Be quick, Operative! Today’s Chateau de Suronde 2004 Quarts de Chaume Chenin Blanc will not last the day. This golden, silky, jubilant wine is only the second dessert wine that we’ve featured in our nearly 12-year history. The moment that we tasted this wine, we knew that we had to buy every last case for you.

This late harvest dessert wine has a beautiful yellow golden hue that’s the color of gold bullion. The nose is intoxicating with fragrant aromas of honeysuckle, quince, persimmon, saffron, and matcha. The palate is absolutely lovely with a distinctive saffron characteristic that reminds one of risotto. Caramelized pears and apples are also present along with peach pie with a walnut crust. It can be difficult to achieve a late harvest wine that delivers such complex and unique flavors without being cloyingly sweet. These masters have done the job and it isn’t so viscous as to distract from the delicate flavors. Very quaffable. There are two routes to go with a wine such as this: The stinkiest Roquefort cheese you can find or a pecan pie. Savory or sweet, you’ll be happy.

Chateau du Suronde is situated on the northern banks of the Layon River near the village of Rochefort-sur-Loire, France. Owner and winemaker Francis Poirel owns one of the seven original properties that make up the Quarts de Chaume appellation. His 17 acres of Chenin Blanc are planted on sandstone and schist mixed with sand and clay of alluvial origin and is farmed using biodynamic methods. The entire appellation is a mere 102 acres and renowned for its sweet, late harvest and botrytis cinerea affected wines. Quarts de Chaume refers to the ancient practice of the church taking a quarter of the harvest from the best sites as rent.

We’ll be enjoying this wine as a standalone solo-sipper, with a dessert course - or as dessert itself! Enjoy it chilled, in a Champagne flute or small spirits glass, or over a warm peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream. Big yum awaits, Operative! If you’re fast enough to grab this deal - before we sell out.

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Here’s what the wine press has to say.

94 Points - Wine Spectator - “This late release is showing beautifully, with glazed peach and pear notes lifted by hints of orange zest, green tea and honeysuckle. Fleshy, unctuous and yet still fresh on a finish rounded off by a burnished edge. Drink now through 2018. 250 cases imported.”