Château RABAUD-PROMIS - Les Larmes de Rabaud 2020
Château Rabaud Promis, Premier Grand Cru Classé of Sauternes in 1855, occupies a privileged position on the high plateau of Bommes, facing Yquem. This family estate, now managed by the Dejean family, works in the vineyard and cellar with exemplary consistency to preserve the finesse and aromatic purity that characterize its wines. The gravel and fine clay soils, combined with the morning mists of the Ciron, provide ideal conditions for the development of botrytis cinerea, the cornerstone of great sweet wines. In this environment conducive to the natural concentration of fruit, Rabaud Promis expresses a style of great elegance, always highlighting precision, freshness, and aromatic intensity. Les Larmes de Rabaud, the estate's confidential cuvée, is designed as a lighter and more accessible interpretation of this exceptional terroir, while retaining the soul of the great wine.
Les Larmes de Rabaud 2020 is made mainly from Sémillon, the king grape of Sauternes, complemented by a small proportion of Sauvignon Blanc to bring tension and brightness. The 2020 vintage, marked by alternating warmth and humidity favorable to botrytis, produced particularly aromatic berries, concentrated but without excess. The vinification combines tanks and barrels, with partial aging in wood that brings roundness, richness, and complexity, while preserving the fruit's gourmand character. Through its balance between controlled sweetness and dynamic freshness, this cuvée offers a modern interpretation of Sauternes, designed both for early tasting and for a few years of aging. Les Larmes de Rabaud stands out for its purity and elegance, faithful to the estate's tradition while offering a more immediate and luminous approach to the sweet wine style.
On tasting, Les Larmes de Rabaud 2020 shows a bright golden robe with light honey hues. The nose is expressive and refined, blending vine peach, candied apricot, poached pear, orange zest, and white flower notes, enhanced by a touch of vanilla and acacia honey. On the palate, the attack is soft and enveloping, with a silky texture dominated by yellow fruits, honey, and an exotic hint reminiscent of pineapple and mango. The natural freshness of the blend provides remarkable balance, avoiding any heaviness despite the aromatic richness. The finish is long, harmonious, delicately spiced, leaving an impression of purity and finesse. At the table, Les Larmes de Rabaud 2020 ideally accompanies a semi-cooked foie gras, blue cheese, creamy poultry, apricot tart, or a dessert with candied citrus fruits.
