One of the very best uses of Sauternes is as an aperitif served with just about any hors d’oeuvre you can imagine as illustrated by the different flavoured crisps here.  Alternatively you can settle down in front of the television to watch a good movie or the game armed only with a bottle of Sauternes and a bag of Burts Chips!

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In our January Sale there are some great value 2008 wines including the Suduiraut that went so well with the spicier crisps:

2008 Carmes de Rieussec - 2008 Doisy Daene - 2008 Rieussec - 2008 Suduiraut

Maybe we’ve started another new trend?  I hope so!  Bill Blatch

PS For more about Burts Chips they have a great web site here – Burts Chips

The conclusions?  Conveniently, as most Chinese food (especially from a takeaway) arrives at the table at the same time, Sauternes goes with the full range of Chinese dishes, from the milder more delicate soups to the full-on spicy meat dishes.

Younger Sauternes is particularly flexible and I’d particularly recommend any of the following from our January Sale:

2005 La Fleur d’Or - 2008 Carmes de Rieussec – 2007 de Rayne Vigneau – 2008 Doisy Daene – 2009 La Clotte-Cazalis – 2006 Lafaurie-Peyraguey

Maybe we’ve started a new trend?  I hope so!  Bill Blatch

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I normally go straight to the cellars but here I took time out for a personal tour of the chateau.  I’m very glad I did because I learnt a lot that I didn’t know about the history of the important Sauternes families.  Connections between de Malle, Yquem, Coutet, Filhot and Cadillac also become clear.  Fascinating stuff!

To enable you to sample some of this history we have some fantastic de Malle from the sensational 2009 vintage (bottles and halves), the ‘cool’ natured 2002 vintage (bottles and halves) and the much overlooked, great value and totally ‘evolved’ 1999 vintage (bottles and halves).   Enjoy!  Bill Blatch

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For a lighter styled, fresh and lively Sauternes at reasonable prices then there is no need to look further.  Here I taste recent vintages but in the sale we have some great value older Filhot – the 2006 (bottles), the 2004 (halves) and the 1999 (halves).  All of these vintages are a little bit ‘forgotten’ which makes them great value, especially when at these sale prices!  Enjoy!  Bill Blatch

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Well, I’ve given it a lot of thought and below are my very Top 10 Tips for the best value Sauternes on offer – just click on the links to read more about these wines and to buy.

2005 Fleur d’Or – A great everyday Sauternes.  I helped to blend this myself so I know exactly how good it is!  Where else can you get quality Sauternes with over 6 years of age at £15 per bottle delivered to your door direct from perfect storage conditions in Bordeaux?

2008 Carmes de Rieussec – We were already the cheapest supplier of this great 2nd wine from the reknowned 1st Growth Ch Rieussec and now it is even cheaper!  I am a great fan of the 2008 vintage which was released at low prices in Bordeaux at the time of the last recession – great value!  The youngest wine in this selection but drinking beautifully already.

1997 Ch de Myrat – The first great vintage from the modern Ch de Myrat!  You won’t find this anywhere else and certainly not at such a great price.  Drinking superbly now!

2003 Ch La Clotte-Cazalis – A relative unknown but boasting a very respectable 90 points from Robert Parker.  I think everyone has to try something from the incredibly hot 2003 vintage and this is a very good example indeed.  I like it as an aperitif wine.

1996 Ch d’Arche – If the 2003 La Clotte-Cazalis is an aperitif wine then, for me, this d’Arche represents great value as a out and out dessert wine.  Again you won’t find this anywhere else – 15 years of bottle age at well under £25 a bottle!

1998 Ch Doisy Daene – Another older wine that is very competitively priced at under £25 a bottle.  You just can’t get this level of complexity and richness any cheaper elsewhere.  From one of Bordeaux’s most respected winemakers, Denis Dubourdieu.

2001 Ch de Rayne Vigneau – 1st Growth Sauternes from the great 2001 vintage with 10 years bottle age at around £30 a bottle!  Yet again you won’t find this cheaper anywhere else – a very classy wine indeed!

1995 Ch La Tour Blanche – Great older 1st Growth Sauternes!  If you like top quality Sauternes from handy half bottles then this is as good a choice as any on the list.  An old favourite of mine that never fails to please!

And finally 2 more wines at the luxury level that represent incredible value, both in half bottles and from the superb 1997 vintage – 1997 Ch de Fargues and 1997 Ch d’Yquem both the work of Compte Alexandre de Lur-Saluces.  The de Fargues has the biggest discount in the sale at over 30% off and is real quality in a glass.  The d’Yquem is, well d’Yquem, quite simply the best Sauternes and probably the best white wine in the world!  Modern vintages are much more expensive and this is one of the last great vintages that you will be able to buy at this price level and, as such, counts as one of the best buys in the sale.

Well that was really hard to choose – I know how everyone is feeling now!  I hope this helps you to make your mind up but I can honestly say that all of the wines are wonderful examples of Sauternes.  If you have any questions on any of the wines do drop Steve an email at steve@bordeauxgold.com and together we will do our best to help.

