top of page

Vintage

Alcohol by Volume

Residual Sugar

Asidity

pH

Harvest

Ageing

Technical Note

Brand

Ageing Potential

Maceration

Fermentation

Packaging

Legendary Vintages: 1921, 1945, 1959, 1967, 1988, 1989, 1990, 2001, 2009, 2011
Recent Top Vintages: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020

Minimum 12%

<p>Minimum 45 g/L</p>

 

Clarity

Color Intensity

Condition

Aroma Intensity

Taste Intensity

Development

Body

Mousse

Alcohol

Sweetness

Acidity

Finish

Astringency

Balance

Readiness

Quality

ea95aaad-28a4-4a22-b46c-61b9352101a8

Spain Jerez vineyards scenic view oil.jpg
  • Awards

0

  • Rating

0

0

0

  • It seems like there might be a typo in your question. If you are referring to "Sauternes," it is a renowned sweet white wine from the Bordeaux region of France. Sauternes wines are celebrated for their luscious and complex flavors, which are achieved through a unique winemaking process involving botrytized grapes. Here's a definition of Sauternes:


    1. **Grapes:**

    - **Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle:** Sauternes wines are typically made from a blend of these grape varieties. Sémillon is the dominant grape, contributing richness and body, while Sauvignon Blanc adds acidity, and Muscadelle can enhance aromatic qualities.


    2. **Botrytis Cinerea (Noble Rot):**

    - **Beneficial Mold:** Sauternes grapes are affected by Botrytis cinerea, commonly known as noble rot. This mold causes the grapes to partially dehydrate, concentrating sugars and flavors while maintaining high acidity.

    - **Selective Harvest:** Grapes affected by noble rot are carefully handpicked in multiple passes through the vineyard, as the mold affects the grapes unevenly.


    3. **Flavor Profile:**

    - **Sweetness and Complexity:** Sauternes wines are characterized by their sweetness, with flavors of honey, apricot, peach, and tropical fruits. The noble rot contributes additional complexities, including notes of marmalade, botrytized character, and sometimes a hint of saffron.


    4. **Aging:**

    - **Barrel Aging:** Sauternes wines are often aged in oak barrels, which imparts additional flavors and helps integrate the wine's components.

    - **Longevity:** While delicious when young, Sauternes wines have excellent aging potential, developing further complexities and gaining a rich, amber color over time.


    5. **Classification:**

    - **Bordeaux Classification:** Sauternes wines are part of the Bordeaux wine classification system. Some of the most prestigious estates in the Sauternes region, such as Château d'Yquem, hold the highest classification as Premier Cru Supérieur.


    6. **Food Pairing:**

    - **Versatile Pairing:** Sauternes is a versatile wine for food pairing. It pairs exceptionally well with foie gras, blue cheeses, desserts, and a variety of savory dishes.


    7. **Serving Temperature:**

    - **Chilled:** Sauternes is typically served chilled, enhancing its refreshing qualities despite its sweetness.


    8. **Cultural Significance:**

    - **Luxurious and Celebratory:** Sauternes wines are often associated with luxury and are a popular choice for celebrations and special occasions. The production process, with the reliance on noble rot, contributes to the uniqueness and prestige of these wines.


    Sauternes holds a special place in the world of sweet wines, and its complex, honeyed flavors make it a sought-after choice for wine enthusiasts who appreciate the artistry of botrytized winemaking.

     

    Sauternes refers to a prestigious and sweet white wine produced in the Sauternes region of the Bordeaux wine-growing area in southwestern France. The key characteristic of Sauternes wine is its production using grapes affected by noble rot, a beneficial form of the Botrytis cinerea fungus.

     

    The primary grape varieties used in Sauternes include Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle. The grapes are left on the vine for an extended period, allowing the Botrytis cinerea to develop under specific weather conditions. This fungus causes the grapes to dehydrate, concentrating sugars and flavors in the process.

