Sauternes, a legendary Bordeaux wine

Renowned the world over, Sauternes is a sweet wine made from Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle grapes.

Often regarded as the world’s finest sweet wine, it can be recognized by its golden color, which takes on amber hues with age. It has a complex nose of exotic fruit and citrus, flowers and nuts. It’s a bold, powerful wine that reveals honeyed, fruity flavors on the palate.

The best Sauternes wines can be kept for decades or even centuries.

What makes Sauternes so special?

The Sauternes vineyards are bordered by the Garonne and Ciron rivers. When these waters meet, an unprecedented phenomenon of condensation takes place, enveloping the entire vineyard. This mist allows the noble rot “botrytis cinerea” to develop on the vines. This fungus attacks grapes by perforating their skins, allowing the moisture trapped in the grapes to dissipate. This process, essential to Sauternes production, increases the concentration of sugars in the juice, giving the wine an extreme aromatic richness.

What are the best Sauternes?

A major benchmark of excellence, the 1855 classification of Bordeaux wines classifies the 27 best Sauternes and Barsac crus as Premier Cru Supérieur, Premier Cru and Second Cru.

The Sauternes wine classification has remained unchanged since then, however, and some châteaux not included in the classification also produce excellent vintages.

Château d’Yquem: the only Premier Cru Supérieur in Sauternes

The prestigious Château d’Yquem, preceded by its reputation, benefits from age-old know-how respect for the environment and a constant quest for excellence.

Many legends surround Yquem and have made the château a mythical estate.

Renowned the world over for its fabulous vintages, it is still considered the finest Sauternes wine.

Les Premiers Crus

9 Sauternes are classified as Premier Cru. These include the remarkable Château Haut Clos Peyraguey, owned by Bernard Magrez since 2012. This one faces the Château d’Yquem and has through the centuries, combining excellent know-how and a unique terroir.

The vineyard has inherited the best exposed, clay-rich part of the famous Haut-Bommes terroir.

Châteaux Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Rayne Vigneau and Suduiraut, Guiraud, Rabaud-Promis, Château Rieussec, Château Sigalas-Rabaud and Château La Tour Blanche are also classified as Premiers Crus, and continue to be top priorities for Sauternes connoisseurs.

Les Seconds crus

8 Sauternes are then classified as Second Cru. Château d’Arche, with its rich heritage, and Château Filhot, attached to Château d’Yquem in the early 19th century, stand out.

The other Seconds Crus are Châteaux Lamothe, Lamothe Guignard, De Myrat, De Malle, Romer du Hayot and Romer.

Unclassified Sauternes wines

Some of the greatest Sauternes wines are also produced by châteaux that were not distinguished when the 1855 classification was drawn up.

The Château de Fargues, owned by the de Lur Saluces family, stands out. It is considered one of the greatest Sauternes estates capable of producing wines to rival Yquem.

Château Gilette and Château Raymond-Lafon also produce wines of Premiers Crus quality that will delight the most discerning palates.