Château Rabaud-Promis
Château Rabaud-Promis, located opposite of Château d'Yquem and built by architect Victor Louis, stands proudly on the Rabaud hill, after which it was named, since the end of the 18th century. The château was classified as a Premier Cru in 1855, and over the years it has changed ownership with both owners from inside and outside of the family. In 1950, it was purchased by Raymond-Louis Lanneluc. Since that time, the estate has been exclusively family-owned, managed by Michèle and Philippe Déjean and their son Thomas, who represents the ninth generation of winemakers in Sauternes. Thirty-three of the estate’s forty hectares of land are planted with vines. The grape varieties grown are typical of the Sauternes appellation: Sémillon (80%), Sauvignon Blanc (18%) and Muscadelle (2%). The complex land, particularly well-suited to vines, is composed of a clay-sand subsoil, covered by a thick layer of Pyrenean gravel. Over the years, they have made extensive changes in quality, including introducing stainless steel and wooden vats (rather than the previous concrete ones), ageing in oak barrels and improved vineyard management. In addition to their Grand Vin, they also make a second wine that is sold under two different names - Domaine de l'Estremade and Château Bequet.