Château Sigalas Rabaud 'La Demoiselle de Sigalas', 2022, Bordeaux, France

All the pedigree of a Premier Cru Classé Sauternes estate, without the sweetness. 

About the wine

Who said Sauternes was all about sweet wine? Château Sigalas Rabaud, one of Bordeaux’s prestigious Premier Cru Classé estates, has another trick up its sleeve: a beautifully crafted dry white.

La Demoiselle, made with the same attention to detail as the château’s famous sweet wines, but with a completely different personality.

A blend of 95% Sémillon and 5% Sauvignon Blanc, with the Sémillon fermented in French oak barrels for richness and the Sauvignon kept in stainless steel to preserve its freshness. The grapes are hand-harvested, and nothing here is rushed.

Living proof that Bordeaux has a few surprises beyond its famous reds and golden dessert wines.

Tasting Notes

Think ripe peach, juicy pear and fresh lemon, with a delicate touch of toast. Round and generous on the palate, but with enough citrus freshness to keep things lively. Perfect alongside seafood, grilled fish or a long lunch that deserves a second bottle.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Grilled sea bass with lemon butter, buttery scallops, roast chicken with herbs or a creamy mushroom risotto. Its richness loves buttery dishes, while that bright freshness makes seafood an excellent match. Even a simple plate of prawns with garlic and olive oil would do the trick.

About the Winemaker

The story begins in 1863, when Henri de Sigalas purchased the estate. Forty years later, his son sold most of the property but kept its finest 14 hectares, affectionately naming them the Jewel of Sigalas. A rather clever decision, considering that today it remains the smallest Premier Cru Classé estate in Sauternes, sitting just next door to the legendary Château d'Yquem.

Today, Laure de Lambert Compeyrot, the sixth generation, looks after this family treasure. A trained oenologist, she's passionate about protecting the old vines and the remarkable terroir beneath them. Think gravel deposited by the Garonne some 600,000 years ago, a sunny south-facing slope and a vineyard where biodiversity matters as much as what's in the glass. Herbicides are out; traditional vineyard knowledge is very much in.