CHATEAU SUDUIRAUT

Château Suduiraut and Sauternes go back to 1580, and they produce one of the great Premier Cru Classé sweet wines. Indeed, meticulous and uncompromising is what they are, with tailored plot selection, grape-by-grape harvesting and fastidious control over the fermentation of each individual barrel. The wine's aging capacity is off the chart.

The estate was significantly renovated in the 17th Century by the Count Blaise de Suduiraut, grandson of the founder, its stunning grounds and lakes courtesy of Le Nôtre, the designer of the gardens at Versailles.

Like many Bordeaux estates, Suduiraut has passed through a number of hands. Losing its way somewhat in the 1940s to 1960s, there has been a distinct return to form under the stewardship of insurance group AXA, who seem to have their fingers in a number of significant Bordeaux pies. With 92 hectares under vine, the wines are deeply opulent and highly collectible.