Enjoy!  Bill Blatch

But before you do a few words to help you.

We know it can be hard to choose from so many different wines but we make no apologies – someone has to act as an antidote to the lack of choice available on, for example, supermarket shelves where you are lucky if you find a half bottle out of reach on the top shelf.   To help you choose we will be providing regular guidance from different buying points of view.

To start with we thought we’d highlight the wines that are in really short supply – move fast as quantities range from just a few halves or bottles to only 1 or 2 cases of these wines.  Just click on the links for tasting notes!

Halves

2009 Ch Bastor-Lamontagne - 7 halves at £10.25 £9.39
2009 Ch Broustet - 4 halves at £10.25 £9.39
2009 Ch La Clotte-Cazalis - 8 halves at £10.25 £9.39
2009 Ch Cantegril - 5 halves at £10.50 £9.63
2007 Ch de Rayne-Vigneau - 18 halves at £14.07 £13.37
2009 Ch Doisy-Vedrines - 15 halves at £14.86 £13.63
2009 Ch Rabaud-Promis - 5 halves at £16.40 £15.04
2009 Ch de Rayne-Vigneau - 10 halves at £17.94 £16.45
2006 Ch de Fargues - 14 halves at £21.21 £20.15
2009 Ch de Fargues - 1 half at £51.27 £47.00

Bottles

2004 Ch Coutet - 1 bottle at £22.61 £21.48
2009 Ch Nairac - 4 bottles at £49.62 £45.49

Cases – 24 Halves (unless otherwise stated)

2004 Ch Filhot – 2 cases at £213.71 £201.77
1999 Ch Filhot – 1 case at £244.48 £229.98
1999 Ch de Malle – 1 case at £287.56 £269.46
2000 Ch d’Arche – 2 cases at £299.87 £280.75
1999 Ch Lafaurie-Peyraguey – 1 case at £310.94 £290.90
2002 Ch de Malle – 2 cases at £312.17 £292.03
2004 Ch La Tour Blanche – 1 case at £324.48 £303.31
1998 Ch La Tour Blanche – 1 case at £342.94 £320.23
2003 Ch Nairac – 2 cases at £478.33 £444.33
2003 Ch de Fargues – 2 cases at £576.79 £534.49
1996 Ch de Fargues – 2 cases at £626.02 £579.72
2006 Ch de Fargues – 2 cases at £822.94 £760.23
2006 Ch d’Yquem – 1 case (6 halves) at £1,189.29 £1,092.07
2007 Ch d’Yquem – 1 case (12 halves) at £2,548.20 £2,339.07

Cases – 12 Bottles (unless otherwise stated)

2006 Ch Filhot – 1 case at £210.63 £198.95
2005 Ch Caillou – 2 cases at £243.87 £229.41
2000 Ch de Rayne-Vigneau – 2 cases at £247.56 £232.80
2000 Ch Lafaurie-Peyraguey – 1 case at £281.40 £263.82
2009 Ch La Tour Blanche – 2 cases (6 bottles) at £287.81 £263.82
2009 Ch Doisy-Vedrines – 2 cases at £300.11 £275.10
2002 Ch de Malle – 1 case at £306.02 £286.39
2005 Ch Rabaud-Promis – 2 cases at £317.71 £297.10
1998 Ch Coutet – 1 case at £330.63 £308.95
2007 Ch Rabaud-Promis – 1 case at £349.10 £325.87
2000 Ch Suduiraut – 1 case at £404.48 £376.64
2009 Ch de Fargues – 1 case (6 bottles) at £595.50 £545.87
2000 Ch d’Yquem – 1 case at £4,466.02 £4,099.72

Cases – 3 Magnums

2006 Ch d’Yquem – 2 cases at £2,425.13 £2,226.25

And that is just for starters!  The full sale list is HERE! with wines for all pockets and tastes.

Enjoy!  Bill Blatch

NB All prices are Ex VAT.  Delivery is FREE for all orders and will take place following the end of the sale in February/March. 

Both Steve and Venice popped over from England and we raced round a few chateaux in between meetings.  We tasted a range of vintages but below are four videos covering some 2011 wines, both direct from the barrel and from prototype blends.  Whichever way you look at it 2011 is looking very promising although selection, as always, will make the difference between the good and the great wines.  Enjoy!  Bill Blatch

2011 Domaine de l’Alliance – a prototype blend from the brilliant Daniel Alibrand

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2011 Clos Haut Peyraguey - we were lucky to call in here just after the Oenologist so were treated to some prepared samples from all of the different lots – thank you Martine and Anthony!

