Sauterne refers to a
sweet, rich and intense wine from the
Sauternes region of
France. Sauterne is made from Sauvignon Blanc or Semillon
grapes that have been infected with a special mold that causes them to shrivel and leave a sugary
fruit with highly concentrated flavors.
Moreover, Sauternes are
late harvest wines from a region in the southern part of Bordeaux, and are a
blend of Semillon, Sauvignon
Blanc and sometimes Muscadelle. They are naturally very high in sugar and do not have any
alcohol added to them like Port. The common
flavor characteristics for Sauternes: dried
pineapple,
apricot, caramel, vanilla,
honey and
peach. Sauternes are naturally very high in acidity, which
balances the sugar very well. Sauternes have the ability to age for decades (due to the high sugar and acid levels), and they generally pick up more nutty and caramelized flavors as they age.
While Sauternes go very well with fruit desserts and things like
Crème Brûlée, they are not only made for dessert. The acid cuts right through fat, and the
sugar is a great match for
salt. For this reason, one of the best possible food and
wine combinations is Sauternes and foie gras (goose
liver).
Sauternes is the
cream of the crop when it comes to
dessert wines. Sauternes may be paired with buttery,
salty or fatty foods for a delicious food experience. Likewise, pair Sauterne with fatty
food, such as foie gras, and with smoked and strong blue
cheeses, like Roquefort, or serve with something as simple as toasted
walnuts. It is good to serve it at the end of a meal to enjoy its mixture of acidity and fruit flavors.
Sauterne is pronunced "saw-turn".
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