Great French sweet white wines for aging

 

France, the star of white sweet wines

France is one of the few countries to produce a large quantity of fine white wines suitable for aging. Let's take stock of these exceptional terroirs together.

What types of blends make up these sweet wines?

Sweet, mellow, and demi-sec form a family of wines traditionally made for la garde due to their high amount of residual sugar.
The Bordeaux region boasts prestigious appellations, including these famous ones. Sauternes, Barsacand the cousins Monbazillac, LoupiacThese are generally blended wines combining, in particular, Sémillon and Sauvignon.
Further south, the Jurançon Soft cheeses made from Petit Manseng grapes could sometimes rival certain SauternesThese wines can age for between 8 and 50 years, depending on the terroir.
The Loire Valley boasts excellent appellations for sweet and off-dry wines. Among the most prestigious are: Quarters of Thatch, Coteaux du Layon, Vouvray And MontlouisThe wines are all made from the Chenin grape variety and can also boast aging potential of up to 50 years.
L'Alsace is a major producer of sweet wine and demands a certain level of education. It is practically a religion here, as the sugar can be derived from the grape variety (Gewurztraminer, Kaepferkop), late harvest, and Sélection de Grains Nobles (Riesling, Pinot Gris Or Gewurztraminer) or the classification (a Riesling Premier Cru will generally be sweeter than a standard Riesling). These wines can age between 10 and 30 years.
Finally, the Languedoc has specialties such as Maury or the Banyuls.

How to pair these wines?

Sweet or dessert wines pair wonderfully with certain persistent cheeses, foie gras, most desserts, and Asian cuisine of the " sweet and sour».
When they are fully aged, a darker coloration of their coat is generally observed.

Excellent tasting.