Some of the world’s best dessert wines get their distinctive character from a particular grape variety. Others result from an unusual winemaking process. Sauternes wine can’t be replicated anywhere, because its tremendous quality results from the place itself.

The Sauternes AOC lies on the bank of the Ciron River in Bordeaux. Mist coming off the cool water consistently engulfs the vineyards in Autumn mists from early evening through the morning or beyond. This encourages botrytis cinerea (aka Noble Rot) to grow on the grape bunches.

The primary grape variety of Sauternes wine is Semillon, which is a particularly friendly host for botrytis. The other two grapes, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle, get botrytis too, though to a lesser extent. Sauvignon Blanc, the chief blending partner, brings zippy acidity and vibrant fruit.

The best sites in Sauternes are on hillsides. Chateau d'Yquem is a prime example. There, the vineyards see the necessary fog, but the mist burns off early enough that there’s plenty of sun to allow excellent ripening of the grapes. The slopes also mean better draining soils which help both ripening and clarity of flavor.

The exclusivity of Sauternes wine comes from the location, but is amplified by the risks in producing botrytis wine and the extended barrel-aging the wines are required to see. To get a high-percentage of botrytised grapes, the harvest must come late in the season. That brings the danger of rain which would require even more extensive sorting. The late harvest also means the grapes are more dehydrated, so the volume of liquid each bunch yields is quite low. Yet the best of Sauternes wines usually come from those producers who dare pick the latest.

Multiple passes for harvest are also important. The highest-quality producers, such as Chateau d'Yquem and Chateau Guiraud, harvest incrementally, picking on up to seven different weeks on each vineyard row. The pick only the bunches that are properly ripe each time. Often, they will clip off just part of a bunch and let the rest continue to ripen.

After careful sorting at the winery, the grape bunches are pressed and the juice is fermented. The high sugar content in the grapes results in robust alcohol levels, often about 14%. The botrytis not only dehydrates the grapes and brings its own, delightful flavor, but increases the concentration of tartaric acid and glycerol. The former is important for great balance in these sweet Sauternes wines. The latter gives them a thick, satisfying mouthfeel.

When fermentation is complete, the wine goes into French oak barrels. The wine will spend at least 18 months in barrel and a portion of the wood is new. Chateau d'Yquem and other Sauternes wine of highest echelon age longer, up to 36 months, and the percentage of new oak is substantial.

  • Sauternes Blend - 750ML
    Reg: $750.00 $595.00
    3 in Pre-Arrival
  • Sauternes Blend - 750ML
    • JS 91
    jamessuckling.com, 91 points

    (90-91 points) A pretty second wine of Rieussec with creamy, cooked pear and apple character. Some soufflé character, too. Medium body, medium sweet and a fresh finish.

    Reg: $34.94 $24.94
    24+ in stock
  • Sauternes Blend - 750ML
    • TWI 96
    • VN 96
    • JL 96
    The Wine Independent, 96 points

    (94 - 96 points) A blend of 94% Semillon, 5% Sauvignon Blanc, and 1% Muscadelle, with 158 g/L residual sugar, the 2022 Coutet is pale to medium straw in color. After a little swirling, the nose erupts with gorgeous lime...

    Reg: $45.94 $38.94
    24+ in Pre-Arrival
  • Sauternes Blend - 750ML
    • VN 91
    Vinous, 91 points

    Deep amber in hue, the 1953 Doisy-Daëne is initially laconic, hints of chlorine, mandarin and a touch of furniture polish developing with time. The palate is more powerful than the nose, a quintessential mature Barsac...

    Reg: $495.00 $395.00
    12 in Pre-Arrival
  • Sauternes Blend - 750ML
    • WA 98
    • TWI 98
    • JL 97
    Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 98 points

    The 2007 d'Yquem is considered a perfect example of the Sauternes "miracle." Despite a chaotic spring and cool summer, the botrytis transformed the grapes, giving them ideal concentration throughout October. With 137...

