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Buy any 12 bottles and save 10% (excludes sale). Free UK delivery on orders over £175. Tel : 02922 337454
Buy any 12 bottles and save 10% (excludes sale). Free UK delivery on orders over £175. Tel : 02922 337454
1996 Sauternes, Chateau Filhot Your Store

1996 Sauternes, Chateau Filhot

Sauternes, Bordeaux, France

Deep amber in the glass, this mature Sauternes shimmers with warmth and grace. The nose is enchanting with honeyed apricot, candied orange peel, and toasted almonds, meeting hints of saffron, crème brûlée, and dried flowers. On the palate, it’s luscious yet balanced, with rich layers of caramelised stone fruit and citrus zest lifted by vibrant acidity. The texture is silky and unhurried, gliding into a long, elegant finish where sweetness, spice, and freshness linger in perfect harmony. Time has lent it both complexity and calm....... a golden thread of history in every sip.

For when: dessert deserves reverence, or conversation lasts past midnight.
Pairs with: Roquefort cheese, tarte tatin, or crème caramel.
If this wine were a memory, it’d be candlelight on old lace - timeless and softly glowing.

Château Filhot, founded in 1709, is one of the oldest and most distinguished estates in Sauternes, located in the commune of Barsac. Its 62 hectares of vineyards are planted predominantly to Sémillon, with smaller portions of Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle, thriving on gravelly, clay-limestone soils that encourage the development of Botrytis cinerea - the noble rot that defines Sauternes.

Under the stewardship of the Vaucelles family, Château Filhot has preserved its classical style: hand-harvested botrytised grapes, slow fermentation, and extended ageing in French oak barrels. The 1996 vintage, marked by a long, cool ripening season, produced wines of remarkable freshness and definition. Today, this Filhot shows the estate’s signature balance, sumptuous sweetness held aloft by poise, precision, and quiet nobility.

Whats in the bottle
Semillon 60%, Sauvignon 36%, Muscadelle 4%

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£75.00 - £75.00
£75.00
£75.00 - £75.00
£75.00
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Founded in 1709, Château Filhot stands among the most historic and revered estates of Sauternes, its legacy intertwined with the golden wines that have made this region world-famous. The château has remained under the care of the Vaucelles family for generations, preserving a lineage of craftsmanship and respect for tradition that spans over three centuries.

The 62-hectare estate lies on the gravelly and clay-limestone soils of Barsac, a terroir that perfectly nurtures the trio of classic Sauternes grapes, Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle. These varieties thrive in the unique microclimate created by the cool, misty mornings and warm afternoons along the Ciron River, conditions that encourage the growth of Botrytis cinerea (noble rot), the magical fungus that concentrates flavour and sweetness in the grapes.

In the cellar, Château Filhot combines meticulous hand-harvesting with slow fermentations and traditional ageing in French oak barrels, often lasting up to two years. The resulting wines are renowned for their balance of opulence and freshness, displaying rich layers of honeyed fruit, citrus, spice, and floral nuance, always underpinned by a vibrant acidity.

Under the current director Count Henri de Vaucelles, the estate continues to refine its style, focusing on purity and precision while honouring its classical roots. Château Filhot remains a benchmark for Sauternes, majestic, long-lived, and eternally golden.