     

    The resulting Sauternes wine is known for its rich, complex, and luscious profile, often exhibiting flavors of honey, apricot, peach, and sometimes a hint of botrytis-induced spiciness. Sauternes wines are sweet but balanced by a refreshing acidity, creating a harmonious and elegant taste profile.

     

    Some of the most renowned châteaux in the Sauternes region, such as Château d'Yquem, produce highly sought-after and prestigious Sauternes wines. Sauternes is frequently enjoyed as a dessert wine, and it pairs well with various desserts, cheeses, or can be savored on its own.

     

    Sauternes is a prestigious French sweet wine from the Sauternais region of the Graves section in Bordeaux. It is made primarily from Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle grapes that have been affected by noble rot, a condition caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea. This noble rot concentrates the sugars in the grapes, resulting in the distinctive rich, sweet character of Sauternes wines.

     

    Sauternes wines are renowned for their complex flavor profile, which typically includes notes of apricot, peach, honey, and nut, as well as a unique balance of sweetness and acidity that prevents them from being overly cloying. The wines can range from lightly sweet to intensely sweet and are often golden in color, with the hue deepening as they age.

     

    The production of Sauternes is labor-intensive and risky, as the development of noble rot is subject to the whims of weather, and not all vintages produce the desired conditions. The grapes are often harvested in several "passes" through the vineyard, hand-selecting only the grapes affected by noble rot at the perfect stage of development, which further contributes to the wine's rarity and cost.

     

    Château d'Yquem is the most famous producer of Sauternes, known for creating some of the world's most expensive and long-lived sweet wines. Sauternes wines are typically consumed as dessert wines but can also be paired with a variety of foods, including foie gras, blue cheeses, and certain seafood dishes. Due to their sugar content and acidity, Sauternes can age and develop in the bottle for many decades.

     

    Sauternes is a French sweet wine from the Sauternais region in the southern part of Bordeaux. This wine is made from white grapes that have been affected by Botrytis cinerea, also known as noble rot. This fungus causes the grapes to partially dehydrate, concentrating their sugars and flavors and resulting in the production of a rich, sweet, and complex wine.

     

    The primary grape varieties used in Sauternes production are Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle. Sémillon is the dominant grape, prized for its susceptibility to noble rot and its rich, full body. Sauvignon Blanc adds acidity and aromatic freshness to the blend, while Muscadelle contributes additional aromatics.

     

    Sauternes wines are characterized by their balance of sweetness and acidity, with flavors that can include apricot, peach, honey, citrus, and a distinct note often described as reminiscent of butterscotch or caramel. These wines are typically golden-yellow in color, which deepens to amber as they age.

     

    The production of Sauternes is labor-intensive and risky, as it relies on specific climatic conditions to encourage the development of noble rot. The grapes are often picked by hand in several passes through the vineyard, selecting only the grapes affected by the right amount of noble rot. This meticulous process contributes to the rarity and often high cost of Sauternes wines.

     

    Sauternes is renowned for its capacity to age gracefully, developing greater complexity over time. It is often enjoyed as a dessert wine but can also be paired with certain savory dishes, like foie gras, blue cheese, or spicy cuisines. Château d'Yquem is one of the most famous producers of Sauternes, known for creating exceptionally high-quality wines that are sought after by collectors and wine enthusiasts worldwide.

  • Visual Aspects

    Aroma

    Taste

    Sweetness

    ea95aaad-28a4-4a22-b46c-61b9352101a8

    Conclusion

    Aroma and Taste

  • Pairing

  • Composition

0

Sauternes
  • Vintage

    Legendary Vintages: 1921, 1945, 1959, 1967, 1988, 1989, 1990, 2001, 2009, 2011
    Recent Top Vintages: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020

    Alcohol by Volume

    Minimum 12%

    Residual Sugar

    <p>Minimum 45 g/L</p>

  • Serving

  • 0

  • Classifications

Wine

Sauternes

France

France

Reference

Start Now
  • Filter items with Title
    Filter items with Vintage

Related Products

[PRODUCTS #]

  • 24-hour front desk
    Free WiFi
    Parking
    Breakfast
    Pool
    Gym
bottom of page