Château Guiraud - Sauternes 2010 (375ml)
Price: $56.99
Sale Price: $44.99
| Producer | Château Guiraud |
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| Country | France |
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| Region | Bordeaux |
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| Subregion | Sauternes |
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| Varietal | Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle |
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| Vintage | 2010 |
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| Sku | 05823 |
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| Size | 375ml |
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Okay, so Sauternes… isn’t that a dessert wine? Well… not exactly, particularly if you are in France… read on… or just scroll to the bottom to order if you’re already sold.
Sauternes comes from the southernmost part of Bordeaux. Primarily Semillon, with varying proportions of Sauvignon Blanc, the vineyards of Sauternes are notable for the morning mists rising from the Garonne River. With the mists, the fungus botrytis cinerea spreads rapidly, causing the grapes to start rotting. But warm afternoons dry the grapes out, allowing for just the right amount of “noble rot” to spread. This “rot” is what gives Sauternes its unique and prized flavors – orange marmalade, honey, beeswax, ginger and dried fruit.
All righty then… back to the original question – is Sauternes a dessert wine?
Well, the wine is undeniably sweet. Drunk on its own, it would certainly qualify as a liquid dessert. But, as I said, in France they might look at you sideways if you paired with a dessert – like a peach crumble or apple tart (tarte tatin). Oh, it goes fabulously with dessert dishes. That’s just not how it is traditionally served.
Despite its sweetness, or rather, because of its sweetness and high acidity, Sauternes pairs wonderfully with rich foods such as foie gras and blue cheese. The Sauternes website suggests butternut squash soup. I’ve had it paired with oysters! Amazing! Lobster is another wonderful choice. Spicy foods can be a wonderful match, but you have to be careful. Not too spicy.
James Suckling: 96 Points
Vinous Media: 95 Points
Decanter: 95 Points
"Lively and expressive, with floral and citrus notes – there’s even a touch of lemon sherbet. Round, full and textured with bitter orange freshness and persistence. Pure and complete. Grown organically. Drink Now-2040.” Decanter
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