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2011 Chateau d’Arche - after a chat in the vineyard with owner Jérôme Cosson who is now also making Sauternes for Clos Dady following it’s Russian takeover we went inside to taste direct from the barrel

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2011 Chateau Lamothe Guignard - here co-owner Philippe Guignard shows off samples from 3 of the lots that will come together to make the final blend

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Yquem (Francis Mayeur) – “We started to pick on September 5th, which makes 2011 the fourth earliest year ever at Yquem, after 1893, 1960, and 1997.  The final trie ended on October 5th; only in 1934 and 2003 have we finished harvesting so early at Yquem.  The vat house was heady with complex, intense aromas that confirmed the excellent impression we had of this vintage during the harvest.  The quality of the fruit and the balance are superb, reminiscent of 1893 or 1997.  Without a doubt, this will be one of Château d’Yquem’s finest vintages.”

Climens (Bérénice Lurton) – “We have just stopped the fermentation so at this stage the wines are still a little thick and chewy from the mutage.  Nevertheless, they are showing wonderful potential.  I was expecting delicate wines this year but here we are with rich, powerful Sauternes that have depth and energy.  These will be great wines.”

Clos Haut-Peyraguey (Martine Langlais-Pauly) – “It all happened so fast, we really had to be on our toes this year.  Botrytis and concentration in the grapes spread at an amazing pace.  I tasted all the batches last week and was surprised by how clean and fresh they are.  They are brilliantly balanced and very powerful.  I never like talking about a vintage too early but I really think we have some lovely wines this year.”

Doisy Daene (Denis Dubourdieu) – “Just incredible! I am astonished at the levels of concentration we’ve achieved in 2011.  They are way beyond our expectations and at 25o potential alcohol, they have gone through the roof.  At the moment, it is still early to give a true assessment of the 2011 wines but they certainly show phenomenal richness, concentration, depth and freshness.  This opulence is unparalleled.  I think it is safe to say we are looking at a very great vintage indeed.”

Doisy-Védrines (Olivier Castéja) – “Personally, I have never seen juice with such even quality.  2011 is a very uncharacteristic, unusual year so comparisons are not easy.  At this stage, the wines are very much like the 2001s.  Having said that, I arrived at Doisy-Vedrines in 1973 and I can honestly say I have never seen a vintage quite like 2011.”

For the full press release click on this link:  2011 Harvest Press Release

Very promising indeed!  What a wonderful trio of vintages 2009, 2010 and 2011 (in Sauternes at least) might prove to be.  Bill Blatch

In my first foray into the cellars since fermentation stopped I visited Xavier Planty at Chateau Guiraud and Laure de Lambert Compeyrot at Chateau Sigalas-Rabaud.  At Guiraud Xavier was very happy despite nearly 60% of his harvest being lost in the Easter Monday hail storm that hit the south west plateau of Sauternes.  His Sauvignon lots, in particular were stunningly fresh and, as this makes up a large percentage of the blend here, we can confidently expect a great Guiraud.

At Sigalas-Rabaud we again tasted all the lots and also had some fun anticipating what the final blend might be.  Here the jury is out on the Sauvignon – yet again it is stunningly fresh but will it blend well?  At the moment Laure is inclined to think not but as the wines are still on their lees there is plenty of time for many changes of opinion after racking and before bottling.

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Steve has routed around the cellar and found a few tempting bin ends at brilliant prices – perfect festive drinking!  Make sure you read right down to the bottom of this post as there is an extra special offer at the end!

2006 Carmes de Rieussec 

Our FREE UK delivery offer means this wine is at roughly 1/2 the price than offered elsewhere but hurry as there are only 15 bottles at £15.52 Ex VAT and 21 half bottles at £10.57 Ex VAT left (just click on the links to go to our shop and buy).

2007 de Rayne Vigneau

First Growth Sauternes from a top vintage for just over £25 a bottle including FREE UK delivery – we must be crazy!  Again speed is of the essence as there are only 5 bottles at £21.50 Ex VAT and 18 half bottles at £14.07 Ex VAT left (just click on the links).

2004 Coutet

For only a couple of £s more how about some First Growth Barsac with a little more age?  Only 3 bottles at £22.61 Ex VAT left so you will have to be lightning fast (just click on the link).

2006 de Fargues

This is a real bargain – reputable merchants are selling this top quality Sauternes at around the £60-£80 mark but we are offering just 5 bottles at £38.17 Ex VAT and 28 half bottles at £21.21 Ex VAT   Remember this includes FREE UK delivery for just a single half bottle which those other high prices don’t unless you order over a certain amount.

2006 La Tour Blanche

This works out about 25% cheaper than anywhere else and there is the FREE UK delivery to factor in as well – hurry though as there are only 7 bottles at £24.83 Ex VAT left!

And finally, just in case you can’t make your mind up which to buy here is an extra special offer!  Steve has set aside some mixed cases containing all of the above wines – halves or bottles.  At a staggering further 20% off we have just 5 cases of mixed bottles at £196.21 Ex VAT and 5 cases of mixed half bottles at £146.71 – unbelievable value!

We wish you a merry Christmas!  Bill Blatch and Steve Webb