Sauternes is the last word when it comes to sweet wine
In the world of sweet wine, Sauternes enjoys a reputation that rises above virtually all other regions. The reason is simple: Sauternes is among the most profoundly delicious, complex, and age-worthy sweet wines in the world. In fact, it’s quite simply one of the greatest wines in the world, period—regardless of style. The reasons are as varied as they are delicious. Let’s take a look.
What is Sauternes?
Sauternes—also often called Sauternes wine—is both a wine-producing region that is part of the greater Bordeaux region, as well as a sweet wine that shares the same name.
What grape is Sauternes made from?
Sauternes is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and often Muscadelle. However, unlike dry wines, the grapes for Sauternes are allowed to become infected with a gray fungus called Botrytis cinerea—often called Noble Rot—which partially dehydrates each individual berry and changes its flavor, so that the resulting wine boasts ambrosial flavors and aromas of honey, mushrooms, preserved fruit, and more.
Where is Sauternes most famously made?
Sauternes can only be produced in the Sauternes appellation of France’s Bordeaux region. The most famous producer of Sauternes is Château d’Yquem, which is widely considered to be one of the greatest wines in the entire world.
What does Sauternes taste like?
Sauternes is a sweet wine that has excellent balancing acidity, and aromas and flavors of honey, mushrooms, sweet spices, dried fruits, and more. It is rich without being heavy, and as they get older, fascinating nutty notes come to the fore—almond, praline, and more.
Are Sauternes dry or sweet?
The Sauternes appellation is only for sweet white wines. However, many top producers of Sauternes also make dry white wine. French law, however, does not allow them to be labeled as Sauternes. Instead, they are classified as Bordeaux Supérieur or Bordeaux Blanc Sec, the latter of which means dry white Bordeaux.
What wine is similar to Sauternes?
There are many sweet white wines in the world, but few achieve the heights of deliciousness, prestige, and longevity as Sauternes. However, analogs do exist: Botrytized Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon-based sweet wines are produced from New York’s North Fork of Long Island to Australia. They are very much worth seeking out, and they can be delicious.
What temperature should you drink Sauternes?
Sauternes should be enjoyed chilled, but not right from the refrigerator, which will mute many of its most profound aromas and flavors. In general, removing the bottle from the fridge approximately 20 minutes before popping the cork should work well.
How long can you keep Sauternes wine?
Assuming you have proper storage conditions—approximately 55 degrees Fahrenheit and no vibrations or exposure to UV light—the best Sauternes from great vintages can last for decades. And Château d’Yquem has been known to last the better part of a century!
What are the popular brands of Sauternes?
There are many popular brands of Sauternes, including Rieussec, Suduiraut, D'Yquem, Guiraud, La Tour Blanche, Rayne Vigneau, Chateau de Myrat, Chateau Doisy Vedrines, Mouton Cadet, Raymond Lafon, Calvet, and Barton & Guestier.
Browse our full selection of Sauternes online or check out our selection of highly rated Sauternes for a great new Sauternes to try this week!
Want to learn more about Sauternes?
Visit our Guide to Sauternes to learn more about Sauternes.
