Raymond Lafon

History of Château Raymond-Lafon

Founded in 1850 by Raymond Lafon, the estate is one of the rare great Sauternes vineyards that was not included in the prestigious 1855 classification. This classification required price stability and longevity that the young domain could not justify, having only five years of existence at the time. The property has passed through various hands until its acquisition in 1972 by Pierre Meslier, former director of the famous Château d'Yquem. Pierre and his wife Francine Meslier have restored the domain's reputation, establishing Raymond-Lafon as a producer of exceptional Sauternes wines. Today, it is their three children who manage the property, perpetuating the family tradition and know-how.

Terroirs and Vineyards of Château Raymond-Lafon

The 18 hectares of vineyards at Château Raymond-Lafon are planted on typical Sauternes clay-gravel soils, providing excellent drainage that promotes the concentration of aromas in the grapes. The subsoil, composed of clay and limestone, allows the vines to maintain a perfect balance between nutrition and water retention, ensuring optimal maturation of the grapes, even in the driest vintages.

The vineyard is planted with an 80% Sémillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc blend, at a high density of 6,666 vines per hectare, a common practice in the region's great estates. With an average age of 35 years, the vines produce a low yield of 8.5 hectolitres per hectare, which promotes exceptional concentration of flavours. This low yield is also due to the manual harvests, which are carried out in successive passes, a demanding process that selects only the grapes affected by noble rot (botrytis cinerea), essential for creating high-quality Sauternes wines.

Winemaking at Château Raymond-Lafon

Winemaking at Château Raymond-Lafon is based on traditional and rigorous methods, with particular attention paid to each stage of the process. The harvests are done grape by grape and require between three and ten passes to ensure that only the ripest and most concentrated grapes are picked. Once harvested, the grapes are pressed in a vertical press to extract a juice of the highest purity.

Fermentation is carried out in 100% new French oak barrels, an expensive but essential method to guarantee the finesse and complexity of the wine's aromas. The wine is then aged for three years in the same oak barrels, a maturation period that allows for the development of rich and deep flavours, without dominating the fruity and floral character of the Sauternes. This technique, similar to that used at Château d'Yquem, achieves a subtle balance between sweetness and liveliness.

The Cuvées of Château Raymond-Lafon

Château Raymond-Lafon Sauternes

The estate's main cuvée is a traditional high-quality Sauternes, produced each year with remarkable consistency. Château Raymond-Lafon wines are known for their richness and opulence, while maintaining a refreshing acidity that balances their structure. Recent vintages, such as 2019, offer enchanting flavours of apricot, honey and candied citrus, while the 2020 stands out for its roundness and intensity. The 2021 vintage, on the other hand, presents marked acidity and citrus aromas, offering a unique liveliness for lovers of fresher wines.

Jeunes Pousses de Raymond-Lafon

This cuvée, the estate's second wine, is produced from grapes from the same plots as the main cuvée but in a lighter and more accessible style. Jeunes Pousses de Raymond-Lafon embodies the promise of a more graceful wine, perfect for those who wish to discover the elegance of Sauternes without the excessive richness of a first wine. This cuvée is an excellent introduction to Sauternes wines, offering delicate aromas of citrus and flowers, with a more pronounced acidity that makes it ideal for pairing with lighter dishes.

The best vintages of Sauternes and Barsac, two prestigious Bordeaux appellations, include exceptional years such as 1945, 1947, 1949, 1955, 1959, and 1967, recognised for their finesse and complexity. Among more recent vintages, notable years include 1975, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, as well as the legendary 2001. Sweet wine enthusiasts will also appreciate the years 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, and 2013. Finally, the excellent climatic conditions of recent decades have produced memorable vintages in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. These wines offer unique aromatic richness and remarkable ageing potential.

Discover the exceptional treasures of the Grands Crus Classés of Sauternes and Barsac, where each estate tells a unique story of expertise and excellence. The prestigious Château d'Yquem, Premier Grand Cru Supérieur, embodies the quintessence of Sauternes. Among the Premiers Grands Crus Classés, explore the subtleties of Château Climens and Château Coutet in Barsac, as well as the wonders of Château Guiraud, Clos Haut-Peyraguey, Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Château La Tour Blanche, Château Rabaud-Promis, Château de Rayne-Vigneau, Château Rieussec, Château Sigalas-Rabaud, and Château Suduiraut in Sauternes. Each estate invites you to dive into the enchanting world of dessert wines, combining aromatic richness, finesse, and elegance, for an unforgettable sensory experience.

Château Raymond-Lafon is a prestigious and unique Sauternes estate, producing unclassified wines of exceptional quality, often comparable to the greatest classified growths of the region. The domain, managed by the Meslier family, has built a solid reputation by offering wines with exotic flavours, resulting from meticulous winemaking methods. Whether with the Château Raymond-Lafon Sauternes or the second wine Jeunes Pousses, each cuvée reflects the essence of its terroir and the dedication of its owners to upholding the traditions of Sauternes.