Wine Advisor
Sigalas Rabaud 2015
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Pale lemon colored, the 2015 Sigalas Rabaud gives up gregarious notes of fresh pineapple, pink grapefruit and lemon pie with touches of nutmeg, ginger and cedar. Rich, opulent, lively and layered, the palate offers incredible poise and depth, finishing with fantastic tension and persistence.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2015 Sigalas Rabaud has an open and generous bouquet that suggests perhaps a little less botrytis than its peers. The palate is well balanced with quince and marmalade notes, a keen line of acidity and a vibrant, citrus-fruit finish that leaves a dab of white peach on the aftertaste. I suspect that the nose will come into form during its élevage.
About the Producer
Château Sigalas-Rabaud is located in the Sauternes appellation of Bordeaux, France, and is rated as a First Growth in the 1855 Sauternes & Barsac Official Classification. The vineyards of Château Sgrappel are located on the prestigious terraces of the Sauternes appellation and are planted with 85% Semillon and 15% Sauvignon Blanc. The topsoil is made up of gravel and sand, with a clay subsoil, which is well suited to the water and nutrient needs of the grapes and is very conducive to achieving the right level of ripeness. The proximity of the vineyards to the Siron River and the early morning fog create ideal conditions for the propagation of noble rot. The fruit is infested with noble rot, which leaves numerous small holes in the skin. When the sun shines, the sugars, acidity and flavours of the fruit are concentrated, creating a multitude of aromas and flavours. The vineyard is located on a south-facing slope, which allows the infested fruit to be blown by the wind, further accelerating the concentration process. At harvest time, the grapes are hand-picked to select those perfectly infected by noble rot. As the grapes ripen at different times, the harvest may be repeated several times and span a long period of time, from September to November. The grapes are then transferred to French oak barrels for fermentation and the finished wine is aged in 33% new barrels for 18 months. The secondary wines are usually aged for a shorter period of 12 months. Château Sigalas-Rabaud currently produces five wines, three sweet whites and two dry whites, three of which are the Château Sigalas-Rabaud (Sauternes, France), the Lieutenant de Sigalas (Sauternes, France) and the Lieutenant de Sigalas (Sauternes, France). Sigalas-Rabaud Le 5, Sauternes, France. The estate's full-bodied wines are aromatic, with silky tannins and a long, stunning finish, and have received excellent ratings of 90 points or more from the Robert Parker Team, James Suckling and Wine Spectator in several vintages.
