Château de Fargues

The histories of Sauternes and the Lur-Saluces family are profoundly intertwined. Back in 1785, Louis Amédée de Lur-Saluces married Françoise-Joséphine de Sauvage d’Yquem; the Lur-Saluces family had owned Château de Fargues since 1472, and Françoise-Josephine’s dowry was a little place called Château d’Yquem, situated just four kilometers west of Château de Fargues. The family pioneered numerous advancements in winemaking through the 19th century, with Françoise-Joséphine building a winery at Yquem in 1826, and their peerless position was cemented in the 1855 classification of Yquem as the lone Grand Premier Cru in the region. 

From this hallowed zone which can birth arguably the most profound sweet wines on earth, the Lur-Saluces family produces a Sauternes of stunning clarity. In his words, Philippe seeks “focus and austerity”—and indeed Château de Fargues emphasizes precision and drive over polished unctuousness. The vineyards, which today comprise 18 hectares and average 35 years of age, are planted to 80% Sémillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc, and are farmed entirely without the use of synthetic chemicals.