    Reg: $495.00 $395.00
    1 in Pre-Arrival
  • Sauternes Blend - 750ML
    • TWI 99
    • WE 99
    • JL 98
    The Wine Independent, 99 points

    The 2014 Yquem has 146 grams per liter of residual sugar, 13.5 % alcohol, and a pH of 3.6, with a pale to medium straw-gold color. It begins with a single, pure, resonating note of orange blossom before unfurling to...

    Reg: $450.00 $359.00
    11 in Pre-Arrival
  • Sauternes Blend - 750ML
    • WA 98
    • NM 97
    • TWI 96
    Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 98 points

    A monumental bottle of Sauternes despite a moderate level of residual sugar (122 grams per liter), the 2006 d'Yquem displays a singular, distinctive and elegant bouquet with aromas of thyme, sage, curry, baked pineapple...

    Reg: $495.00 $369.00
    7 in Pre-Arrival
  • Sauternes Blend - 750ML
    • JL 98
    • DC 96
    • WS 95
    TheWineCellarInsider.com, 98 points

    On the fresh, bright vibrant, racy side of the style range with a focus on its complex core of honeysuckle, dried oranges, apricots, lemon curd, saffron, marzipan, pineapple, vanilla, and just the right drizzle of honey...

    Reg: $375.00 $345.00
    8 in stock
    24 in Pre-Arrival
  • Sauternes Blend - 750ML
    Reg: $195.00 $134.94
    2 in Pre-Arrival
  • Sauternes Blend - 750ML
    • VN 91
    Vinous, 91 points

    The 1945 Doisy-Daëne is a vintage that I have not tasted since November 2005. It has a very pure bouquet with vestiges of Seville orange marmalade, chlorophyll, blackcurrant leaf and light waxy scents. This is still fresh...

    Reg: $895.00 $795.00
    1 in Pre-Arrival
    • JL 98
    • JS 98
    • WS 98
    TheWineCellarInsider.com, 98 points

    Everything you want in a sweet wine is here. The vibrant acidity, layers of ripe and overripe tropical fruit, ladles of honey and freshness in the finish, which just keeps on going.

    Reg: $5,450.00 $4,450.00
    2 in stock
    • JD 99
    • JS 99
    • TWI 98
    jebdunnuck.com, 99 points

    The 2016 Chateau D’Yquem is pure magic and dessert wines don’t get much better. Offering a pale gold color as well as a blockbuster bouquet of honeyed tangerines, tart apricots, liquid rocks, white flowers, and...

    Reg: $5,450.00 $4,650.00
    1 in stock
  • Sauternes Blend - 750ML
    • WE 98
    • TWI 97
    • WA 94
    Wine Enthusiast, 98 points

    (WE 96-98 points) Impressively balanced, with the fruit rich, intense with a golden glow. The acidity is as important as the freshness, giving a delicious lift to the core of dry, concentrated botrytis. Obviously a great...

    Reg: $425.00 $359.00
    6 in Pre-Arrival
    • TWI 99
    • WE 99
    • JL 98
    The Wine Independent, 99 points

    The 2014 Yquem has 146 grams per liter of residual sugar, 13.5 % alcohol, and a pH of 3.6, with a pale to medium straw-gold color. It begins with a single, pure, resonating note of orange blossom before unfurling to...

    Reg: $5,500.00 $4,350.00
    7 in stock
    • TWI 100
    • WA 99
    • DC 99
    The Wine Independent, 100 points

    A blend of 75% Semillon and 25% Sauvignon Blanc, with 144 grams per liter of residual sugar and a pH of 3.65, the 2015 Yquem is beautiful and it knows it! Medium straw-gold in color, it is a little closed with subtle...

    Reg: $5,650.00 $4,850.00
    1 in stock
    • JD 99
    • JS 99
    • TWI 98
    jebdunnuck.com, 99 points

    The 2016 Chateau D’Yquem is pure magic and dessert wines don’t get much better. Offering a pale gold color as well as a blockbuster bouquet of honeyed tangerines, tart apricots, liquid rocks, white flowers, and...

