There is a wine that tastes both sweet and sour at the same time. What seems like an impossible combination comes together in the sweet French wine Sauternes. Named after the region where it is made, Sauternes is a blend of the white grapes Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, which when fermented results in a drink tasting of butterscotch and Seville orange marmalade.
But how is the unusual flavour combination achieved? Sip a straight Sauvignon Blanc and you’ll be met with the unmistakeable flavours of gooseberry while Semillon wines often taste of peach and runny honey. But in Sauternes they add mouldy grapes to the fermenting brew and this changes the chemical mix and the resulting final flavour.
The chosen grapes exhibit the ‘good type’ of mould botrytis cinerea, commonly known as noble rot, a fungal infection provoked by the humid conditions found in the vineyards next to the cold River Ciron. This gets to work on the grapes and shrivels them into an unappetising grey fluffy mess.
Chateau d’Yquem is famous for turning these botrytized grapes into something worth paying for, about £400 a bottle. But there are cheaper supermarket alternatives starting at about £10 – and the best are reviewed below.
Sauternes recommended by wineuncorked.co.uk
Chateau Gravas Sauternes 2016
£12.99 (37.5cl) Virgin Wines
It’s sweet-sour flavours of Seville orange marmalade with added lemon and the aromas of a fluffy textured apple are most appealing.
Chateau Haut Bergeron Sauternes 2018
£25 (37.5cl) The Good Wine Shop
Smaller bottles are a usual feature of dessert wines and this Sauternes is no exception – half of a standard bottle for £25. Which is pretty expensive even for a Sauternes. Apricot and spice flavours.
Tanners Sauternes
£13.60 (37.5cl) Tanners
Great price for a great wine – honey flavours.
Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Sauternes 2018
£12 (37.5cl) Sainsbury’s
Liquid marmalade. Pretty good. It's actually come down in price.
Tesco Finest Sauternes 2018
£12 (37.5cl) Tesco
Sweet orange and honey flavours. Another one that's come down a £1 in price.
So Sauternes
£9.99 (37.5cl) Waitrose, Ocado
A new style organic Sauternes that isn't as sweet as traditional older styles. Fresh and fruity.
