Sauternes
(Outstanding)
A light white wine from
Sauternes AOC
Summary
A crushed fruit fermentation wine, where extremely low yields of hand-harvested (via successive passes/tries) and heavily sorted botrytis affected grapes are destemmed and undergo skin contact time, before ambient yeast ferment the wine at mid-range temperatures in barrel (often a large percentage new). The must has a high level of sugar and hence accumulates high alcohol before fermentation ceases, while still retaining significant residual sugar. The wines are matured in oak (again, often a large portion new), accumulating light oxidation and maturation aromas for up to 36 months, before any light fining, sterile filtration and bottling in glass under premium cork.