"There are now 62 hectares (of a 350 hectares estate) planted up, in several plots northwest of the chateau, the position of which makes this the most southerly of all the classified Sauternes properties.
The soil is sand, gravel and clay over a deep limestone bedrock, and the vines are 60% Semillon, 36% Sauvignon Blanc and 4% Muscadelle. Yields are between 15 and 18 hl/ha, and the harvest (in several tries) may be up to a week later than other communes due to the proximity of the woods which cool the vineyards.
The must is Chaptalised if deemed necessary. Until recently the wines were fermented in fibreglass and saw no or little oak maturation, most or all of the wine spending up to two years in fibreglass. Now, however, the chateau has temperature controlled stainless steel fermentation equipment and the wine is managed at between 19°C and 21°C, followed by blending during maturation which is in French Allier oak, one third of which is new each year.
The grand vin is Chateau Filhot. There is no second wine, one of Filhot's failings. Nevertheless, the result is a large production - de Vaucelles declares just over 6500 cases although some sources suggest the output may be almost double that - of fairly priced, widely distributed wine, which I suspect serves as an introduction to Sauternes for many." Winedoctor.com
