Château Rabaud-Promis, 'Promesse de Rabaud-Promis', 2018, Sauternes (AOC)

'One-Liner'
Luscious but beautifully fresh Sauternes – candied citrus, pear and exotic fruit wrapped in honeyed richness and bright, cleansing acidity.

Tasting Note
Brilliant golden yellow in the glass, with an inviting nose of candied citrus, ripe Williams pear and exotic fruit, joined by touches of lychee and toasted nuts. The palate is rich and silky, with Sémillon bringing generous sweetness and weight while Sauvignon Blanc provides the freshness needed to keep everything beautifully balanced. Notes of apricot, citrus peel and honey develop through the middle, with a subtle nutty complexity beginning to emerge with age. Despite its sweetness, there is plenty of acidity underneath, preventing the wine from ever feeling heavy. Long and finely poised on the finish, with candied fruit, citrus and gentle spice lingering behind.

Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Sub-Region: Sauternes AOC
Grape(s): 80% Sémillon, 20% Sauvignon Blanc
ABV: 13.5%
Friendly: Sustainable

Awards & Critics' Scores
VertdeVin – 90–91/100, 15.5/20

The Story
'Promesse de Rabaud-Promis' is the second wine of Château Rabaud-Promis, one of the Premier Crus of Sauternes in the historic 1855 classification. Produced since 2008, it draws principally on fruit from the estate’s younger vines or parcels not selected for the grand vin, giving a more immediately approachable expression of the château’s style. The estate occupies around 33 hectares on the slopes of Bommes, where gravel and clay soils meet the humid morning air generated by the nearby Ciron and Garonne, creating the ideal conditions for noble rot. That Botrytis cinerea concentrates the grapes’ sugars, acidity and flavour, producing the extraordinary combination of richness and freshness that defines good Sauternes.

Perfect With... (click me for the recipe)
- Meat/fish: Venison loin with blackberry, juniper and red wine sauce
- Vegetarian: Chestnut mushroom pithivier with a dressed green salad
- Vegan: Roast celeriac with Puy lentils, braised shallots and peppercorn jus