Château d'Arche (2009)

About this wine

This 2009 Sauternes from Château d'Arche is built on 90 percent Sémillon with 10 percent Sauvignon Blanc, a classic blend for the appellation. () The grapes were picked by hand in successive passes from September 20 to October 17, 2009, with conditions that encouraged strong Botrytis cinerea development. () Fermentation is done in temperature controlled tanks, then the wine is aged for 12 to 18 months in new French oak barrels, renewed by one third each year. () Aromas lean toward orange peel and candied fruits, and the palate adds honey, candied citrus, quince, and a touch of almond, with real concentration but a lifted, airy feel. () The finish is long and lightly toasty, and the estate notes a powerful, mineral profile in this vintage. () Château d'Arche is classified as a Second Cru Classé in the 1855 classification for Sauternes and is located in the commune of Sauternes in Bordeaux. ()

About the grape

In Sauternes, Sémillon is the historic cornerstone grape, long grown in Bordeaux because its relatively thin skins and tendency to ripen fully help it develop noble rot, which is central to the region’s sweet wine tradition. For the 2009 Château d’Arche, the blend is 90 percent Sémillon, grown on the estate’s mix of gravel and clay limestone soils and picked in successive passes during September and October to bring in berries at the right stage of botrytis. Sauvignon Blanc, a classic Bordeaux partner with older roots in western France, makes up the remaining 10 percent and is included for its naturally high acidity and aromatic lift, helping keep the Sémillon rich and concentrated without relying on added sweetness. Chateau d’Arche keeps this two grape recipe consistent from vintage to vintage, using careful hand harvesting and very low yields to let each variety play its established role in a traditional Sauternes Grand Cru Classé style.

Quick facts

• 🏅 Château d’Arche is a Second Growth (2e Cru Classé) in the 1855 Bordeaux classification for Sauternes and Barsac, a rare historic ranking that still appears on the estate’s identity today.
• 👑 The estate takes its name from the Comte d’Arche, who owned it from 1733 to 1789, giving the wine a direct link to pre‑Revolution Sauternes history.
• 🌫️ Château d’Arche sits on the heights of the village of Sauternes, a prized position for developing the famous “noble rot” (Botrytis cinerea) that makes Sauternes sweet and intense.
• 🏰 The property isn’t just a winery, it’s a 17th‑century château that also became an early Sauternes wine‑tourism destination with an on‑site hotel opened in 2002.
• 🍯 The 2009 Château d’Arche is a seriously luscious Sauternes by the numbers, listed around 14% alcohol with about 110 g/L residual sugar, and it’s aged in barriques for a classic, cellar‑worthy style.

Palate profile

Producer

Château d’Arche is a Sauternes estate whose documented story reaches back to 1611, when the d’Arche family developed vineyards and a reputation for sweet white wines in the area. The property earned the rank of Second Growth in the 1855 Bordeaux classification for Sauternes and Barsac, reflecting its long standing standing among the region’s leading crus. In 1925 Armand Bastit Saint Martin took the lead and began reuniting parcels that had been split after the French Revolution. The château entered a new phase after its purchase in 1996, adding a pioneering on site hotel in 2002 to welcome visitors. In 2019 the estate inaugurated a modern winery designed to improve precision in winemaking while supporting an environmentally focused approach.