How should Sauternes be served?
Like most white wines, Sauternes should be served slightly chilled, around 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Refrigerate it, but let it sit out for 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Sauternes served ice cold will obscure the subtle spice notes this wine is known for.
Is Sauternes served chilled?
Several Sauternes are sold in half bottles of 375 ml though larger bottles are also produced. The wines are typically served chilled at 10 °C (50 °F), but wines older than 15 years are often served a few degrees warmer. Sauternes can be paired with a variety of foods. Foie gras is a classic match.
Does Sauternes need to be refrigerated?
Not all wines should be served chilled, but Sauterne wines often taste best chilled. Newer vintages should be chilled at a lower temperature than older ones, but you can adjust the temperature to your personal preferences.
What cheese goes with Sauternes?
Spanish Manchego and Italian Pecorino (and others) have a salty edge that can work well with Sauternes. Relative extremes in wine and food can often create memorable taste experiences. Sauternes with Brie, Camembert, soft cow’s milk cheeses; young goat’s milk cheese, ashed or otherwise.
What do you serve with Sauternes?
What to eat with Sauternes
- Ripe peaches and nectarines.
- Strawberries and cream.
- Simple French fruit tarts – especially apple and apricot tart.
- Roast pineapple – maybe the perfect match for Chateau d’Yquem on one of the rare occasions I’ve drunk it.
Does Sauternes need to breathe?
The answer is yes–that is, most of the time. Just like any other wine, Sauternes wines do often benefit from some decanting. Exposure to oxygen can make the sweet fruit, blossom, jasmine, and citrus notes in these wines even more prominent and enrich the drinking experience.
How long can I keep an open bottle of Sauternes?
It sounds like a lot for a little, but honestly, you’re not going to slurp down a full bottle of such a rich, viscous wine. And I find that Sauternes keeps slightly longer in the refrigerator than other wines: at least four to five days, sometimes longer. Don’t be put off by the drab sameness of the Sauternes labels.
What do you drink Sauternes with?
Consider cheesecake of all kinds (sans chocolate), almond tart, lemon tart, meringues, and custards. That said, Sauternes shines alongside something more savory such as Roquefort or Livarot cheese and foie gras or terrine with caramelized onions.
What should the serving temperature be for Sauternes?
The ideal serving temperature for Sauternes and similar sweet Bordeaux whites is about 10-12°C (50-54°F), at the upper end of that scale for an older wine, bearing in mind a half bottle will chill more quickly than a full-size one. Sweet or savoury – what is the perfect match for Sauternes?
Can you drink a Sauternes wine with dessert?
While Sauternes are considered dessert wines, due to their high levels of sugar, more often than not, they do not pair well with dessert. Sauternes and other sweet wines need to be sweeter than what you are eating. Sauternes wine and food pairings. While many people feel sweet wines are just for dessert, that is not the case.
Why are Sauternes wine used in fish courses?
One reason why chefs were able to pair Sauternes with the fish course in the past is because Sauternes was not as sweet as it is today. Weather patterns were cooler, thus the wines had higher acidity and less sugar. That said, depending on the producer and the vintage year, today you can find a Sauternes wine with a leaner, less opulent style.
How big is a portion of Sauternes wine?
Sauternes is a big wine — both in terms of flavor and alcohol content. It is meant to be sipped and savored, and the ideal portion size of 2 to 3 ounces reflects that intent.