Château Raymond-Lafon (Famille Meslier)

Chateau Raymond-Lafon

A great Sauternes sweet wine, at the heart of the golden triangle (Sauternes, Bommes, Preignac). 18 hectares, the Meslier family, Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc, harvest by successive pickings. Score 17.5 to 18.5/20 (Revue du Vin de France).

Located at the heart of the golden triangle of the appellation, between Sauternes, Bommes and Preignac, Chateau Raymond-Lafon extends over 18 hectares, of which 16 in production. The vineyard rests on a gravelly soil and a clay-limestone subsoil, typical of the greatest crus of the Sauternais.

Chateau Raymond-Lafon

AOC Sauternes - great sweet wine (Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc)

The estate's great sweet wine: honey, candied apricot, orange blossom and fine spices, in an ample, velvety and persistent palate. An intense and complex Sauternes of exceptional length, built for ageing and available across many vintages.

Great sweet wines of the Sauternais, direct from the estate

Where is Chateau Raymond-Lafon located?

The estate is located at the heart of the golden triangle of the Sauternes appellation, between Sauternes, Bommes and Preignac. It extends over 18 hectares, of which 16 in production, on a gravelly soil and a clay-limestone subsoil.

Who owns Chateau Raymond-Lafon?

The Meslier family: taken over in 1972 by Francine and Pierre Meslier (an agronomist engineer trained in Montpellier), the estate has been continued since 1990 by their children Marie-Francoise, Charles-Henri and Jean-Pierre Meslier.

What is the history of Chateau Raymond-Lafon?

Founded in the mid-19th century by Raymond Lafon, the estate could not be classified in 1855 because of its too recent creation, but it quickly established itself as a must of Sauternes. Louis Pontallier inherited it in the early 20th century, before the takeover by the Meslier family in 1972.

Why is Chateau Raymond-Lafon not classified in 1855?

Simply because its creation, in the mid-19th century, was too recent at the time of the 1855 classification; the estate nevertheless established itself as one of the great names of the Sauternes appellation.

Which grapes make up the wines of Chateau Raymond-Lafon?

Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc, whose harvest by successive pickings reveals all their quintessence on this Sauternes terroir.

What is noble rot (Botrytis cinerea)?

It is a fungus that develops on the berries thanks to the morning humidity brought by the river Ciron and the afternoon sun; it concentrates the sugars and aromas, an essential condition for the making of great sweet wines.

What are harvests by successive pickings?

It is a manual harvest carried out in several passes through the vines, in order to pick only the berries perfectly candied by noble rot, berry by berry, as they ripen.

What is the style of the wines of Chateau Raymond-Lafon?

A rare balance between richness and freshness: aromas of honey, candied apricot, orange blossom and fine spices, in an ample, velvety and persistent palate, at once elegant and powerful.

Do the wines of Chateau Raymond-Lafon age well?

Yes: these sweet wines refine magnificently over the years, even decades, gaining in complexity; the yield limited to 25 hl/ha concentrates all the richness of the terroir.

Which dishes pair with a Sauternes from Chateau Raymond-Lafon?

It enhances foie gras, blue cheeses (Roquefort), fruit desserts and poultry in sauce; served well chilled, it also makes an exceptional aperitif.

What score has Chateau Raymond-Lafon obtained?

Its expertise has earned the estate an exceptional score of 17.5 to 18.5/20 from the Revue du Vin de France.

Where can you buy the wines of Chateau Raymond-Lafon directly?

You can find the available vintages here, direct from the estate, carefully shipped across France and Europe. The selection changes with the vintages.

Direct from the estate, at the heart of the golden triangle of Sauternes

Chateau Raymond-Lafon - A great Sauternes sweet wine, the Meslier family, at the heart of the golden triangle.

Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc, harvest by successive pickings, score 17.5 to 18.5/20 (Revue du Vin de France)