following closely behind Yquem and La Tour in the world standings of Sauternes Lafaurie Peyraguey…read moreis another excellent offering for those of us that find it hard to go into Yquem price territory.

The premier gran cru superior chateau is one of the finest in Bordeaux. Owned by LVMH, this winery…read moreis the epitome of class and pretentiousness. My mother and I paid $300 each to have three glasses of wine and a mini tour of the estate which I found rather disappointing. I would of enjoyed seeing the bottling facility wish is located on the property, the aging vats, or even the wine library (this wine is known for aging very well!). We were shown the courtyard of the castle, a few vines and then rushed into a tasting room after a video describing noble rot. While the wine at chateau d'yquem is some of the best in the world, the experience could of been better for the cost. Offering a little bit of food with our wine would of been amazing.

This property was beautiful! So much history. I appreciated having a walking tour around the estate…read moreto enjoy the views and photo opportunities. The tour guide was wonderful. My only disappointment was that we got one glass of a recent vintage. Given how much they have in stock, it would be best to showcase how well the wine ages and give the consumer a good idea of its aging potential. I could buy a new vintage at home, but I would not get the opportunity to try one with age. Perhaps the consumer would learn that they prefer aged Sauternes and not younger ones. Either way, wish we got more than 1 glass and more vintages to try.

Sauternes is a region celebrated for making sweet white wines, which can range from dulcet nirvana…read moreto downright cloying. Although I previously knew that I enjoyed the wine type, I didn't understand the full complexity involved in the production of this liquid gold. A visit to Château Rieussec provided me with a thorough explanation and a knowledge of what it takes to produce such a magnificent bottle of wine. Having made reservations in advance for an English speaking tour, we were warmly greeted in the reception area and then we were directed to the tasting room to wait for our host. Considering they don't charge for the visit (which seems uncommon in the area), it is a sensational value. Unlike the tours I'm used to in the United States, there were no throngs of bachelorette parties, nor was there an easy to amble up to bar for tasting large pours of many different varietals. Instead we were treated to a private experience, given a complete look at the history of the winery, the terroir, and the process used. Since Rieussec's vineyards border the highly lauded Château d`Yquem (who does not accept visitors unless you are in the industry), they are perfectly positioned to produce the top notch wine that has earned them the title of 1er Cru Classé. For wine lovers, it is like visiting a sacred temple, and being allowed to observe some of their rituals. I never realized how important the climate was to the wine itself, the local fog creating the perfect conditions to yield the candied grapes. There is a delicate balance to the plots selected for the grapes themselves, of which the primary grape grown is Sémillon, with a smaller percentage of Sauvignon Blanc as well. The picking process requires an eagle eye and multiple pickings to ensure the right balance and the highest quality in the wine. Then there are many other details that I would never have considered, all of which are necessary to create a bottle that meets their stringent guidelines. Truly we felt honored to be able to receive such an in depth look at region, and steps required to create a bottle of Château Rieussec's wine. Our host was gracious to and full of interesting information. At the end of our tour we were given some of the wine to sample, enjoying the smooth complexity as notes of honeysuckle, peach, and lychee made their way through. I only wish we had a block of blue cheese with us at the time to pair it with! I cannot recommend a visit enthusiastically enough, it is without doubt, a must for any wine lover.

From the same producers of Chateau Lafite Rosthschild, one of the most famous Bordeaux wines of all…read moretime. They make a pretty fantastic Sauternes to boot. Made of 90 - 95% Sémillon , Muscadelle and 5-10% Sauvignon, this late harvest wine is amongst some of the best Sauternes out there, batting in the same league as Yquem but much more affordable

Fredric our guide is exceptional. He grew up in the region and knows all the people. Due to his…read morepersonal connections our tour was amazing. He is knowledgeable, responsible and friendly with a great sense of humor.

We had the absolute best time touring Bordeaux and St. Emilion with Frederic. He picked us up, took…read morecare of every detail, shared his wealth of knowledge and was such a fun and charming guide. The location for our lunch was simply magical and added to an already perfect day! We really couldn't have been happier and are looking forward to coming back to tour more wineries with Frederic and Rendez-vous Chateau Tours! Could not recommend Rendez-vous Chateau tours more!

Excellent welcome, tour with clear explanations in English and very nice wines to taste…read more This company focuses on biological production. No pesticides are used to increase production yield. Biodiversity is of great importance to this vineyard. Balance of nature is key for success. Grapes are hand picked. New barrels are used. The site is well organised and looks pretty. Well worth a visit! Be prepared to spend some money as the dessert wines are excellent and also pricey! ;)

Guirard uses only Semillion and Sauvignon in their Sauternes blend. Another of the 1st cru wines,…read morewhich sits nearby the famed Yquem, it's also another excellent Sauternes producer for those of us that can't afford the Premier Crus of Yquem