SAUTERNES LIBRARY RELEASE
BORDEAUX, FRANCE
Why Buy: Quite simply, five of the greatest bottles of Sauternes this century has produced (including a 100-pointer, a 99-pointer, and a 98-pointer). Bring them out to mark a special occasion, but know this: they are so rich and powerful and beautiful that they will make any occasion special.
What They're Saying: The Wine Advocate anointed the 2009 Coutet "Cuvée Madame" Barsac with a perfect 100-point score, calling it "powerful and seductive with decadent richness" and a finish of "epic persistence." Dunnuck went into raptures over the 99-point 2015 Suduiraut, an "incredible wine [that] hits the palate with a thunderous display of opulence, richness, and length, all while staying fresh, elegant, and seamless." The critic was nearly as enamored of the 98-point 2019 Suduiraut: a "beautifully pure, precise Sauternes that has good acidity, flawless balance, and just fabulous purity of fruit." Reviewing the 97-point 2009 Guiraud, Vinous hailed it as "one of the gems of Sauternes this vintage," with "a wonderful, beautifully delineated bouquet," a "beautifully defined" palate, and a "vivacious, ginger- and white pepper-tinged finish that lingers long in the mouth." Wine Enthusiast raved about the 97-point Suduiraut Sauternes 2007 upon its release, more than a decade ago, calling it a wine of "weight, complexity and richness, all under the cloak of botrytis," and deeming it a wine that will only become more special with time.
The Story: Sauternes can be excellent when young, but they gain immeasurably from age, acquiring a depth, complexity, and definition that balance their inherent sweetness and opulence. In the best back-vintage expressions, as these are, that sweetness is not at all the dominant note, and you find yourself in the presence of something extraordinary: rich and layered wines that contain a kaleidoscope of flavors, textures, and aromas, and that are so exquisite as to beggar comparison to elixirs.
Fun Fact: What makes Sauternes so expensive is also what makes it so great: the vignerons have to make multiple passes through the vineyards to find grapes with enough rot on them – signaling a deep concentration of the grape’s sugars and telling the winemaker that these grapes are quite literally ripe for processing into exquisite wine. Noble rot, indeed!
Our Guarantee: We always buy and source direct, so rest assured: your wines will arrive in your hands with pristine provenance. Secure your order today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Fall 2023. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer not valid in MI, NY or TN. This offer is for ONE WEEK, or until sold out, and will expire on Sunday, August 13th, 2023.
