Top 10 Sauternes
Serving Sauternes at a dinner party is a true sign that a sophisticated wine drinker is present. Yes, Sauternes is a sweet wine, which isn't the majority of what we drink, but it is such a delicate process and special wine that it definitely has a place at the dinner table. Below you'll find ten of the most historically important Sauternes and Barsac estates, along with what makes this golden wine from Bordeaux so special.
What Is Sauternes?
Sauternes is a sweet white wine from the south of the Bordeaux region, about 25 miles (40 km) southeast of the city of Bordeaux. The appellation covers five villages: Sauternes, Bommes, Fargues, Preignac and Barsac. Here the cool Ciron River flows into the warmer Garonne, and in autumn the meeting of the two creates misty mornings that clear into warm, sunny afternoons – the conditions that allow noble rot to develop.
Bordeaux also makes excellent dry white wines, and many Sauternes estates make a dry white of their own, labeled simply as Bordeaux. To learn how the two styles differ, see our guide What Is Bordeaux Blanc? A Guide to White Bordeaux Wine.
Sauternes and Barsac
Barsac is one of the five villages of Sauternes, and it also has its own appellation. Barsac estates may label their wines either Barsac or Sauternes, which is why you will often see both names on the same bottle. Many of Barsac's vineyards sit on a limestone plateau close to the Ciron, and its wines are often described as slightly lighter and fresher in style, although the estate and the vintage matter far more than the name on the label.
How Noble Rot Creates Sauternes
Botrytis cinerea
Hiding behind this delicious nectar is an extremely complex winemaking process, particularly the fragility of the growing and harvesting. The key is a fungus called Botrytis cinerea, or noble rot. In the right conditions, it attacks ripe grapes and pierces their skins, allowing water to evaporate. The berries shrivel, concentrating their sugar, acidity and flavor, and the botrytis adds its own distinctive notes of honey, apricot and saffron.
A Late, Selective Harvest
Sauternes is harvested late in the season, but simple overripeness is not what makes it special – noble rot is. Because the botrytis spreads unevenly, pickers pass through the vineyards several times over a period of weeks, sometimes choosing individual berries rather than whole bunches. Yields are tiny: at Château d'Yquem, each vine is often said to produce just one glass of wine.
In some years the weather never cooperates. Estates may then make far less wine, or none at all under their own label. Château d'Yquem, for example, released no 1992 or 2012 vintage.
The Grapes: Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle
- Sémillon – the backbone of most Sauternes. Its thin skin is especially susceptible to noble rot, and it gives the wine richness, body and a waxy, honeyed texture.
- Sauvignon Blanc – usually a smaller part of the blend, adding freshness, acidity and aromatic lift.
- Muscadelle – used in small amounts by some estates for its floral, perfumed character.
The 1855 Classification
In 1855, for the Exposition Universelle in Paris, Bordeaux's wine brokers ranked the region's leading estates, largely by the prices their wines fetched. Alongside the famous classification of the red wines of the Médoc (plus Haut-Brion), they classified the sweet wines of Sauternes and Barsac.
In the Sauternes and Barsac classification, Château d'Yquem was uniquely designated Premier Cru Supérieur (Superior First Growth), a rank above all the other estates. Below it came the Premiers Crus (First Growths) and Deuxièmes Crus (Second Growths). Several of the original estates have since been divided, so today there are 11 First Growths.
Ten Classic Sauternes and Barsac Estates
This list is not a ranking. We chose Château d'Yquem, the only Superior First Growth, and nine of the 1855 First Growths whose wines are currently represented in our inventory. The remaining First Growths, Clos Haut-Peyraguey and Château de Rayne Vigneau, are just as historic. The vintages we have in stock change often, so use the links below to see our current selection from each estate.
