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New ! Dragon Celeste Chinese wine
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Sweet Whites
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There are two types of Bordeaux
sweet white wines, semi- sweet and dessert wines. The latter are much
richer overall and are produced in the southern
Bordeaux vineyards, on either side of the Garonne River. Here a
microclimate of misty mornings followed by bright sunny days favous the
development of Botrytis Cinerea. This fungus desiccates the pulp of
the very ripe grapes, concentrating the natural grape sugar
and producing intense, complex aromas. The natural
process is often referred to as " Noble Rot".
The grapes ( mostly Sémillon with some Sauvignon Blanc) are harvested late - sometimes in November and in some years, each vine plant may yield no more than a single glass of wine. These wines truly are liquid gold! |
| How to pick:
Sauternes and Barsac are world famous and produce some of
the richest wines which will keep for longer but other sweet
wine appellations produce wines which are excellent and sometimes more
accessible, such as Cérons, Sainte-Croix-du-Mont,
Loupiac, Saussignac and Côte de Bordeaux. The term "moelleux"
on the label means the wine is sweet or semi-sweet but
usually lighter than dessert wines. Good sweet wine should have a
balance of acidity and sugar and no cloying aftertaste. How to best serve Serve these wines chilled but not too cold to appreciate their delicate, complex aromas ranging from honey and white flowers to dried fruits and flint. Younger, lighter wines, make a perfect accompaniment to fruit-based desserts, but also foie gras, roasted white meats and as an alternative to port with blue cheese. However, a special, aged bottle with its rich, amber colour is a dessert in itself!
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