1997 Château Suduiraut, 375ml

Château Suduiraut is a First Growth Sauternes estate located in Preignac, in Bordeaux. It is adjacent to Château d’Yquem and is owned by AXA Millesimes, the wine subsidiary of the AXA insurance group. Like most of its neighboring estates, Suduiraut traces its history back many centuries. Always known for its dessert wines, the estate’s Sauternes were winning important prizes by the 19th century. Today the estate has about 250 acres of vineyards planted to 90% Semillon and 10% Sauvignon Blanc. Robert M. Parker Jr. has written that “Suduiraut is undeniably one of the great estate of Sauternes, and has been even more consistent as well as brilliant since its acquisition by AXA.”

Sauternes makes the world’s most famous dessert wines. Though the appellation lies within the Graves region of Bordeaux’s left bank, the appellation makes only sweet wines from white grapes, primarily Semillon sometimes blended with small amounts of Muscadelle. The five communes within Sauternes are Barsac, Bommes, Fargues, Preignac and Sauternes. Barsac also has its own appellation and, typically, Barsac wines are slightly drier and lighter than other Sauternes. Sauternes are made when weather conditions result in a mold called Botrytis cinerea developing on the grapes, which causes them to become especially sweet. Sauternes are not produced every vintage, so successful vintages become especially collectible. Sauternes estates were classified in 1855, and Château d’Yquem, the appellation’s most prestigious estate, was ranked in a class by itself as a Premier Grand Cru. Château d’Yquem wines are among the most prized wines in the world.

Preignac