BO-TRY-TIS! That lovely, friendly, delicious “noble rot” that transforms grapes into something magical.

Score! Dear Operatives, this is the Sauternes you (we) need for your winter drinking pleasure!

96 points and 25-bucks for this golden Bordeaux elixir?! The one Mr Suckling described as “Insane…best wine ever from here”?! Yes, that’s the one! We dare you to find a finer example anywhere close to this price.

James Suckling continues regarding the 2017 harvest here: “Sauternes is particularly noteworthy with the top names making superlative wines that have plenty of richness and structure for aging, but also deliver wonderful intensity and freshness making for superb drinkability now. ‘2017 is a new age for Sauternes,’ said Eric Kohler, technical director of Chateau Lafite-Rothschild and Chateau Rieussec. ‘I hope we can continue to make this fresh and intense style with great botrytis. The botrytis came very early and set very quick, so we had a wonderful quality. The grapes were very clean and fresh and therefore made great Sauternes.’ This is also why Château d’Yquem was one of the wines of the vintage in 2017.”

Yquem’s 2017 costs over $400 a bottle. Rieussec or Suduiraut, the go to ‘values’ for Sauternes fans are over $100 per. Suau - owned by Left Bank darling Domaine de Chevalier - is a 2ème Cru Classé (2nd growth) albeit second to none, and in the same league as Doisy-Daene, d’Arche, Filhot or de Malle just lesser known because of their tiny production. In fact, with just 6.5 acres, Suau is the smallest of all the 1855 Classified Growths. This kind of pedigree, complexity, and deliciousness for a mere $25 is what a sweet Bordeaux deal is all about.

After all, Suau was once owned by the Lur Saluces family of Yquem fame! So evident from the candied ginger and Turkish apricot nose. Perfumy as it is, with a sweet and savory caramel corn twist, there’s a refreshing burst of acidity once sipped that counters the rich Bananas Foster and lavender crème brûlée accents. The finish takes a new twist with rum raisin bread pudding and candied orange peel nuances. Is this not the most effusive liquid dessert you just can’t afford to miss for your next fall feast?

We’re so drinking THIS with pumpkin pie!

You NEED some of this around for the holidays, question is, can you decide how many to get before it sells out?

96 Points – James Suckling

“Honey, light maple and dried apricot on the nose. Toffee and some coconut, too. Full-bodied, very sweet and layered. Insane finish. Electric acidity. Contrastive. Best wine ever from here. Drink or hold.”