2009 Château de Myrat

Château de Myrat is a Second Growth in the Sauternes appellation of Bordeaux. The 55-acre estate produces about 25,000 bottles of Sauternes each year. The vineyards are planted to 85% Semillon, 10% Sauvignon and 4% Muscadelle. The estate dates its founding to the late 18th century and by the early 19th century it was owned by a family named Dumirat, from which the estate’s name eventually evolved. Today the estate is owned by the Pontsac family.

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.