1998 Château La Tour-Blanche

Château La Tour Blanche is a First Growth estate of the Sauternes appellation of Bordeaux. The 91-acre estate traces its roots to the 18th century, when it was established by Monsieur de Latour Blanche. In the early 19th century it was acquired by Frederic Focke, who began making Sauternes. Today the vineyards are planted to 83% Semillon, 12% Sauvignon and 5% Muscadelle and the estate is owned by the French Ministry of Agriculture. The estate was bequeathed to the state by the last private owner, Daniel Iffla, who died in 1907 and wanted his estate turned into a wine school. Robert M. Parker Jr. notes that “La Tour Blanche is now one of the superstars of the appellation.”

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.

Bommes