1996 Château Rabaud-Promis

Château Rabaud-Promis, a Grand Cru Sauternes estate, was started in the 18th century. Located just opposite a road from famous Château d’Yquem, Rabaud-Promis is today owned and operated by Michele and Philippe Dejean and their son Thomas. Together they represent the eighth and ninth generations of Sauternes winemakers. The 100-acre estate is planted to the traditional Sauternes grapes of Semillon, Sauvignon and Muscadelle. Besides the flagship wine, the estate produces Promesse de Rabaud-Promis, a second wine made from younger vines.

Sauternes makes the world’s most famous dessert wines. Though the appellation lies within the Graves region of Bordeaux’s left bank, the appellation makes only sweet wines from white grapes, primarily Semillon sometimes blended with small amounts of Muscadelle. The five communes within Sauternes are Barsac, Bommes, Fargues, Preignac and Sauternes. Barsac also has its own appellation and, typically, Barsac wines are slightly drier and lighter than other Sauternes. Sauternes are made when weather conditions result in a mold called Botrytis cinerea developing on the grapes, which causes them to become especially sweet. Sauternes are not produced every vintage, so successful vintages become especially collectible. Sauternes estates were classified in 1855, and Château d’Yquem, the appellation’s most prestigious estate, was ranked in a class by itself as a Premier Grand Cru. Château d’Yquem wines are among the most prized wines in the world.

Bommes