Château Sigalas Rabaud Sauternes 2012 - 1er Cru Classé (37,5cl)

Bettane & Desseauve

About wine:

One of the most successful wines in the region in this very difficult year, with freshness, yet still rich in liquor and no deviation towards iodine or mushroom. This terroir drains beautifully. Drink before 2032.

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.

Decanter

About wine:

Intense sweetness (131 gm/l residual sugar) with beautiful balance and wonderful precision. This wine does not have the density of the best vintages, but it has balance, harmony, and freshness in a difficult vintage. Eric Boissenot is the consultant for this estate. 2019–2027

Guide Hachette des vins

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.

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

About wine:

This wine has notes of toasted coconut, warm brioche, pear, and peach cream. It has good length, with a hint of candied lemon peel that adds depth to the finish. A fine effort for the vintage.

Jancis Robinson

Vinous

About wine:

Sigalas Rabaud 2012 has a beautiful, very pure bouquet with aromas of white peach, quince, and saffron. The palate is well-balanced with a syrupy attack, good weight, density, and fine acidity, with much more botrytis on the finish than Château de Malle 2012. This is not a wine for long aging, but it is definitely worth trying. Tasted blind during the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting.

Le Figaro vins

About wine:

Sigalas is an honestly crafted wine with great elegance. Without the usual power, it is medium-bodied but nicely balanced.