Over the course of conversation and parings shared with Mr. Chevalier at Château Rieussec, he emphasized how at Rieussec—and within the region of Sauternes in general—they strive to make wine connoisseurs cognizant of the fact that the wines of Sauternes are not merely to be enjoyed over the course of dessert, however are versatile and pair quite well with savory—and sometimes spicy—dishes.

Traditionally the French typically serve Sauternes with foie gras—at the beginning of a meal, as an aperitif.  The density of the protein rich foie gras provides a striking contrast to the sweetness and voluptuous candied character of Sauternes.  In sum, when in France, Sauternes + Foie Gras = Classic!

While at Château Rieussec for the Pairing Lunch I sampled a medley of appetizers:  Tartine de Foie Gras au Torchon, Chutney de Saison; Salpicon de Homard à l’Américaine; and Saint Jacques en Tartare aux Fruits de la Passion.  My preferred pairing was the Lobster, a lighter take on the “protein + sweet” pairing, as the relatively lean protein of lobster coupled with the creamy sauce Américaine allowed for more of the candied notes of the Château Rieussec to shine.

It may be of interest to note that the versatile nature of Sauternes to expand into the realm of savory main course dishes fully allows the complexities and nuances of well aged Fine and Rare wines of Sauternes to shine.  More specifically, when when Château Rieussec was tasted with such main courses that highlighted lean protein and emphasized a hint of spice—such as Volaille Fermière aux Espices Cajun, Cameron aux Epices Mexicaines et Mesclun, and Tarte Fine de Rouget et Pesto rouge—its true versatility sang.

Finally, of course, the rich concentration, lively acidity and candied-like aromas and flavors inherent to Sauternes easily allows it to serve as dessert in itself or as a complement to the dessert course, for example paired with a fruit driven Tart Tatin or cream driven Crème Caramel.  At Château Rieussec I enjoyed the 1988 Rieussec, which expressed rich intense aromas and flavors dried tropical fruit, mushroom and candied nuts and easily paired with a medley of desserts:  Madeleine au Miel d’Acacia et Safran, Sablé crème Citron, Canelé and Crumble inversé en Verrine (pommers, rhubarbe, ananas). 

Wishing you exciting exploratory journeys with the Fine and Rare wines of Sauternes… beyond sweet, and into savory!

Salud!

Christina

This has created such a noticeable stir in the wine world that buyers, traders, collectors, sellers and connoisseurs are fixated on Hong Kong’s thirst for the flavor of first growth Bordeaux, Burgundy, Mouton and Margaux. And perhaps it is just that, a thirst.  Why shouldn’t its citizens have the experience of buying vintage wine, bubbly champagne or the opportunity to attend sales organized by foreign auction houses? Auctions relating to wine have been conducted since the early 18th Century in France, followed soon after by the United States. Buyers, traders, collectors, and other wine-related groups in Hong Kong are just beginning to sip something the rest of the world has been drinking for centuries.

It is a burgeoning wine business for a country filled with wine enthusiasts in this new and engaging industry. Hong Kong’s status of wealth and power alongside its culturally different tastes signify they have longed for the knowledge the wine world has to offer.  It is an attractive and profitable industry Hong Kong is now trending with. It will translate into the fluctuation of pricing and market value, like any other commodity, but it is a market that is still culturally different.  Among the leading French staples they are drinking up, such as DRC, Latour, and Lafite, the lovers and appreciators are starting to delve into the world of California cults, bold Italians Barolos and fruity Ports in efforts to expand their pallets.  It is amazing to see how their industry will grow and it is exciting to watch it come alive with such incredible enthusiasm.  As we watch what unfolds over the next few years there, we cannot forget in the meantime, that it is still a country newly rich with wine.

MDG

As you buy wine online in weekly auctions, you will see the laws of supply and demand in action very clearly.  That is, the prices you find in an auction will vary depending on that week’s supply and recent demand.  Check the auctions each week, and you are likely to find what you want at the price you want.

