Château Rabaud-Promis

The estate's roots stretch back to a 17th-century property known as 'champ de Rabeaud,' which passed as a dowry to Antoine de Cazeau in 1660. For centuries it functioned as a single unified domaine before a pivotal division in 1903, when Gaston Drouilhet de Sigalas sold a portion to Adrien Promis, giving birth to Château Rabaud-Promis as a distinct entity and simultaneously establishing Sigalas-Rabaud as its neighbor. The Déjean family took ownership in 1950 and stewarded the property for seven decades, undertaking significant modernization of the winery facilities. In 2020, Jacques Merlaut of the Taillan Group acquired the estate, bringing new investment and direction to this classified Sauternes property.

• Origins as 'champ de Rabeaud' documented from the 17th century
• Estate divided in 1903, creating both Rabaud-Promis and Sigalas-Rabaud
• Déjean family ownership from 1950 to 2020, modernizing production facilities
• Jacques Merlaut and the Taillan Group took ownership in 2020

Château Rabaud-Promis occupies 33 hectares in Bommes, one of the five communes entitled to produce Sauternes. The vineyards sit on gentle slopes overlooking both the Ciron River valley and the Garonne valley, a topographic position that places the estate squarely within the microclimate that defines great Sauternes production. Cool morning mists rising from the Ciron meet warmer afternoon air from the Garonne, creating the humid conditions that allow Botrytis cinerea, or noble rot, to develop on the grapes each autumn. Soils are a combination of clay-gravel and gravel hillside, providing good drainage while retaining sufficient moisture to support the vines through the long growing season.

• Gentle slopes overlooking the Ciron and Garonne valleys
• Clay-gravel and gravel hillside soils throughout the 33-hectare vineyard
• Ciron River mists create ideal conditions for Botrytis cinerea development
• Located in Bommes, one of five communes within the Sauternes appellation

The blend at Rabaud-Promis is dominated by Sémillon at 80%, which forms the backbone of nearly all serious Sauternes. Sémillon's thin skin makes it highly susceptible to noble rot, and the variety contributes the honeyed richness, waxy texture, and stone fruit character that define the appellation's style. Sauvignon Blanc accounts for 18% of plantings, adding aromatic lift and acidity to balance the wine's natural sweetness. Muscadelle makes up the remaining 2%, contributing floral nuance. Harvest is conducted through multiple selective passes, known as tries successives, to collect botrytis-affected berries at optimal concentration. The resulting wine is a classic liquoreux style with significant residual sugar and the potential for long cellaring.

• 80% Sémillon, 18% Sauvignon Blanc, 2% Muscadelle
• Sémillon's thin skin promotes botrytis infection and provides textural richness
• Harvest by successive selective passes (tries successives) to target noble rot
• Produces a liquoreux style wine with substantial residual sugar

Château Rabaud-Promis holds the rank of Premier Cru Classé in the 1855 Bordeaux Wine Official Classification, the system that formally ranked the sweet wines of Sauternes and Barsac alongside the red wines of the Médoc. At the time of the classification, the original Rabaud estate was already recognized at this level, and the status carried through to both successor properties after the 1903 division. Premier Cru Classé is the second-highest tier in the Sauternes classification, below only Château d'Yquem, which holds the singular designation of Premier Cru Classé Supérieur.

• Classified as Premier Cru Classé in the 1855 official classification
• Classification is second only to Château d'Yquem (Premier Cru Classé Supérieur)
• Status shared with neighboring Sigalas-Rabaud, the other half of the original estate
• One of eleven Premier Cru Classé estates in Sauternes and Barsac