Sauternes Premier Cru adjacent to d'Yquem, owned by Domaines Barons de Rothschild since 1984. 93 hectares of Semillon-dominant botrytised dessert wine production.
Signature wines: chateau-rieussec-sauternes, r-de-rieussec
Scores: Wine Advocate 98 (2001), Wine Spectator 98 (2009)
Address: Chateau Rieussec, 33210 Fargues-de-Langon, France, Bordeaux
Sauternes Premier Cru within a fairytale 1618 castle; 18 hectares of enclosed vineyard. Lalique luxury hotel with two-Michelin-starred restaurant and 350,000-bottle cellar.
Tasting: Lalique hotel with two Michelin-starred restaurant; open to hotel guests.
Signature wines: chateau-lafaurie-peyraguey, la-chapelle-de-lafaurie-peyraguey
Scores: Wine Advocate 98 (2017), Decanter 97 (2019)
Sauternes Premier Cru within a fairytale 1618 castle; 18 hectares of enclosed vineyard. Lalique luxury hotel with two-Michelin-starred restaurant and 350,000-bottle cellar.
Tasting: Lalique hotel with two Michelin-starred restaurant; open to hotel guests.
Signature wines: chateau-lafaurie-peyraguey, la-chapelle-de-lafaurie-peyraguey
Scores: Wine Advocate 98 (2017), Decanter 97 (2019)
Saint-Estephe Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel with 51 hectares and a former Celestine priory. Reliable, full-bodied Cabernet-dominant style representing excellent appellation value.
Tasting: Visits by appointment.
Signature wines: chateau-meyney, prieur-de-meyney
Scores: Wine Advocate 92 (2016), Decanter 93 (2018)
Pomerol estate of 9 hectares dominated by old-vine Merlot. Ronan Laborde family-owned; 1998 vintage scored 100 points from Wine Advocate; old-vine character a distinguishing feature.
Tasting: By appointment only.
Signature wines: clinet
Scores: Wine Advocate 100 (1998), Wine Advocate 98 (2000)
Tiny 4.5-hectare Pomerol estate considered peer to Petrus. Unusual equal split of Merlot and Cabernet Franc; Guinaudeau family owners; biodynamic farming since 2014.
Tasting: By appointment only.
Signature wines: lafleur-pomerol, pensees-de-lafleur
Scores: Wine Advocate 100 (1947), Wine Advocate 99 (2015)
Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe B on 16.5 hectares including ancient underground cellars carved from limestone. Becot family-managed; organic certified.
Tasting: Visits and tastings available; contact chateau.
Signature wines: chateau-beausejour-becot, petit-becot
Scores: Wine Advocate 98 (2015), Decanter 96 (2018)
Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe A elevated in 2022 reclassification. Unusual for Right Bank with an equal-thirds Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot blend on 40 hectares of gravelly soils.
Tasting: Visits by appointment.
Signature wines: chateau-figeac, petit-figeac
Scores: Wine Advocate 99 (2022), Decanter 97 (2020)
