2022 Sauternes, Château Laville

• Style: Golden, intensely aromatic
• Taste: Candied citrus, fig, spice, orange blossom with mouthwatering acidity
• Food: Blue cheese, custard tarts, poached stone fruits
• Occasion: Date night, gifting, sipping alone
• Serve: 13% ABV, natural cork, 75cl

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

Bright gold and immediately expressive: candied citrus, marmalade and fresh spice greet you on the nose, with a rye-bread warmth that signals botrytised depth. The palate layers beautifully—dried fig, orange blossom, sweet spice—held upright by a mouthwatering acidity that carries flavour through to the finish. This is sweetness without cloying, architecture that keeps the wine alive and structured on the palate, with the unmistakable fingerprint of noble rot lifting everything into aromatic complexity.

The Winery — Château Laville

Jean-Christophe Barbe's 14-hectare estate sits on gravel over limestone in the heart of Sauternes, where the Ciron River's cool breath creates the microclimate that allows noble rot to flourish. Barbe, a Professor of Oenology at the University of Bordeaux and expert in botrytis, oversees every vintage with meticulous care. The 2022 presented challenges: hot, dry August and early September slowed development, but September rain brought a rush of botrytis, leading to urgent, focused harvests in October. Semillon dominates at 90%, with Sauvignon Blanc for lift; the wine matured 30 months in new oak. The result is aromatic intensity earned through selective handpicking and sustainable, thoughtful farming practices.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

Pour alongside blue cheese, custard tarts or poached stone fruits, or enjoy it sipping alone on a date night or as a memorable gift. This is a wine that rewards both the curious sipper and the confident dessert-wine buyer. If you've explored our broader France selection and our Sweet Wine collection, you'll recognise Laville as one of the finest expressions of its kind—understated on the label, generous in the glass. Vegetarian and vegan-friendly, with natural cork closure.