FAQ
Our expert answers your questions
What sets a Sauternes apart from other sweet wines?
Sauternes is an appellation of the Bordeaux region, lying to the south of the city of Bordeaux. What makes it distinctive is the phenomenon of noble rot (Botrytis cinerea), a fungus that develops on the grapes at the end of the season, concentrating their sugar and their aromas. This natural concentration gives a Sauternes its unctuous richness and its complex aromatic palette of honey, candied fruit and apricot.
Why serve a Sauternes with foie gras?
The pairing of Sauternes and foie gras is one of the great classics of French cuisine. The logic is sweet and savoury: the unctuous richness of the wine balances the melting, creamy texture of foie gras, while its tangy notes of citrus and candied fruit bring the freshness that keeps the taste from becoming too heavy. It is a meeting of opposites that works particularly well, in a tradition shared by the great tables of Alsace and Bordeaux.
Can a Sauternes accompany other foods?
Yes, its aromatic palette lends itself to several pairings. With blue cheeses such as Roquefort, Stilton or Bleu d'Auvergne, the sweet-savoury match works very well, following the same logic as with foie gras. With spiced dishes such as curry or a fruit tagine, the wine balances the heat of the spices. With fruit desserts such as an apricot tart or a pear tatin, it extends the sweet richness in a coherent aromatic key.
How long does a bottle of Sauternes keep?
A great Sauternes can be kept for several decades in good cellar conditions, with a stable temperature around 12°C, humidity of 60 to 70%, and away from the light. Once opened, it is best to reseal the bottle with its original cork and keep it in the refrigerator, where it will keep for 3 to 5 days without significant deterioration.
Find the wine that is right for you
Our selection opens with the Château le Juge les Mingets, a Sauternes from Bordeaux. Served chilled, this sweet wine balances unctuous richness with aromatic freshness, and pairs especially well with foie gras, blue cheeses, spiced dishes and fruit desserts. A single, carefully chosen reference today, with room for our cellar to grow.
How to serve and pair a Sauternes
A Sauternes is ideally served chilled, between 8 and 10°C, in medium-sized stemmed glasses to concentrate the aromas. For foie gras, which remains its classic pairing, the ideal is around 2 cl per guest to accompany a slice of foie gras of about 30 g. For desserts or spiced dishes, allow 6 to 8 cl per person. A Sauternes can also surprise you with certain smoked salmon preparations or blue cheeses such as Roquefort.
Sauternes, sweet-savoury the French way
Sauternes belongs to the French winemaking heritage. Cultivated since the eighteenth century in a small area to the south of Bordeaux, the appellation has shaped a style unique in the world: a sweet wine that owes its character to noble rot (Botrytis cinerea), a fungus that develops on the grapes at the end of the season and concentrates their sugars and their aromas.
The pairing of Sauternes and foie gras remains one of the great classics of French cuisine. Beyond that, a Sauternes offers a rare versatility, which makes it an ideal companion for foie gras, premium smoked fish and blue cheeses. Its silky texture, its precise finish and its balance between richness and freshness are what set it apart. Our cellar's selection opens with the Château le Juge les Mingets, with room to grow over time.