Discover Sauternes: Château de Fargues
I remember the very first time that I had Sauternes. It was at a Bordeaux tasting by Atlantic Wines, Inc. at the Alliance Française Atlanta. I was hooked to this luxurious sweeter side of Bordeaux instantly. So when I learned of this event presented by the Southeastern Sommelier Society featuring exclusively Saturnais wines, I could not wait for the day to come!
Sauternes is a place in the Bordeaux region of France. It has a unique terroir and climate that invites the mysterious Botrytis or ¨Noble Rot¨ which attacks the grapes, resulting in a concentrated and distinct flavor. Made from Sémillon (mostly) combined with Sauvignon Blanc or muscadelle grapes, Sauternes Wines are typically classified as “dessert” or after dinner wines, although they are oftentimes paired with savory foods such as chicken tagine, roasted honey-glazed pork, paté and Roquefort & blue cheeses. The uniqueness of the noble rot and harvesting practices makes it a limited production (compared to other wines) and so Sauternes wines are usually expensive and it´s rare to find them on any given wine list at a restaurant or bar, even in France.
Château de Farges which in 2007 was listed as a historic monument, was the producer featured at this tasting led by Phillipe de Lur Saluces. The Lur Saluces family who owns and runs this estate is one of the oldest in France, for 15 generations, and have had a strong influence in Sauternes and the Bordeaux region since the late 17th century. Having possessed a winegrowing empire since the 1800´s, they have since owned other renowned estates such as Château d’Yquem, Château Filhot, Château Coutet, and most recently Château de Fargues. The Lur Saluces family prides itself on exclusively creating fine Sauternes wines in their meticulous care of the soil and vines, high standards, emphasis on quality, and attention to detail.
We tasted the 2010, 2007 and 2005 Sauternes from this estate. These wines have an extravagant bouquet and a superb flavor, and sometimes show a surprising touch of minerality with age. Of the three, the 2007 was a favorite as it was one of the most aromatic and elegant wines, full of ripe fruit and with a beautiful finish. I imagined having this wine with foie gras and baguette…miam-miam-miam!
Hopefully Château de Fargues wines will be in the Atlanta market soon. Otherwise, we may just have to book a ticket to Bordeaux and make our way to the village ourselves. They do welcome visitors I hear 🙂
Address: Château de Fargues, 33210 Fargues, France
