Château Roûmieu-Lacoste
シャトー・ルーミュー・ラコスト
Climens' neighbour on the Haut-Barsac plateau — 130-plus years of Dubourdieu family mastery producing 100% Sémillon Sauternes acclaimed for its robust sweetness and electrifying Barsac acidity.
Situated on the prestigious Haut-Barsac plateau directly across the road from First Growth Château Climens, Château Roûmieu-Lacoste has been in the Dubourdieu family since around 1890 — over 130 years of unbroken heritage. The vineyards sit on calcareous clay over fissured rock, peppered with red iron, white limestone, and grey flint gravel — soils remarkably similar to those of Climens itself. The estate produces 100% Sémillon Sauternes, harvested by hand in multiple successive tries to select only the finest botrytised grapes from the oldest plots on the plateau. The resulting wines are celebrated by Kermit Lynch and international critics for their 'ravishing' balance of decadent sweetness and pronounced Barsac acidity, with complex aromatics of passion fruit, apricot, and citrus evolving into deeper notes with cellaring.
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Who Is This For?
Made for lovers of classic, full-flavoured Sauternes who want cellaring potential alongside immediate pleasure — equally stunning with foie gras, Roquefort, and spicy Thai or Japanese dishes.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How does Château Roûmieu-Lacoste differ from Château Roumieu?
- Despite the similar names and neighbouring location on the Haut-Barsac plateau, these are entirely separate estates. Roûmieu-Lacoste is the Dubourdieu family property known for 100% Sémillon and a powerfully styled, high-acidity Barsac character. Château Roumieu belongs to the Craveia-Goyaud family and uses an 85/10/5 Sémillon-Sauvignon-Muscadelle blend.
- Why is Haut-Barsac considered especially prestigious?
- Haut-Barsac is the elevated plateau zone of Barsac where the calcareous clay soils over fractured bedrock produce wines of exceptional freshness and longevity. First Growth Château Climens and Roûmieu-Lacoste share virtually identical terroir on this plateau, making it the heart of top Barsac production.
- What does 100% Sémillon mean for the wine's character?
- Sémillon's naturally thin skin makes it extremely susceptible to Botrytis cinerea (noble rot), concentrating sugars, glycerol, and aromatic compounds to extraordinary levels. Without Sauvignon Blanc's diluting herbaceous notes, the wine achieves a purer, richer expression of botrytised fruit — passion fruit, dried apricot, and honeyed complexity.
- Is Château Roûmieu-Lacoste good for ageing?
- Yes — the estate is renowned for its ageing potential. Its pronounced natural acidity acts as a preservative, and the wine deepens in colour and complexity over decades. Critics note that bottles from the 1980s and 1990s still drink beautifully.
- Where can I buy Château Roûmieu-Lacoste?
- The estate's primary importer in the United States is Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, a renowned importer of artisan French wines. The wine is also available through specialty wine shops and online merchants in Europe, Japan, and Australia.