Sauternes

France's renowned Sauternes is located east of the region of Graves, south of the city of Bordeaux. This is where both the sun and the ever-difficult botrytis get together to make some of the most sought-after sweet wines in the world. Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes are left to ripen on the vine, and when conditions are perfect, usually after a period of rain then dryness, the grapes become infected with noble rot. This noble rot causes water to evaporate from the grape, while also imparting complex flavors of ginger, saffron, and honey. The grapes are harvested, crushed gently, and then fermented sweet. The result is an unctuously sweet wine, with flavors of flan, sweet apricots, and a oak-derived spice. They are beautiful when young, but will also live for decades and become more complex.