The Sweet Wine of Sauterne
Posted by Jim Beasley on Sunday, June 28, 2009
Under: French Dessert Wine
Sauternes comes from the southern Bordeaux region of France. This is a sensational semi sweet white wine that pairs well with desserts or foie gras. There are some that are made in the US, but this type of Sauterne is usually very dry and is called Haut Sauterne to avoid confusion.
Sauterne is also the name of the village from where the wine originates. The wine is produced in a delimited area around the village in the surrounding vineyards. The wines are similar to Mouvedre and Sauvignon. While the French disdain the American use of the term Haut Sauterne, they do coincidentally export a Haut Sauterne to the US.
The grape that makes up the majority of Sauternes is Semillon. In Bordeaux Semillon holds the title of being the majority white grape grown. Often blended with other wines, Semillon is found most widely in the sweet wines of Sauternes and Barsac. It is a rather hearty sweet wine and easy to drink. Like its Austrian cousin Ruster Ausbruch, it is fairly resistant to most diseases, with the exception of the fungal infection, Botrytis cinarea, also known as Noble rot.
Because Semillon is very susceptible to this mold it is the key component in making Sauternes. In fact, Semillon grapes make up 80% of the blend in Château d'Yquem, the most expensive and famous dessert wine in the world.
This sweet wine is also great with food pairings that one wouldn't quite think of. Take foie gras, fatty goose or duck liver, for example. Sounds gross, right? Foie gras is one of France's sexiest and hedonistic of culinary treats. The meaty flavors with the almost buttery fat, combined with a melt-in-your-mouth texture, leads to a fabulous pairing with Sauternes.
Another great food and wine pairing with Sauternes is Roquefort. While it is arguably the first and best blue cheese in the world, it can be quite intense and salty on its own unless paired with something sweet to tame it. That is why it is often served in a salad with sweet flavors like pear. And because most people do not want to drink too much sweet wine, pairing it with the right food can balance the sweetness and richness of the wine.
Even though Sauterne ages well and has been known to have an excellent texture after several decades, it is best when consumed young. It can also be served with spicy foods that contain coconut milk and curry. It will also improve the taste of fruit salads, grilled fish and chicken dishes. For some the heady aroma and taste of the wine may be too powerful and in most cases one glass will suffice when you consume it in conjunction with a meal. If you want to invest some time in an inexpensive sweet white wine, Sauterne is the way to go.
Sauterne is also the name of the village from where the wine originates. The wine is produced in a delimited area around the village in the surrounding vineyards. The wines are similar to Mouvedre and Sauvignon. While the French disdain the American use of the term Haut Sauterne, they do coincidentally export a Haut Sauterne to the US.
The grape that makes up the majority of Sauternes is Semillon. In Bordeaux Semillon holds the title of being the majority white grape grown. Often blended with other wines, Semillon is found most widely in the sweet wines of Sauternes and Barsac. It is a rather hearty sweet wine and easy to drink. Like its Austrian cousin Ruster Ausbruch, it is fairly resistant to most diseases, with the exception of the fungal infection, Botrytis cinarea, also known as Noble rot.
Because Semillon is very susceptible to this mold it is the key component in making Sauternes. In fact, Semillon grapes make up 80% of the blend in Château d'Yquem, the most expensive and famous dessert wine in the world.
This sweet wine is also great with food pairings that one wouldn't quite think of. Take foie gras, fatty goose or duck liver, for example. Sounds gross, right? Foie gras is one of France's sexiest and hedonistic of culinary treats. The meaty flavors with the almost buttery fat, combined with a melt-in-your-mouth texture, leads to a fabulous pairing with Sauternes.
Another great food and wine pairing with Sauternes is Roquefort. While it is arguably the first and best blue cheese in the world, it can be quite intense and salty on its own unless paired with something sweet to tame it. That is why it is often served in a salad with sweet flavors like pear. And because most people do not want to drink too much sweet wine, pairing it with the right food can balance the sweetness and richness of the wine.
Even though Sauterne ages well and has been known to have an excellent texture after several decades, it is best when consumed young. It can also be served with spicy foods that contain coconut milk and curry. It will also improve the taste of fruit salads, grilled fish and chicken dishes. For some the heady aroma and taste of the wine may be too powerful and in most cases one glass will suffice when you consume it in conjunction with a meal. If you want to invest some time in an inexpensive sweet white wine, Sauterne is the way to go.
In : French Dessert Wine
Tags: "château d'yquem" france roquefort sauternes "haut sauterne" "botrytis cinarea" "noble rot" "sweet wine"