There just isn’t enough of it, period. On a good vintage, your average 1^st growth Bordeaux château will produce about 25,000 cases of the Grand Vin. In even the most abundant years, the entire production of DRC (9 bottlings nowadays, including the 1er Cru Cuvée Duvault-Blochet, the newly returned Corton and Montrachet) hardly exceeds a third of that, and if you consider Romanée-Conti as the Grand Vin, there is barely 500 cases of it available for the majestic global demand annually! Whether you buy wind or sell wine, keep in mind that DRC will always be one of the rarest and most expensive labels in the fine wine online marketplace.

2000 Calon-Ségur: A Fine Wine with Heart

At a wine dinner this past weekend I had the opportunity to enjoy the 2000 Calon-Ségur, which over the course of six hours was still holding strong and continuing to unveil multiple layers of aromas and flavors—including ripe black plums, raspberry and earth with hints of vanilla and sweet spice; a luscious mouthfeel gave way to opulent texture and ripe tannins that softened and became more velvet-like over the course of the evening.  The 2000 Calon-Ségur is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc.  Often in youth the wines of Calon-Ségur can temporarily “close down,” however the 2000 Calon-Ségur displays no signs of introversion; it is approachable, powerful and expressive, showing that it is not only drinking well now, but its rich concentration, purity of fruit, and lively acidity will enable it to continue to develop and evolve over the next one to two decades.

What fine wine does your heart select?
Salud!

Christina

You will find older and unusual things

Let’s say a wine lover you know has an important birthday or anniversary soon.  Just think of how pleasantly surprised that someone would be if you presented him or her with a fine wine from that special year.  You won’t find vintages from more than a few years ago at most retailers, but you will find them in a wine auction.

To experiment and try new things

Wine auctions are the perfect place to find something unique. There you will find less familiar varietals, like Zweigelt (a red grape grown primarily in Austria) or perhaps a Pinotage (originally South African).  Perhaps you might find it intriguing to taste how one grape, say sauvignon blanc, tastes different when it’s grown in various places such as France, California and New Zealand.

To get great values

You may be able to find special wine prices at your local grocery store, but you probably won’t find too many special wines there.  At auctions, you can buy wine that is both special and priced to sell.  Since you can bid and buy wine online in most auctions, you get the best value of all: your time used efficiently to get what you want.

Very well put by Mark Twain: “Too much of anything is bad, but too much Champagne is just right.” 

Champagne is the ultimate liquid luxury – nothing compares. With new selections added almost daily, our WineGavel auction features over dozens of lots of great Champagne. Absolutely pristine bottle prices range from $18 “Buy Now” halves, to a half case of Clos d’Ambonnay going for just over $12,000. From daily choices to Têtes de Cuvée, from boutique growers to Grand Marques, the variety is impressive. Get them while they last!

This week WineGavel brings you an array of pristine Bordeaux stock from 2006 along with other recent vintages including legendary 2000s and 2005s, and only from properties that are famous for their exceptional quality. Most of these lots (2689-2807) are in original wood cases and have been stored in perfect condition since release. From 2006 Rieussec starting at under $40 per half bottle to incredibly rare 9-bottle Collectors’ Packs with one each of Chateaux Lafite, Mouton, Latour, Margaux, Haut Brion, La Mission Haut Brion, Petrus, Cheval Blanc and Yquem starting at just under $6,000, there is an incredible range of treasures to please any Bordeaux fan.

Browse WineGavel.com for more wine auction information!

As part of their move to Hawaii, they decided to take only a few wines and chose us to find new homes for their precious collection. In transit to our warehouse as you read this, their pristine cellar is available for pre-arrival bidding. Our online auction this week just got enhanced with over 1,500 lots picked from this collection. The more “blue chip” selections are to be auctioned at a later date. The provenance speaks of pure perfection, every bottle is in pristine condition.