Brought to you by Daniel Elswood - Wine Expert
"But I don't really like sweet wine." Perhaps you’ve heard this said. Often those who claim not to enjoy sweet wines are thinking back to a time when much of the white wine available on the shelf was either poorly made demi-sec or, even worse, the insipid sugar and water mixture that typified the cheaper German 'hocks' of the 1970s and 80s. Let us introduce you to a sweet white that will change your mind about sweet wines: the Sauternes!
Drinking a real sweet wine can be a sublimely uplifting experience, especially when it originates from the most classic areas of France: Sauternes and Barsac in the south of the Bordeaux region. The wines are mid-yellow to deep-gold in colour and can vary in sweetness from just off-dry to intense and unctuous sweetness, depending on property style and vintage ripeness.
Food Pairings
When should we actually drink these hand-crafted and intensely flavoured sweeter wines? Ideally in one of three main ways:
- 1. On their own without food - they even make a superb aperitif pre-food wine.
- 2. With most desserts and puddings.
- 3. With a range of delicious cheeses.
If pushed, you can even pair some of the medium-sweet examples with some richly sauced savoury dishes like duck or certain fishy courses. Whichever you choose, the great sweet wines of this area will reward you, when properly chilled, with glorious and concentrated flavours of nuts, honey and ripe fruits kept fresh by shafts of refreshing acidity to prevent the wine from being overly cloying on the palate.
And the best news of all? These very hard-to-make wines are incredible value, possibly as they are slightly overlooked in our fast-food orientated culture. They belong at the start or end of a fine meal - to be slowly sipped and appreciated at leisure with conversation and reflection. A half bottle will serve 6 quite easily.
King of Sauternes: Château d'Yquem
The absolute best of the Sauternes region is Chateau d’Yquem. They make legendary wines that will live for 100 years or more in a good vintage. Other quality properties worth looking out for include Coutet, de Fargues, Rieussec, and Suduiraut.
So next time your guests say "I don't like sweet wine", urge them to throw their caution to the wind, cut a slice of the best salty Roquefort, and sample one of the great wine-tasting experiences the world of wine has to offer! Take a look at our weekly Wine auctions to discover a variety of exquisite Sauternes and other spirits. Did you know that you can also sell your wine with Catawiki? Simply register as a seller here to be able to offer up your wines for auction.