France · Bordeaux

Chateau Sigalas Rabaud

Château Sigalas Rabaud is a Premier Cru Classé Sauternes estate in Bommes, classified in 1855 alongside the greatest Sauternes properties. The estate's 14 hectares of predominantly Sémillon (85%) with Sauvignon Blanc (15%) are planted on the finest limestone-clay soils of Bommes, producing botrytis-affected wines of exceptional richness and acidity. With 80 auction lots averaging $85 per bottle and a top price of $1,195, Sigalas Rabaud punches above its modest auction volume at the quality level — multiple vintages have received 93–97 points from major critics. The 2001 vintage is the most traded and represents the apex of modern Sauternes production: a perfect botrytis year that produced wines across the appellation with extraordinary concentration and freshness. Sigalas Rabaud's style is relatively oxidative and honeyed compared to its neighbor Rayne Vigneau, but with the crystalline acidity that characterizes Bommes terroir. The 160 lots spanning $18 to $1,195 reflect a classic Premier Cru Sauternes profile: strong demand for top vintages and accessible entry pricing for younger releases. The estate changed hands in the 2010s, with Domaines Clarence Dillon (Haut-Brion) taking a stake, bringing additional resources to the property.