Chateau Filhot

Chateâu Filhot is a wine estate in the sweet white wine producing region of Sauternes. The estate was classified a Second Growth in the 1855 Classification. The château's vineyards date to 1630 and the château itself, one of the largest in the region, was built in 1709 by founder Romain de Filhot. Following the French Revolution, the château was owned by the Lur-Saluces family, best known for its long-term relationship with the esteemed Chateau d'Yquem. From 1855 until 1901 the Filhot estate was known as Château Sauternes. Today it is owned and managed by Gabriel de Vaucelles, a descendant of Romain de Filhot.

Filhot's vineyards span 62 hectares (153 acres) at the southern end of appellation. The soils here are composed of deep gravels, clay, and sand on a limestone base. Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle are planted on the estate's southwest-facing slopes located near the Ciron River. Morning mists rising from the likes of the Ciron are known to encourage the development of botrytis, or "noble rot", on the grapes. It is this that enables the production of the sweet white wines synonymous with the region.

The varieties are fermented separately in stainless steel vats for 10 to 30 days, then age two years in vat and French oak barrels, of which a third is new oak, before blending and bottling.

The wine has a medium yellow color. The Fruit aromas are a little restrained, with notes of ripe peach and honey over marzipan. The palate is sweet and honeyed with juicy apricot fruit and balancing acidity, it is light to medium bodied. The alcohol is in balance but adds a little warmth. The finish ends with attractive citric freshness.