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Sauternes

Bordeaux

BordeauxLibourneLangon

Bordeaux appellations · tap an area

The legendary sweet wine appellation of the southern Left Bank, where misty autumn mornings off the Ciron river coax botrytis (“noble rot”) onto the Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle vines. The result is one of the most distinctive sweet wines in the world: honeyed, apricot-laden, electric in acid, age-worthy for fifty years and more. Barsac, included in the Sauternes AOC, can be labelled either way.

The wines of Sauternes are made primarily from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and other Bordeaux varieties.

dessert

Wine styles

5 Communes

27 Châteaux

Vineyard Map

Terroir

GravelClayLimestoneSand

This combination of soils contributes to the distinctive character and complexity of Sauternes wines.

What it tastes like

Body

Full

Acidity

Fresh

Oak

Some oak

Ripeness

Jammy

Concentration

Dense

Full-bodied and fresh, lusciously sweet with some oak; apricot, honey and saffron with an oily, creamy texture, built to age for decades.

stone fruit · tropical · honeyed · nutty · creamy

Similar styles

Lands in the same glass.

Romagna Albana

Emilia-Romagna, Italy

Recioto di Soave

Veneto, Italy

Monbazillac

Sud-Ouest, France

Erbaluce di Caluso

Piedmont, Italy

Vin Santo del Chianti Classico

Tuscany, Italy

Grapes of Bordeaux

Cabernet Sauvignon

Body
Tannins
Sweetness
Acidity
blackcurrantgreen bell peppermintcedar

The Left Bank's home grape, on deep gravel beds. Cassis, cedar, graphite, and tobacco, framed by firm tannin built for decades of cellaring.

Merlot

Body
Tannins
Sweetness
Acidity
plumblackberrystrawberrybay leaf

Bordeaux's Right Bank lives on Merlot. Pomerol's iron-rich clay yields plush plum, black cherry, and truffle; Saint-Émilion's limestone adds elegance, cigar box, and length.

Cabernet Franc

Body
Tannins
Sweetness
Acidity
strawberryraspberrybell pepperviolet

Riper, plummier, more structured. Key blending partner in Saint-Emilion and Pomerol.

Sauvignon Blanc

Body
Sweetness
Acidity
grassasparaguspassion fruitgrapefruit

Bordeaux's dry whites blend Sauvignon Blanc with Sémillon on Pessac-Léognan gravel. Lemon, peach, and white flowers; barrel age brings cream and honey over a decade.

Sémillon

Body
Sweetness
Acidity
green applelemongrasshoney

Blended with Sauvignon Blanc

Bordeaux Red Blend

Body
Tannins
Sweetness
Acidity
blackcurrantplumcedartobacco

Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant on the Left Bank, Merlot-dominant on the Right Bank

Bordeaux White Blend

Body
Sweetness
Acidity
citrusgrapefruitwhite peachgooseberry

Dry whites from Pessac-Léognan are the finest, combining Sauvignon Blanc freshness with Sémillon richness

Frequently Asked Questions

What grapes grow in Sauternes?▼
The main grapes in Sauternes (Bordeaux) include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc.
What soils are found in Sauternes?▼
Sauternes sits on gravel, clay, limestone, sand soils, which contribute to the distinctive character of its wines.

Map data: INAO · Imagery: Sentinel-2 cloudless by EOX IT Services GmbH (CC BY 4.0)