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When gourmets are asked about the best dessert wine from France, many say Sauternes is the favorite wine of the British Queen Elizabeth II and George Washington. Due to the complex production technology, only up to 65 thousand bottles are produced per year. This is an expensive elite drink for connoisseurs and wealthy people.
Sautern (Sauternes) is a white dessert wine with a strength of 12-14%, produced in the French area of Graves (part of the Bordeaux wine region) from Semillon, Sauvignon blanc and Muscadel grapes. The unique taste of Sauternes lies in the secret of the grape harvest. Berries are specially harvested when they are overripe, when they are slightly covered with the so-called “noble rot (a special type of mold)”.
Historical information
According to legend, wine was first made from overripe grapes in the XNUMXth century. Once the owner of the vineyard left on business and forbade touching the bunches hanging on the vine until his return. The owner was late, the berries were overripe and moldy. Upon arrival, he decided to harvest and make wine anyway. The result was amazing – the drink turned out to be very sweet.
Two factors contributed to the appearance of sweetness: thick autumn fog and the noble fungus Botrytis cinerea. Thanks to this combination, a special biochemical process occurs in the berries – they lose moisture, becoming like raisins. As a result, the concentration of sugar increases. In a liter of squeezed grape juice from 2 grams of sugar, although under normal conditions this figure is 220-20% lower.
After the case with overripe grapes, French winemakers deliberately postponed the harvest, improving the technology of preparation. Wine from Sauternes fell in love with royalty throughout Europe, becoming an elite drink. In 1855 Sauternes wines were included in the imperial classification. These are the only white wines awarded such a high honor. Today Sauternes is highly valued among admirers of fine alcohol.
Taste characteristic
Dried hand-picked grapes in a special way affects the flavor bouquet of wines from Sauternes. Only selected raw materials are allowed for production: in order to pick up the berries of the desired degree of maturity, workers have to inspect the plantation up to 15 times.
As a result, a sweet dessert wine comes into the gourmet glass, combining delicacy of taste, subtlety of aroma and moderate strength. Over the years, organoleptic properties are revealed, becoming richer and richer. Sauternes wines are often aged from 10 to 50 years, sometimes longer.
Wine Sauternes is not for everyone. Having initially the status of an aristocratic drink, it eventually did not become a mass product. And not only because of maintaining a high status. Sometimes weather conditions and a capricious fungus do not allow the berries to ripen to the desired condition, and winemakers do not have the right to call the wine made Sauternes. In addition, when the grapes dry out, the amount of raw materials is significantly reduced, which does not allow the production of large volumes of the drink. No more than 65 bottles go on sale every year.
The best brands of Sauternes
Chateau d’Yquem – No. 1 in the entire line, the highest quality wine of the premier cue class. Sweet, concentrated with a complex bouquet. Served to the table only after 10-20 years of aging in special conditions. Responds to the main principle of winemaking in Sauternes – from one vine, only one glass of drink.
Mademoiselle de Clos Dady is the second most prestigious brand. Golden wine with a fruity aroma: noticeable notes of mango, cherry, peach. Expressive refreshing taste with moderate acidity.
Chateau Filhot AOC – closes the top three, is remembered for its soft balanced taste with the aroma of honey, apricots, lemon zest.
Choose drinks from 2001, 2005 or 2009, these seasons are considered “great vintages” (miley winters) in Sauternes, when excellent raw materials for wine were obtained.
How to drink Sauternes
The serving ritual begins with proper cooling. The bottle is kept in an ice bucket until the drink is cooled to 7-13°C, the older the wine, the higher the temperature. Serve Sauternes as an aperitif (before meals), for dessert and during lunch. Tulip-shaped glasses of thin transparent glass of medium height on a thin stem are filled with wine by a third. Drink in small sips, trying to catch the notes of taste.
Sauternes wines snack:
- goose liver foie gras;
- sea scallops;
- salmon;
- roast poultry;
- appetizers of eggplant, artichokes;
- almond ice cream;
- Roquefort cheese, other varieties with green mold.
Drinking Sauternes needs a special occasion. Many people prefer to taste it on New Year’s Eve, during a wedding dinner, or present it as a gift to a significant person. Sauternes will make any event royal.