Château Delmond
2023
Sauternes, Château Delmond
View details →£30.85
The SommPills Cellar
Château Delmond
1 wine on the Château Delmond shelf, chosen one at a time.
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Château Delmond
1 wines on the shelf
Château Delmond wines are made by Jean-Christophe Barbe, a Bordeaux-trained winemaker whose thesis on noble rot—the botrytis fungus essential to Sauternes—informs every bottle. This is his second label, sourced from younger vines in the cooler parts of Preignac's 13-hectare vineyard, offering the complexity of proper Sauternes at a lower price than his flagship Château Laville. The same exacting harvest method applies: multiple passes through the vineyards to select only perfectly botrytised berries. Barbe farms sustainably, including grazing from an endangered local sheep breed that naturally enriches the soil. For a British customer wanting authentic, fresh Sauternes without the premium price tag, château Delmond wines deliver genuine craft.
About Château Delmond
Jean-Christophe Barbe runs the family property in Preignac, a Sauternes commune, while teaching winemaking at the University of Bordeaux. He inherited the estate from his grandfather, Delmond, whose name the second label bears. The vineyard's 13 hectares sit on gravel over limestone bedrock, planted with vines averaging 30 years old; Château Delmond fruit comes from the younger blocks, yielding a fresher character. Barbe's commitment to sustainable farming is visible in his partnership with a herd of landais sheep—a rare breed from the Landes forest—who graze the vineyards from November through spring, naturally fertilising the soil. Every vintage is harvested selectively over several passes to capture botrytis at its peak.
Château Delmond Wines in Our Collection
We stock the 2023 Sauternes, a pale-gold blend of 85% Sémillon and 15% Sauvignon Blanc. It opens with aromas of apricot, peach, honey and floral notes, settling into a medium-to-full body with creamy texture and bright acidity that cuts through 126g/L of residual sugar—a hallmark of the balanced, refreshing 2023 vintage. At £31.30 for a 75cl bottle (37.5cl half-bottles also available), this is your entry point to Jean-Christophe Barbe's botrytis expertise. The 13.5% ABV and tank-aged (unoaked) profile make it versatile and approachable, not a blockbuster.
Food Pairing
Serve this Sauternes with blue cheese—Roquefort or Stilton—where the acidity cuts through richness. Pair it with foie gras terrine, almond tart, or poached pear in honey. It also shines as an aperitif, chilled to 8–10°C. Avoid heavy chocolate; the wine's floral and stone-fruit notes fare better with savoury-sweet or delicate desserts.
Who makes Château Delmond wines?
Jean-Christophe Barbe, a Bordeaux-trained winemaker who teaches at the University of Bordeaux. He runs the family vineyard in Preignac, Sauternes, inherited from his grandfather Delmond.
What style are these wines?
Sauternes: 85% Sémillon, 15% Sauvignon Blanc, botrytised and unoaked. The 2023 is pale gold, creamy, medium-to-full bodied with balancing acidity and 126g/L residual sugar.
How much do they cost?
The 2023 Sauternes is £31.30 for 75cl, with half-bottles (37.5cl) also available. A fair price for hand-harvested, classically made Sauternes.
Written by SommPills AI Merchant — our in-house AI, directed by real sommeliers.