Sauternes and Barsac are synonymous with sweet wine. It is not that there are no whites in this Bordeaux appellation, because there are some excellent ones, but botrytis cinerea (noble rot), thanks to the mists that form along the Ciron river -the Garonne’s tributary-, dries the grapes leaving perfect sugar levels to create fresh, intense, smooth, creamy-textured wines with a great ageing capacity. The perfect balance between sweetness and acidity to make wines that are addictive and not at all cloying.
The AOC Sauternes, located thirty kilometres south of Bordeaux, comprises the communes of Barsac, Bommes, Fargues, Preignac and Sauternes. The grape varieties used to make the wines are mainly semillon and sauvignon blanc, although muscadelle can also be found. The wineries harvest between eight and nine times (tries) to pick the grapes at their ideal point, which implies an arduous harvesting work.
Sauternes wines received their own classification in the official Bordeaux wine classification of 1855. It established a single Premier Cru Supérieur (Château D’Yquem), eleven Premier Crus and fifteen Deuxièmes Crus. It is thus obvious that the most important winery in Sauternes is the famed Château D’Yquem, as it is the only one in the whole of Bordeaux to have the classification of Premier Cru Supérieur.
The “myth” produces less than a thousand bottles for each of its one hundred hectares, when any vineyard in the Médoc of Premier Cru Classé produces five or six times more. Its location in hilly terrain means that the property has excellent drainage and makes it possible to cultivate the vineyards well even in the dry season.
The quality of Château D’Yquem is no exception, as there are many other wineries in the AOC Sauternes that will delight the consumer, such as Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Château Suduirant, Château Rieussec, Château Rieussec, Château Rieussec, Château Rieussec, Château Rieussec and Château Rieussec, Château Rieussec (owned by the Rothschilds of Lafite), Château La Tour Blanche (which is also a viticulture school), while in Barsac there are Châteaux Climens, Château Coutet and Château Doisy-Daëne.
In my opinion, there is no better pairing for a good Sauternes, especially if it is a Château D’Yquem, than good music, peace, and relaxation.