Sauternes, 65 km South of Bordeaux, is a Village renowned for its high quality Sweet wines. Although some wineries produce Dry wines, they sell them under other appellations than Sauternes, which is specific to sweet wines. The village is surrounded on all sides by vineyards, the best of which produce some of the most prestigious, long-lasting and expensive dessert wines in the world. A half bottle of premium, aged Sauternes from a good Vintage can sell for over $1,000.
Classic Sauternes has a DeepGoldenColor (darker than most other dessert wines), which turns a deep amber color with bottle age. Its aromas include flower and stone fruit, with a hint of honeysuckle - the hallmark of botrytized wines. The best wines balance sweetness with acidity, concentration with freshness and power with elegance. Sauternes wines are primarily made from the Sémillon grape, which accounts for about eight out of every ten vines in the local vineyard.
Sauvignon Blanc accounts for most of the remaining vineyard and is the dominant grape in a small handful of Sauternes wines. Semillon forms a broad, well-structured base with aromas of beeswax and apricot, while Sauvignon Blanc contributes its characteristic herbal aromas and enough acidity to keep the resulting wine fresh rather than mouthwatering. These two varieties (sometimes supplemented by a small amount of Muscadelle and Sauvignon Gris) have become the preferred varieties here, not only because they are also used to make dry white Bordeaux wines, but also because of their susceptibility to a particular type of fungus, Botrytis cinerea (often just botrytis). Apart from yeast, without which the grape juice cannot ferment into wine, one would not expect a fungus to play a key role in winemaking.
Montégut, who is already technical director of the Premier Cru Classé estate Château Suduiraut in Sauternes, will replace Jean-René Matignon who last year announced his intention to step down after more than 30 years in the role. He will formally take on his new responsibilities from the end of April when Matignon retires. Having worked together with Montégut since his arrival at Suduiraut in 2004, Christian Seely, MD of owner AXA Millésimes, said that during this time, Montégut had been respons ...
Château Climens owner Lurton has sold a majority stake in the prestigious, Barsac-based estate to Jean-Hubert Moitry and his family, via the family’s Patrimonia Développement group, it was announced this week. It marks the Moitry family’s first investment in the wine sector, and represents a major deal in the Bordeaux wine world. Financial details weren’t disclosed. Nicknamed ‘Lord of Barsac’, Climens is one of the Premier Grand Cru Classé estates of Sauternes and Barsac listed in Bordeaux ...
When I first visited Bordeaux, the sleepy landscape of turreted stone châteaux and vineyards seemed timeless, with traditions so well established you felt they would go on forever. But new energy in this famous wine region is visible and audible: bees buzz and sheep graze in organic vineyards; brand-new cellars brim with sustainable features and wine fermenting in trendy amphorae; unusual grapes are gaining attention; and the number of women in key roles keeps growing. Yoga among the vines is s ...