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Elite French wine made from raisined grapes is made in the region of the same name, located in the southwest of the country.
A unique area with a special climate is located on the territory of Bordeaux and includes 5 communes, the producers of which are entitled to call their drinks Sauternes.
Local wines are classified as white dessert wines and contain at least 13% alcohol. It is curious that the birth of a noble product was preceded by an absurd accident that almost deprived the local producer of the annual grape harvest.
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Origin of Sauternes
According to legend, the first Sauternes wine was made in the XNUMXth century. One of the local winemakers left the farm on business and ordered not to harvest until his return.
On the trip, he was delayed, and when he returned, he saw that the wine fruits were overripe and covered with mold. Deciding to somehow rectify the situation, the owner of the vines began to collect berries and made wine out of them.
The result exceeded all expectations: the drink turned out to be sweet and fragrant, not like the specimens of previous years. Two factors contributed to the creation of the original Sauternes: the noble mold Botrytis cinerea and thick fog. Under their influence, the berries lost moisture and turned raisined, retaining a high level of sugar content. Local winemakers took this method into service, improved it and turned it into a unique technology for creating elite drinks.
Sauternes production features
To get a real Sauternes, vineyard owners deliberately delay the harvest, waiting until it is overripe, withered and moldy. Moreover, this does not always happen: the noble fungus is quite capricious and does not always lead to the desired result.
To obtain valuable specimens of wine worthy of being called Sauternes, a number of conditions must be met:
Influence of a special maritime climate. The natural conditions of the region imply high humidity and the formation of thick fogs at night, which are replaced by daytime dryness and warmth. At the same time, frosts, hail and heavy rains in some years can destroy the entire crop.
Use of grapes of certain white varieties. These include: Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Muscadelle. The first of them is predominant in the composition of the original wine. Each type of raw material reaches the required degree of maturity at its own time, so it is harvested at different times.
Strict sorting and manual harvesting, which involves multiple inspections of vineyards to separate suitable berries. Harvesting fruits is stretched for 5-15 approaches.
Long exposure of wines: from 1,5 to 4 years in oak barrels and 15–20 (and sometimes 50–100 years) in bottles. Long maturation allows you to emphasize the complex character of drinks.
Observing all the subtleties of production and harvesting of fruits, winemakers get very little raw material suitable for creating Sauternes. And if you consider that the volume becomes smaller due to the drying of the berries, it is not surprising that fine wine belongs to the elite category.
No more than 65 thousand bottles of the famous drink are produced per year. The rest of the wines produced in the region are simply referred to as “Bordeaux AOC”.
Characteristics of Sauternes wines
You can distinguish a noble product by a bright golden-straw color, turning into dark amber as the drink ages.
The aroma of Sauternes wines is fresh, complex, harmonious. It contains fruit, honey, nut and floral tones. The consistency of the drink is oily, thick. Fortress – 13-14%. The taste is bright, rich, elegant, sweet, but not cloying. Main notes: citrus fruits, honey, vanilla, white flowers, almonds, candied fruit, plum, quince, apricot.
Thanks to a balanced, rich bouquet, wines from the Sauternes region are highly valued among fans of fine drinks, including among titled persons. It is known that the original product fell in love with the English Queen Elizabeth Ⅱ and the American President George Washington.
In 1855, Sauternes was included in the imperial classification of French wines: only special drinks from the Bordeaux region were awarded such an honor.
Slightly different from the classic types of Sauternes are the products of the commune of Barsac, located on the western bank of the Siron River. The wines produced here are characterized by a more pronounced dryness and lightness of the bouquet.
Types of drinks and manufacturers
Premier Cru Supérieur
This group includes the most prestigious copies of the famous wine, namely the production of “Chateau d’Yquem”. The cost of individual bottles reaches several thousand euros, while less valuable drinks from other manufacturers can be purchased for a couple of hundred.
Premiers Crus
This group includes wines from 11 estates in the region, most of which are concentrated in the commune of Barsac. The most famous are: Château Climens, Château Suduiraut, Château La Tour Blanche, Château Guiraud, Clos Haut-Peyraguey, Château Rieussec, etc.
Second Growths
This includes 15 farms from Sauternes. Among them: “Château Myrat”, “Château Broustet”, “Château Filhot”, “Château Doisy-Védrines”, “Château Nairac” and others.
Among the best harvests of recent years, experts identify 1988, 1989, 1990, 1997 and 1999.
How to drink Sauternes wine
Tasting famous wines should be chilled:
Young specimens – at a temperature of 8-11 ° C
Aged – a few degrees warmer – 14-16 ° C
You can serve before, during or after your meal. Foie gras is considered an ideal addition, but other dishes are also suitable for Sauternes: game roast, seafood, red fish, poultry, expensive cheeses, ice cream, vegetable snacks. Desserts should be chosen carefully: too sweet can interrupt the taste of wine.
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Relevance: 28.01.2019
Tags: Wine and vermouth, Wine brands