Château Romer du Hayot

Château Romer du Hayot traces its origins to the 17th century, when the Montalier family founded the estate. After 1800, it became part of the Lur-Saluces wine empire through marriage, then passed to the Comte de la Myre-Mory family. The du Hayot family acquired the estate in 1851, and the property was listed under its current name in the 1855 Classification. A significant restructuring occurred in 1937, when the majority of the Romer vineyards were sold to the du Hayot family, forming the present estate. The original château buildings were demolished in the 1970s during road construction, removing the estate's architectural anchor. Anne Farges oversaw a label redesign in 2001, marking a modern chapter for the property, which today operates under Vignobles du Hayot.

• Founded in the 17th century by the Montalier family
• Linked to the Lur-Saluces family after 1800 through marriage
• Du Hayot family acquired the estate in 1851, named in 1855 Classification
• Original château demolished in the 1970s for road construction

The estate sits in the commune of Fargues, one of five communes within the Sauternes appellation in the Graves district of Bordeaux. The 15-hectare vineyard rests on soils of calcareous clay and limestone covered with coarse gravel, a combination that provides good drainage while retaining enough moisture to support vine health. The maritime climate of the region is defined by the interplay of the cool Ciron River and the warmer Garonne; when autumn air meets these contrasting water temperatures, morning mists roll across the vineyards. These conditions are ideal for the development of Botrytis cinerea, the noble rot essential to Sauternes production. Warm summers and mild winters complete a growing season well suited to late-harvested, botrytized grapes.

• Fargues commune, one of five in the Sauternes appellation
• Soils of calcareous clay and limestone topped with coarse gravel
• Morning fog from the Ciron and Garonne rivers promotes noble rot
• Maritime climate with warm summers and mild autumns

The vineyard is planted predominantly to Sémillon, which makes up 70 to 90 percent of the blend, with Sauvignon Blanc contributing 10 to 25 percent and Muscadelle rounding out the blend at approximately 5 percent. This is a classic Sauternes blend, with Sémillon providing the body, texture, and susceptibility to botrytis that defines the style, while Sauvignon Blanc adds freshness and aromatic lift. Because the original château no longer exists, winemaking takes place at either Château Andoyse du Hayot or Château Guiteronde du Hayot, both also operated by Vignobles du Hayot.

• Sémillon dominates at 70-90%, providing richness and botrytis susceptibility
• Sauvignon Blanc (10-25%) contributes freshness and aromatic character
• Muscadelle adds floral complexity at around 5%
• Vinification carried out at sister properties under Vignobles du Hayot

Château Romer du Hayot produces sweet white Sauternes from botrytized grapes harvested in successive passes through the vineyard, known as tries. The wines show a medium to deep golden-yellow color and are characterized by honey, tropical fruit, and floral notes typical of well-made Sauternes. The high proportion of Sémillon brings a luscious, viscous texture, while the residual sugar is balanced by natural acidity preserved through the botrytis process. These are wines built for aging, gaining complexity over time as primary fruit evolves into notes of dried fruit, beeswax, and toast.