Château Filhot

Château Filhot winery (Sauternes)

Château Filhotis one of the most traditional wine estates in the Sauternes appellation and its wine was already classified as "Deuxième Cru Classé" (second growth) in the famous Bordeaux classification of 1855. The estate is particularly known for its elegant, less opulent style.

History and ownership

The origins of the vineyard date back to the years 1630-1650. The château itself was built in 1709 by Romain de Filhot, an advisor to the Bordeaux parliament. He is also considered one of the founders of today's Sauternes appellation. After the French Revolution, the estate passed to the influential Lur-Saluces family (known for the neighbouring Château d'Yquem). They had the château remodelled in the style of an English country estate in 1840. Since 1974, the estate has been owned by the Vaucelles family , a direct branch of Romain de Filhot's descendants. Château Filhot is therefore one of the few wine estates in Bordeaux that was founded before the revolution and has been owned by the same family without interruption ever since. Today, the estate is run by Gabriel de Vaucelles.

Location and terroir

The estate covers an area of 350 hectares, of which 62 hectaresare planted with vines. The vineyards extend over the rolling hills of the commune of Sauternes. The soils consist of gravel, clay and sand on a limestone plateau. As is typical for the region, the nearby river Ciron provides the necessary moisture, which favours the development of noble rot (Botrytis cinerea). The estate is also famous for its extensive English landscape park with a picturesque pond, which was created in 1845 by landscape architect Louis-Bernard Fischer.

Vineyard and grape varieties

The vines at Château Filhot are on average around 35 years old and planted with the following varieties:

60% Sémillon: Provides fullness and the typical sweetness.
36% Sauvignon Blanc: Gives the wine its special freshness and a clear, lively flavour.
4% Muscadelle: Complements the bouquet with floral notes.

Vinification and ageing

The grapes are traditionally harvested in several elaborate hand-picking processes (3 to 6 times) in order to select only those berries that are fully penetrated by noble rot. Yields are deliberately kept low at 15-18 hectolitres per hectare. After pressing, the must ferments for 12 to 20 days in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. The wine then matures for a total of 22 months: it first matures for ten months in separate batches in barriques, then the batches are blended and remain in the barrel for a further twelve months. One third of the barriques are renewed each year. In addition to the Grand Vin, there is also a second wine called Château Pineau du Rey and a dry white wine, Château Pineau du Rey Sec

Style and rating

Château Filhot is known for its fresher, less heavy stylecompared to other Sauternes. Due to the high proportion of Sauvignon Blanc, the wine is characterised by a lively acidity and aromas of acacia blossom, exotic fruits and candied orange, which perfectly balance the natural sweetness. The wines are known for their remarkable elegance and longevity and are consistently recognised by the international trade press. Current vintages regularly receive scores of 92 to 95 points from publications such as The Wine Advocate (Robert Parker) and Wine Spectator.

Special wines

Filhot Crème de Tête: A high-quality cuvée that has been produced in small quantities since 1990.
Vin de Grande Gelee: An experimental ice wine that the estate was one of the few houses in Sauternes to produce in the 1980s.

Specialities

A speciality of the estate is its own production of acacia honey, which is sold directly on site. The château can be visited by appointment and guided tours of the historic cellars are available.

Conclusion

Château Filhot is a traditional winery that produces classic, elegant Sauternes of high quality. Thanks to the high proportion of Sauvignon Blanc, it offers a more accessible, fresher style that goes well with classic delicacies such as foie gras and blue cheese as well as being excellent as an aperitif.