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2020 Sauternes
Domaine de l’AllianceThe reasons to be overwhelmed with enthusiasm over Daniel and Valérie Alibrand’s Sauternes are bountiful, so I suggest asking one of our staff why we hold this producer in such high regard. To briefly outline it, this is truly artisanal Sauternes—made by hardworking farmers who are willing to sacrifice quantity for excellence. For example, the rigorous sorting to select the best fruit means making up to seven passes through the vineyards, picking berry by berry. The yields come out to around ten hectoliters per hectare—compare that to Château d’Yquem. Or you can forget the details and simply stick your nose into a glass of this divine nectar to comprehend our excitement.
—Anthony Lynch
Wine Type: | dessert |
Vintage: | 2020 |
Bottle Size: | 500mL |
Blend: | 85% Sémillon, 12% Sauvignon Blanc & Gris, 3% Muscadelle |
Appellation: | Sauternes |
Country: | France |
Region: | Bordeaux |
Winemaker: | Valérie & Daniel Alibrand |
Vineyard: | Average of 50 years |
Soil: | Gravel, Clay, Sand |
Aging: | 20% of wine is aged in new 350-L barrels, 20% in 350-L barrels of one passage, 60% in 225-L barrels of one, two, or three passages |
Farming: | Organic (practicing) |
Alcohol: | 13.5% |
More from this Producer or Region
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2022 Graves Blanc
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Whatever snacks are on your table or picnic blanket, this blanc will fit the bill with its pretty notes of green apple, citrus, and subtle tropical fruits.
2017 Pomerol
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The incredible depth, power, and fine but grippingly youthful tannins are text-book Pomerol
2017 Lalande-de-Pomerol
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A generous wine dominated by ripe black fruit with very supple, approachable tannins.
2016 Fronsac
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There is nothing overdone in this chiseled, elegant cuvée made from organically grown and pampered Merlot.
2022 Sauternes “Esquisse”
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This refreshing dessert wine is versatile at table—it works wonders as an apéritif or with cheeses—and can still be cellared for several years.
2016 Lalande-de-Pomerol
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A generous wine dominated by ripe black fruit with very supple, approachable tannins
2009 Vin de France Blanc “Héréthique”
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Honeyed, richly fruity, and boasting a fascinating smoky complexity, this decadent dessert wine is truly stunning.
2015 Haut-Médoc
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A structured, terroir-driven Cabernet Sauvignon for the ages.
About The Region
Bordeaux
Often considered the wine capital of the world, Bordeaux and its wines have captured the minds, hearts, and wallets of wine drinkers for centuries. For many, the wines provide an inalienable benchmark against which all other wines are measured.
Bordeaux is divided into three winegrowing regions with the city that gives the region its name in the near geographical center. The “right bank,” or the area located east of the Dordogne River, produces wines that are predominantly Merlot with small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. The “left bank” is located to the west of the Garonne River and produces wines dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, with Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot.
The third region, Entre-Deux-Mers, lies between both rivers and produces white wines from Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Muscadelle. Though technically in the left bank, it is worth noting the appellation of Sauternes, which produces arguably the world’s most famous sweet wines from Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Muscadelle as well.
Though many top Bordeaux wines are sold en primeur (in advance of their bottling) and often through a middleman known as a negoçiant, Kermit has always preferred to purchase directly from the winemaker. For more than three decades he has sought out small producers, who make classic Bordeaux wines and are willing to play outside the negoçiant system. This ethic has led to longstanding relationships, excellent prices, and perhaps most important—wines of great value and longevity.
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2008 Canon-Fronsac
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2009 Vin de France Blanc “Héréthique”
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2021 Bordeaux Blanc “Les Joualles”
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2010 Canon-Fronsac
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2016 Canon Fronsac
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2020 Bordeaux Sec “Les Clous”
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2017 Lalande-de-Pomerol
Château Belles-Graves France | Bordeaux
2016 Fronsac
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2009 Vin de France Blanc “Héréthique”
Domaine de l’Alliance France | Bordeaux
2016 Lalande-de-Pomerol
Château Belles-Graves France | Bordeaux
2021 Bordeaux Blanc “Les Joualles”
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Vintage Chart Mentality
Vintage Chart Mentality
Trust the great winemakers, trust the great vineyards. Your wine merchant might even be trustworthy. In the long run, that vintage strip may be the least important guide to quality on your bottle of wine.—Kermit Lynch