1. Château d'Yquem (Sauternes)
Château d'Yquem is considered the king of Sauternes and is the only estate classified Premier Cru Supérieur. The Lur-Saluces family owned Yquem from 1785 for more than two centuries; it has been controlled by LVMH since the late 1990s. Its wines are famous for their extraordinary longevity. The estate also makes a dry white wine, Y (“Ygrec”). Shop Château d'Yquem
2. Château Climens (Barsac)
Climens is planted entirely with Sémillon, an unusual choice in the region, and its greatest vintages are prized for their finesse. Shop Château Climens
3. Château Coutet (Barsac)
Coutet has the largest vineyard in Barsac and has been owned by the Baly family since 1977. Its wines are known for lively acidity that keeps them from tasting heavy. From time to time it makes a tiny quantity of a special selection, Cuvée Madame, and since 2010 it has also produced a dry white wine, Opalie. Shop Château Coutet
4. Château Guiraud (Sauternes)
One of the larger estates in the appellation, Guiraud became the first of the 1855 First Growths to be certified organic, in 2011. Its second wine is Petit Guiraud, and it also makes a dry white, G de Guiraud. Shop Château Guiraud
5. Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey (Bommes)
A historic estate, mostly in Bommes, that was once joined with neighboring Clos Haut-Peyraguey. Silvio Denz, chairman of the crystal house Lalique, bought it in 2014, and the château now includes a hotel and the Lalique restaurant. Shop Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey
6. Château La Tour Blanche (Bommes)
La Tour Blanche is listed first among the First Growths in the 1855 classification. When its owner, Daniel Iffla Osiris, died in 1907, he left the estate to the French state on the condition that it become an agricultural school. Its school of viticulture and winemaking still operates there today. Shop Château La Tour Blanche
7. Château Rabaud-Promis (Bommes)
Rabaud-Promis was created in 1903, when most of the original Château Rabaud was sold to Adrien Promis. The part that was kept became its sister estate, Sigalas-Rabaud. Shop Château Rabaud-Promis
8. Château Rieussec (Fargues)
Rieussec lies next to Yquem, where the villages of Fargues and Sauternes meet, and has been owned since 1984 by Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite). Its second wine is Carmes de Rieussec, and its dry white is R de Rieussec. Shop Château Rieussec
9. Château Sigalas-Rabaud (Bommes)
The part of the old Rabaud estate kept by the Sigalas family in 1903, Sigalas-Rabaud is the smallest of the 1855 classified growths, at about 35 acres (14 hectares). It is run by the Lambert des Granges family, and its wine is made mainly from Sémillon. Shop Château Sigalas-Rabaud
10. Château Suduiraut (Preignac)
Suduiraut's vineyards in Preignac lie next to Yquem. Owned by AXA Millésimes since 1992, the estate describes its style as a balance of minerality, elegance and concentration. Shop Château Suduiraut
What Does Sauternes Cost?
Due to the myriad of factors at play, the price of Sauternes is not generally cheap. Château d'Yquem sits at the top, and older vintages can sell for thousands of dollars. The next tier down, still amazing products, are much more reasonable. Many Sauternes are also made in half bottles, an easy way to enjoy a great estate for less. Our half bottle collection includes red, white, sparkling and dessert wines, so look for the Sauternes and Barsac among them.
Serving Sauternes
Serve Sauternes lightly chilled, at around cellar temperature of 55°F (13°C); served too cold, its aromas can seem muted. As it warms up in the glass, the complex and abundant flavors emerge – honeysuckle, honey, honeydew, wildflowers, salted caramel, pineapple, almond…and many more. It's almost a dessert by itself!
Food Pairings
We serve Sauternes with dessert, but we've also had it as a pairing to rich, sweet and spicy first courses. Classic matches include:
- Foie gras
- Blue cheeses such as Roquefort
- Fruit tarts and other desserts that are less sweet than the wine
- Spicy dishes, such as Thai or Indian cuisine
How Long Does Sauternes Age?
One of the most appealing qualities of Sauternes for collectors is its longevity. Top Sauternes is built to age for decades, and great old bottles of Yquem can live well over a century. With age the wine deepens from gold to amber and gains notes of marmalade, caramel and nuts. Yet Sauternes can be thoroughly enjoyed when young and when very, very old.