Sauternes
Sauternes
Sauternes is a French wine from Bordeaux, particularly the Sauternes and Barsac regions. Sauternes wine is made from Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle grapes affected by Botrytis cinerea (noble rot). The fungus dehydrates the grapes, concentrating their sugars and flavors so that the resulting wines are distinctly sweet, rich and high in acidity. The most famous producer is Château d’Yquem, a Premier Cru Supérieur estate.
See Also
Claret
Claret is the traditional British term for red wines produced in Bordeaux, France. It refers to a blended red wine, often dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, known for being elegant and structured.
Sec
'Sec" refers to the French word for "dry" and its meaning in wine varies depending on the wine type. In still wines, sec wines have very little residual sugar (less than 4 g/L), while in sparkling wines and Champagne, "sec" indicates an off dry or slightly sweet style with 17-35 g/L of residual sugar.
Dessert Wine
Dessert wine is any wine with high residual sugar, often served in smaller, chilled glasses as a dessert or with a dessert. They typically feature high acidity, with some being fortified with spirits.
Brunello di Montalcino
Brunello di Montalcino is a full bodied 100% Sangiovese red wine made exclusively in Tuscany, Italy. It is strictly regulated under DOCG rules, renowned for its high acidity, high tannins and noteworthy aging potential.
Fortified Wine
Fortified wine is a style of wine to which a distilled spirit (usually brandy) has been added, resulting in a higher alcohol content (15-22%). The spirits are either added during fermentation to create sweet wines like Port, or after fermentation to craft dry wines like Sherry.
Dry Wine
A dry wine is a wine that contains very little to no residual sugar, resulting in a flavor profile that lacks sweetness. It is defined by sugar levels (often under 4g/L) and not by mouth drying tannins.
Cava
Cava is a Spanish sparkling wine produced in Catalonia using the traditional method just like Champagne. It is typically dry, with zesty citrus and apple flavors.
Cristal Champagne
Cristal Champagne is the flagship cuvée of the champagne house Louis Roederer, famously known as the world's first luxury champagne. It was created in 1876 for Tsar Alexander II, the tsar of Russia.