Appellation: Sauternes
Grapes: Semillon, Sauvignon blanc, Muscadelle
Size: 37.5cl 
 
The story and creation of Chateau Gilette dates back to 1710, when two, well-known Sauternes families got together through marriage. The Numa Medeville family married family Marie Despujols, the daughter of another famous family in the region, Lamothe Despujols. The couple was given the estate as a wedding gift from Lamothe Despujols. they received vineyards, Chateau Gilette, and Chateau Les Justices.
In the 1930s, Julie’s grandfather, René de Médeville, was feeling the effects of the economic slump that had hit Bordeaux because of The Depression, so he built concrete vats to replace costly barrels. Shortly after, he served in World War II and, in his absence, advised his wife to leave the wines in vat, thus opening the door several more years of aging than the wines would typically see. When Réne returned after the war, he observed that the wines were breathing well, maturing more slowly and developing more complex aromas. Since this discovery, the Médevilles have let their Sauternes age for decades in concrete vats. The wines never see the inside of a wooden barrel; they go directly from vat to bottle. Although Gilette was not included in the 1855 classification, its wines can compete with the best.
The wines of Chateau Gilette are released on average, between 20 and 25 years after the vintage! The wine remains in tanks for almost 20 years before its even bottled. At that point, Chateau Gilette ages the bottled Sauternes wine for an additional 3-5 years. To produce the wine of Chateau Gilette, the wine is fermented and stored in small, cement tanks that range in size from 20 hectoliters up to 40 hectoliters.