Sauternes

Situated in the south of Bordeaux and at the southern end of the Graves, Sauternes is a vast appellation with 2002 hectares of vines, spread over 5 separate communes. These 5 communes, each with its own unique terroir, are Barsac, Bommes, Fargues, Sauternes and Preignac. The prestigious wines of Sauternes stand out for the high cost of production compared with other wines in the region. In this guide, we will review the Sauternes appellation and the best wines in this region

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Sauternes wine-growing regions

The 2004 ha of vineyards in this appellation are located 40 km south-east of Bordeaux. Sauternes covers 1559 ha, while Barsac has 403 ha. Bommes has 380 hectares, while Preignac has 565 hectares. Sauternes' smallest commune covers 190 hectares. Sauternes is bordered by the Garonne and Ciron rivers. The wine-growing terroirs of the 5 communes that make up this appellation are made up of pebbles, gravel, chalk and silt. The permeability of the soils and the high humidity due to the morning mists caused by the proximity of the Ciron encourage noble rot in the grapes. This climatic condition also allows the botrytis fungus to develop on ripe grapes. To produce these wines, winegrowers have to harvest the grapes in several batches. The pickers sort only the best grapes at each stage. Total production in this appellation is 480,000 cases of wine per year
Sémillon is the main grape variety used in this appellation, along with Sauvignon Blanc and a small percentage of Muscadelle. Unlike the châteaux of the Médoc, the Sauternes wine estates are mostly small. These properties are classified as 11 Premiers crus and 14 Deuxièmes crus. The famous Château d'Yquem has been awarded the distinction of Premier Cru Supérieur

The greatest Sauternes wines:

-Yquem: the 113-hectare vineyard of this château in the Graves wine-growing region produces incredibly smooth wines with complex aromas, balanced acidity and ageing potential of over 30 years. The style of this château is simply divine. It is a full-bodied, soft white wine with an impressive floral character. A wine that can be enjoyed young or left to age for years. Enjoy with blue cheese, foie gras or fruit-based desserts. Feel free to browse our collection of wines from this château to acquire this jewel at a low price!

-Gilette: the 4.5 ha of vineyards at this château belong to Julie Gonet-Medeville and her husband Xavier Gonet. The estate has been in the family's hands since the 18th century. They also own Les Justices in Sauternes and other properties. This château produces only selected great vintages. Classified as a Premier Cru in 1855, the wines from this château have a soft, racy character, with incredible acidity that can be appreciated when young. They are distinguished by their ageing in vats for 20 years and 2 to 3 years in bottle before being sold. These wines have strong citrus notes, complex aromas and impressive length.

-Climens: the history of this château in the south of the Barsac appellation dates back to the 16th century. Its 30-hectare vineyard produces delicious, round, opulent, rich wines that can be enjoyed straight from the bottle. But these 1er cru classé wines can also reveal the full complexity of their flavours and nuances, and the sensuality of their aromas, after 4 or 5 decades.

-Suduiraut: this château's large 90 ha vineyard belongs to AXA vintages. It is located close to Château d'Yquem. Classified as a Premier Cru in 1855, the wines from this château are mellow and full-bodied, with great purity and remarkable finesse. They exude a variety of fruit and floral aromas, with a lingering finish and good ageing potential. This château prefers to use integrated farming methods and low yields to guarantee the quality of its wines.

-Guiraud: Canadian Hamilton Narby acquired this château in 1981 and transformed it into one of the finest wine estates in Sauternes. Situated near the river Ciron, the estate is ideally placed for the development of botrytis, responsible for the noble rot that characterises the sweet wines of Sauternes. The château's 100 hectares produce prestigious wines that are famous among sweet wine lovers in Bordeaux and Sauternes. Premier grand cru classé 1855 and a pioneer in ecological viticulture, this château produces wines with a rich, opulent character worthy of the great Sauternes wines.

- Coutet: this château, classified as a Premier Grand Cru in the 1855 classification, has 38.5 hectares of vines. Owned by the Baly family since 1977, it produces one of the sweetest, most opulent and concentrated wines in Bordeaux. Classified as a Premier Grand Cru in 1855, this cuvée is only produced in small quantities.

-Rieussec: the 93 hectares of this Sauternes and Barsac Premier Cru Classé are located next to Château d'Yquem and Château de Fargues. The wines from this estate are concentrated flavours with thick, viscous textures. On the palate, they reveal notes of pineapple, honey, mango, apricot, caramel, etc. They take on a darker, amber or coppery hue after a few years' ageing.

-La Tour Blanche: classified as a Premier Cru in the 1855 classification, this château is considered to be the best producer of Sauternes wine after Château d'Yquem. Monsieur Osiris was the owner of this estate, which he bequeathed to the Ministry of Agriculture. The château's vineyards cover 40 hectares. It produces fresh, rich, powerful, exotic wines with great ageing potential. These wines have an expressive bouquet of tropical fruit and citrus with a touch of lush spice. Give the best vintages from this château 1 to 3 decades to develop their complex flavours before popping the cork!

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Bordeaux Sauternes Château Caillou Bottle (75cl) Second Cru Classé de Sauternes
Château Caillou Creme de Tete 1947

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Bordeaux Sauternes Château Climens Bottle (75cl) Premier Cru Classé de Sauternes
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What is the difference between "Premier Cru" and "Grand Cru"? What determines the price of a great wine? How do I buy a Grand Cru?

Premiers Grands Crus Pomerol Pessac Léognan Saint Julien Saint Estèphe Margaux Saint Emilion Pauillac Côtes-de-Bourg Haut-Médoc Moulis-en-Médoc Médoc Fronsac Château Canon Domaine de l'A Loupiac Château Ricaud Clos Puy Arnaud Chateau d'Aiguilhe Bordeaux Red Wine Bordeaux White Wine