Sauternes

The Sauternes appellation is located on the left bank of the Garonne, 40 kilometers upstream from Bordeaux. Sauternes is one of Bordeaux's smallest appellations. It covers 5 communes: Sauternes, Barsac, Preignac, Fargues and Bommes. Sauternes is Bordeaux's most famous sweet wine AOC. The nectars it produces are appreciated the world over, and the terroir is home to such renowned crus as the famous Château d'Yquem, Château Gilette, Château Doisy Daëne, Château Les Justices, Château de Fargues, Château Guiraud, Château Suduirant and Château Clos Haut-Peyraguey.

The Sauternes vineyards are planted on a harmonious blend of silica, limestone and gravel. This region enjoys a microclimate that favors the development of noble rot. This microclimate, due to the Ciron, a tributary of the Garonne, brings with it morning fogs in autumn, which are quickly dissipated by rays of sunshine. Covering an area of almost 1,770 hectares, annual production of Sauternes amounts to 34,000 hectolitres.

The Sauternes blend is largely dominated by Sémillon. Its partner is Sauvignon. Muscadelle sometimes adds a wild touch. The essential originality and the great secret of Sauternes wine is the harvesting of grapes preserved by Botrytis Cinerea. Botrytis Cinerea, a noble rot, gives the wine a high sugar potential, but develops gradually. This development requires the picker to make several passes to pick only the most rotten grapes. Harvesting can therefore take up to two months, in several passes. Certain production rules are imposed on winegrowers, such as the obligation to harvest by hand or to limit yields to 25 hectolitres per hectare. Together with the Botrytis results, this low yield means that our wines are always highly concentrated and rich.