Chateau Filhot

Chateâu Filhot is a classified second growth from the 1855 Classification of Sauternes and Barsac. The château's vineyards date to 1630 and the château itself, one of the largest in the region, was built in 1709 by founder Romain de Filhot. Following the French Revolution the château was owned by the Lur-Saluces family, best known for owning the esteemed Chateau d'Yquem for more than two centuries, and from 1855 until 1901 the estate was known as Château Sauternes. Today the château is owned and managed by Gabriel de Vaucelles.

Château Filhot's vineyards span 62 hectares (153 acres) with soils composed of deep gravels, clay, and sand on a calcareous base. Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle are planted on the estate's southwest-facing slopes located near the Ciron River, encouraging the development of botrytis on the grapes.

The château's Sauterneswine  is composed of 60 percent Sémillon, 36 percent Sauvignon Blanc, and four percent Muscadelle. Once the grapes are affected by noble rot, the fruit is picked by hand in tries. The varieties are fermented separately in stainless steel vats for 10 to 30 days, then age two years in vat and French oak barrels, a third new, before blending and bottling.