This is superb value-for-money from one of Sauternes’ most renowned producers.
When the respected châteaux harvest grapes for Sauternes, it happens in several rounds over time, each time identifying and harvesting the grapes that are deemed ready.
In 2009, the harvest at Château Sigalas Rabaud took place over 5 field trials (tries) from 10 October to 21 October. Lieutenant de Sigalas is the 2nd wine from Château Sigalas Rabaud, which is harvested from the same vines as the main wine, but the grape base consists primarily of the early harvest reviews, where there are quite a few botrytis-infected grapes. The wine therefore does not have the same fatness as its big brother, but on the other hand there is a rich measure of purity and airiness, which in the wine is translated into drinking pleasure. The intensity is not a problem: 45-year-old vines give the grapes a good, natural concentration.
The grape composition is 85% semillon and 15% sauvignon blanc, and the entire glory spends 12 months after fermentation in barriques of varying age.
Smell and taste have identical, white-floral aromas with fresh apricot, lemon sorbet and bitter almond. This is not high-octane wine with massive viscosity, but ‘just’ complex, fresh and slurping-friendly wine.
Enjoyed now and over the next decade as an excellent aperitif, with foie gras terrine, blue cheese, creamy goat cheese or desserts at the not too heavy end; lemon tart and fresh fruit are obvious topics in the wine’s youth.
You can vary the wine experience by serving the wine at anything from 8-15°. Served cool, it is the tastiest and freshest, while at a higher serving temperature you get more aromatic depth.
