Chateau Filhot Sauternes 2020 375ml

Château Filhot Sauternes 2020 is a beautifully balanced sweet white Bordeaux with ripe apricot, peach, orange blossom and honeyed richness, lifted by fresh citrus acidity and subtle savoury oak. The 375ml half bottle is an excellent choice for dessert, cheese or a special after dinner glass.

This Second Growth Sauternes is made from 60 percent Sémillon, 36% Sauvignon Blanc and 4% Muscadelle. Sémillon provides richness, honeyed depth and ageing potential, Sauvignon Blanc contributes freshness and citrus lift, while Muscadelle adds delicate floral perfume.

Wine Style

Wine Style: Rich, fragrant and fresh dessert wine

Wine Sweetness: Sweet

Wine Body: Medium to full bodied

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe apricot, white peach and tropical fruit, with orange blossom, honeysuckle, honey, almond and gentle vanilla oak.

Palate: Luscious and rounded, with concentrated stone fruit, citrus marmalade and almond flavours balanced by fresh acidity and fine savoury detail.

Finish: Long and smooth, with lingering peach, honey, hazelnut and candied citrus notes.

Serving Suggestions

Serve lightly chilled with crème brûlée, fruit tart, almond cake, blue cheese, foie gras or mature washed rind cheese. It is also excellent with roasted peaches, pear desserts or lightly spiced pâté.

About The Vineyard And Sauternes Region

Château Filhot occupies a large historic estate immediately south of the village of Sauternes. The property covers approximately 350 hectares, including 62 hectares of vines planted on south and south west facing slopes.

The vineyards are planted across gravel, clay and sand over a limestone base. These well drained soils help control vine vigour while supporting slow, even ripening and concentrated flavour development.

Sauternes lies around 40 kilometres south east of Bordeaux on the left bank of the Garonne. The region is crossed by the Ciron River, whose cool waters meet the warmer Garonne and help create autumn morning mist. This humid morning environment, followed by warmer and drier afternoons, encourages the development of noble rot.

Noble rot gradually concentrates the grapes by reducing their water content while intensifying sugar, acidity and flavour. Harvesting is completed by hand through several selective passages, with vineyard workers choosing only grapes that have reached the desired level of ripeness and noble rot. Yields are extremely low, usually between 10 and 20 hectolitres per hectare.

Winemaking

The grapes are slowly pressed before fermentation in temperature controlled stainless steel vats. Fermentation takes place between 19°C and 21°C and may last from 10 to 30 days, depending on the variety and concentration of the fruit.

The wine is gently filtered approximately 10 months after fermentation and blended around 14 months after fermentation. It then matures for approximately two years in barrels and vats, with one third of the Allier oak barrels renewed each year. Bottling takes place around 20 to 24 months after fermentation.

About Château Filhot

The history of the Filhot vineyard reaches back to between 1630 and 1650. The château was constructed in 1709 by Romain de Filhot, whose family had already established deep roots in the Sauternes region.

During the nineteenth century, Château Filhot and the neighbouring Pineau du Rey vineyards were brought together. The château was rebuilt in 1845 and surrounded by an extensive landscaped garden that remains an important part of the estate.

Château Filhot was named a Second Growth in the official Bordeaux Classification of 1855. It remains one of the historic classified estates of Sauternes and continues to be associated with the descendants of the founding family.

Collector’s Note

Château Filhot offers an accessible opportunity to experience a classified Sauternes from one of the region’s historic estates. The 2020 vintage combines the richness expected of noble rot with freshness, aromatic lift and fine acidity.

The 375ml format is also popular with collectors and sweet wine drinkers because it develops slightly faster than a full bottle and provides a practical size for serving with dessert or cheese.

Cellaring Potential

Enjoy now for its fresh apricot, peach, honey and citrus character, or cellar until around 2035 under suitable conditions. With further bottle age, the wine should develop deeper notes of marmalade, toasted nuts, dried fruit, caramel and spice.

Details

Producer: Château Filhot

Vintage: 2020

Variety: 60 percent Sémillon, 36 percent Sauvignon Blanc, 4 percent Muscadelle

Region: Sauternes, Bordeaux, France

Classification: Second Growth, Bordeaux Classification of 1855

Wine Style: Rich and fragrant dessert wine

Wine Sweetness: Sweet

Wine Body: Medium to full bodied

Alcohol: 13.5 percent

Harvest: Hand picked through successive selections

Maturation: Approximately two years in barrels and vats

Bottle Size: 375ml