    Reg: $7,500.00 $5,895.00
    2 in stock
    • JL 99
    • JS 99
    • TWI 98
    TheWineCellarInsider.com, 99 points

    Clearly one of the great vintages of d'Yquem of all time, this stunner is off the hook from the initial sniff. Roasted apricots, overripe pineapple, vanilla, mango, marzipan and creme caramel all topped with honey keeps...

    Reg: $5,750.00 $4,950.00
    2 in stock
    • JS 97
    • DC 97
    • WS 96
    jamessuckling.com, 97 points

    An extremely polished and refined d’Yquem with lightly cooked peaches and mangos and an overlay of vanilla and cream with some lemon meringue. Orange peel, too. What is striking is the texture, which is creamy and so...

    Reg: $5,450.00 $4,650.00
    1 in stock
    • JL 98
    • VN 98
    • WS 97
    TheWineCellarInsider.com, 98 points

    Light, yellow, gold in color, the wine pops on the nose with its showy display of flowers, honeysuckle, candied apricots, orange rind, pineapple, mango, lemongrass, vanilla and spice. Perched on the corner of richness...

    Reg: $825.00 $725.00
    1 in stock
    • JL 98
    • VN 98
    • WS 97
    TheWineCellarInsider.com, 98 points

    Light, yellow, gold in color, the wine pops on the nose with its showy display of flowers, honeysuckle, candied apricots, orange rind, pineapple, mango, lemongrass, vanilla and spice. Perched on the corner of richness...

    Reg: $1,595.00 $1,395.00
    14 in stock
    • JL 98
    • VN 98
    • WS 97
    TheWineCellarInsider.com, 98 points

    Light, yellow, gold in color, the wine pops on the nose with its showy display of flowers, honeysuckle, candied apricots, orange rind, pineapple, mango, lemongrass, vanilla and spice. Perched on the corner of richness...

    Reg: $3,450.00 $2,950.00
    4 in stock
    • JL 98
    • VN 98
    • WS 97
    TheWineCellarInsider.com, 98 points

    Light, yellow, gold in color, the wine pops on the nose with its showy display of flowers, honeysuckle, candied apricots, orange rind, pineapple, mango, lemongrass, vanilla and spice. Perched on the corner of richness...

    Reg: $6,750.00 $5,750.00
    1 in stock
    • JL 98
    • VN 98
    • WS 97
    TheWineCellarInsider.com, 98 points

    Light, yellow, gold in color, the wine pops on the nose with its showy display of flowers, honeysuckle, candied apricots, orange rind, pineapple, mango, lemongrass, vanilla and spice. Perched on the corner of richness...

    Reg: $8,500.00 $6,950.00
    1 in stock
  • Sauternes Blend - 6L
    • WA 96
    • VN 94
    • DC 94
    Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96 points

    96+ Pale lemon-gold colored, the 2016 Climens is a little youthfully mute, revealing notions of ripe peaches, mango and musk melon with touches of cedar chest, orange blossoms, candied ginger and baking bread. Bursting...

    Reg: $895.00 $725.00
    1 in stock
  • Reg: $850.00 $750.00
    6 in Pre-Arrival
  • Sauternes Blend - 3L
    • JS 91
    jamessuckling.com, 91 points

    (90-91 points) A pretty second wine of Rieussec with creamy, cooked pear and apple character. Some soufflé character, too. Medium body, medium sweet and a fresh finish.

    Reg: $359.00 $325.00
    2 in stock
  • Sauternes Blend - 750ML
    • VN 96
    • JS 94
    • WA 93
    Vinous, 96 points

    (VN 94-96 points) The 2021 Rieussec is bright, floral and super-refined. White flowers, lemon confit, pear, passionfruit and mint are all nicely lifted, with beams of bright acids that lend support. As has been the case...

    Reg: $119.94 $109.94
    24 in Pre-Arrival