Sauternes and Barsac

Question 1

What is Sauternes?

Answer 1

• French sweet wine from the Sauternais region of the Graves section in Bordeaux.
• Made from Botrytis cinerea affected Sémillon, Sauvignon blanc, and Muscadelle grapes.

Question 2

Why are Sauternes wines expensive?

Answer 2

Low yields and limited production.

Botrytis dependent.

Risk of loss to natural causes

Very high production costs (pickers, harvest duration and casck maturation)

Question 3

The greatest white wine of Bordeaux wine is made by?

Who owns it?

Answer 3

Chateaux d’Yquem

LVMH

Question 4

Describe the harvest of traditional Sauternes at Chateaux d’Yquem

Answer 4

• Lasts a long time. 2 months
• 150 pickers are paid whether they pick or not. (rain delays etc)
• Each pick is fermented seperately. (20 to 30 lots at end of harvest)
• 3 presses in an old-fashioned basket press .
• Aging in oak barrels

Question 5

Explain Cryoextraction

Answer 5

Intention is to identify the most sugar rich or ripe berries.

All the berries are cooled.

The berries with highest sugar levels dont freeze.

Un wanted berries freeze and arent crushed during pressing.

Question 6

Why is the cellar warmed?

Answer 6

To keep fermentation going.

Question 7

is chaptalisation in Sauternes?

Answer 7

Yes. Most producers would not survive without adding sugar as they cannot afford to discard poorer harvests as Chateau Y’quem can by taking much higher prices.

Chateau Y’quem does not practice Chaptalisation.

Question 8

Describe blending at Chateau Y’quem

Answer 8

+/- Semillon 80%, +/- Sauvignon Blanc 20%, no Muscat.

Blending of lots