and boldly fruity palate has a zippy line of freshness lifting layer upon layer of pineapple and guava-inspired flavors, ending with a long, lingering spicy note.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

The Lambert family cultivates this magnificent, homogeneous terroir, which provides ideal conditions for the development of noble rot. The style of the wine is unparalleled: while it rivals the Haut-Sauternais premier crus in terms of richness and power, with a similar bouquet, it reveals a more assertive finesse that only increases with age. Ultimately, these are small miracles that a core group of loyal connoisseurs place at the pinnacle of Sauternes. Laure de Lambert-Compeyrot took over the management of Sigalas Rabaud in 2013 and is energetically developing the production of dry whites (La Sémillante de Sigalas and La Demoiselle). She is also fighting for the recognition of a new dry Sauternes appellation.

Wine Spectator

Wine Enthusiast

About wine:

The wine is rich, loaded with botrytis and concentration. With its balanced acidity and dried fruit flavors, it is ripe, magnificent, and developing well, albeit slowly. This will be a great wine, but wait until 2024 to open it.

Jancis Robinson

James Suckling

About wine:

The wine shows great tension and beauty with dried fruit, minerals, and intensity. Medium-bodied with a brilliant finish.

Le Figaro vins