Sauternes

The Sauternes appellation is located on the left bank of the Garonne River, 40 kilometers upstream from Bordeaux. Sauternes is one of the smallest appellations in Bordeaux. It covers five communes: Sauternes, Barsac, Preignac, Fargues, and Bommes. Sauternes is the most renowned of Bordeaux's sweet wine AOCs. The nectars it produces are appreciated all over the world, and this terroir is home to some very famous wines such as the renowned 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 soil that harmoniously blends layers of silica, limestone, and gravel. This region enjoys a microclimate that is favorable to the development of noble rot. This microclimate, due to the Ciron, a tributary of the Garonne, brings morning fog in the fall, which quickly dissipates in the sunshine. Covering an area of nearly 1,770 hectares, Sauternes' annual production amounts to 34,000 hectoliters.

The blend of Sauternes wines is largely dominated by Sémillon. It is paired with Sauvignon. Muscadelle sometimes completes this combination, adding a wild touch. The essential originality and great secret of Sauternes wine lies in harvesting grapes that have been candied by Botrytis Cinerea. Botrytis Cinerea, or noble rot, gives the wine a high sugar content, but develops gradually. This development requires the grape picker to make several passes to pick only the most rotten grapes. The harvest can therefore last two months and take place in several passes. Certain production rules are imposed on winegrowers, such as the obligation to harvest by hand or to limit themselves to a yield of 25 hectoliters per hectare. Added to the results of Botrytis, this low yield allows us to obtain wines that are always very concentrated and very rich.