Château Filhot

The present vineyard at Filhot was created between the 1630s and 1650s. The château itself was founded in 1709 by Romain de Filhot, then a councillor at the Parlement de Bordeaux, whose family already owned the maison noble de Verdoulet in Sauternes. The estate credits him with imposing the name Sauternes in place of the older name "vin de Langon" for the region's sweet wines. After the French Revolution, the Lur-Saluces family, heirs of the Filhots through Joséphine de Filhot, took over management of the estate. In 1840 Romain-Bertrand de Lur-Saluces united the Château Filhot and Pineau du Rey estates, and in 1845 he had the château rebuilt in neoclassical style to plans by the architect Poitevin, with an English-style park laid out by the landscape designer Louis-Bernard Fischer. Ten years later, Château Filhot was classified Deuxième Cru in the 1855 classification. Sometimes sold internationally as "Château Sauternes" during the 19th century, the estate has used only the name Château Filhot since 1901. In 1935 the Comtesse Durieu de Lacarelle, née Lur-Saluces, bought back the family vineyard, and her son Louis Durieu de Lacarelle contributed to its reconstitution and development until the 1970s.

• Between the 1630s and 1650s: the present vineyard is created; 1709: Romain de Filhot founds the château.
• After the French Revolution: the Lur-Saluces family, heirs through Joséphine de Filhot, takes over management.
• 1840: Filhot and Pineau du Rey united; 1845: château rebuilt in neoclassical style and English-style park created.
• 1855: classified Deuxième Cru; since 1901 the estate has used only the name Château Filhot.
• 1935: the Comtesse Durieu de Lacarelle, née Lur-Saluces, buys back the family vineyard.

Comte Henri de Vaucelles (1937-2015) and his wife Sophie headed the estate from 1974 to 2001. Their son Gabriel de Vaucelles then took over management, and his wife Amicie joined him from 2017. Comte Gabriel de Vaucelles manages the estate, which has always remained a family affair.

• 1974 to 2001: Comte Henri de Vaucelles (1937-2015) and his wife Sophie at the head of the estate.
• From 2001: Gabriel de Vaucelles in charge of management; his wife Amicie joined him from 2017.

The estate's 60 hectares of vines spread across the south-facing slope of the hill of the village of Sauternes. The parcels lie on slopes facing south and south-west, on soils mixing gravel, clay and sand over a limestone base. The vineyard is bordered by the Landes forest and crossed by the Ciron, a tributary of the Garonne; alternating morning mists and sunny days allow the development of Botrytis cinerea. The vineyard is planted mainly to Sémillon (60%), completed by Sauvignon (36%) and Muscadelle (4%). Harvest is by hand in successive passes (tries) that follow the progress of botrytis and ripeness, giving yields of around 10 to 20 hectolitres per hectare depending on the vintage. The whole estate covers 350 hectares, of which only a small part is under vine. Château Filhot holds HVE3 (Haute Valeur Environnementale) certification.

• 60 hectares of vines on slopes facing south and south-west; gravel, clay and sand over limestone.
• Sémillon 60%, Sauvignon 36%, Muscadelle 4%.
• Landes forest and the Ciron river; morning mists and sunny days favour Botrytis cinerea.
• Hand harvest by successive tries; yields of around 10 to 20 hl/ha depending on the vintage.
• 350 hectares in all, only a small part planted to vines.

The musts, extracted by slow pressing, ferment in 50-hectolitre stainless steel vats with temperature control, held between 19 and 21 °C. Fermentation lasts 10 to 30 days depending on the variety and the level of concentration. The first blend of Château Filhot is made around the fifth month after fermentation, before élevage in Allier oak barrels and in vats; about 30% of the barrels are renewed each year. The final blend and bottling take place after 20 to 24 months of élevage. During the 1980s the wines were aged without wood, in fibreglass vats.

• Slow pressing; fermentation in temperature-controlled 50 hl stainless steel vats at 19 to 21 °C for 10 to 30 days.
• First blend around the fifth month; élevage in Allier oak barrels and vats, with about 30% of barrels renewed each year.
• Final blend and bottling after 20 to 24 months.

The estate's lineup comprises Château Filhot, Le Trianon de Filhot Sauternes, Sauternes Gold Réserve and Sauternes Zest. Château Filhot 2020 is a blend of Sémillon 60%, Sauvignon 36% and Muscadelle 4% at 13% alcohol, aged in barrel and vat. Le Trianon de Filhot 2024 and Sauternes Gold Réserve 2024 are each Sémillon 60% and Sauvignon Blanc 40% at 12.5% alcohol, aged in vat. Sauternes Zest is equal parts Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc at 12.5% alcohol, aged in vat and bottled 8 months after fermentation.

• Château Filhot 2020: Sémillon 60%, Sauvignon 36%, Muscadelle 4%; 13% alcohol; barrel and vat.
• Le Trianon de Filhot 2024: Sémillon 60%, Sauvignon Blanc 40%; 12.5% alcohol; vat.
• Sauternes Gold Réserve 2024: Sémillon 60%, Sauvignon Blanc 40%; 12.5% alcohol; vat.
• Sauternes Zest: Sémillon 50%, Sauvignon Blanc 50%; 12.5% alcohol; bottled 8 months after fermentation.

The 1855 classification of Bordeaux wines was drawn up at the request of Emperor Napoleon III for the Exposition Universelle in Paris. The Syndicat des Courtiers de Commerce of the Bordeaux Bourse established its hierarchy, and it was published on 18 April 1855. Château Filhot is a Deuxième Cru Classé (Second Growth) of Sauternes.

• Classified Deuxième Cru in the 1855 classification, published 18 April 1855.

The estate describes its wine as distinguished by its freshness, the finesse of its liqueur, its mineral character and the elegance of its balance, and attributes the balance between richness, freshness and aromatic complexity to its grape mix. It recommends serving the wine at 10 degrees and aerating older vintages in bottle or carafe before serving.

Primary sources (producer's own site): https://filhot.com/, https://filhot.com/le-chateau-filhot/, https://filhot.com/les-vins/, https://filhot.com/conseils-degustation/. Secondary sources: Decanter (https://www.decanter.com/wine-travel/chateau-filhot-67914/) and Winedoctor (https://www.thewinedoctor.com/bordeaux/filhot.shtml). Last verified 2026-10-14. Where the producer's site and a secondary source disagree, the producer's site governs.