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Sauternes & Barsac
Bordeaux · Graves, France
sweetDeep gold
Noble-rot sweet wine: luscious, honeyed and very long-lived.
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Sauternes & Barsac and Tokaji Aszú side by side: structure on the WSET scale, grapes, aromas, drinking window, typical UK price and what to eat with each.
Noble-rot sweet wine: luscious, honeyed and very long-lived.
Nobly rotten sweet wine with electrifying acidity.
The shape of each wine, then each measure on the WSET scale.
Sauternes & Barsac has noticeably more oak influence than Tokaji Aszú.
Sauternes & Barsac: Sémillon with Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle
Tokaji Aszú: Furmint and Hárslevelű
| Sauternes & Barsac | Tokaji Aszú | |
|---|---|---|
| Grapes | Sémillon with Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle | Furmint and Hárslevelű |
| Climate | Autumn mists from the Ciron river encourage noble rot | Continental, misty autumns bring noble rot |
| Soil | Gravel, clay and limestone | Volcanic clay and loess |
| Classification | 1855 Classification for Sauternes and Barsac | PDO; sweetness in puttonyos (3–6) |
| Drinking window | 10–50+ years | 20–100+ years |
| Typical price | £20–£80 (Yquem far more) | £25–£100 (50cl) |
| Food | Foie gras, Roquefort, fruit tarts | Foie gras, blue cheese, desserts |
| Producers to know | Château d'Yquem, Château Climens, Château Suduiraut | Royal Tokaji, Disznókő, Oremus |