Chateau La Tour Blanche Sauternes 1er Cru Demi 37,5cl 2003

Actual bottle shown on photo.
 
With age, Sauternes transforms from opulent sweetness into profound complexity. Its golden fruit giving way to layers of honey, wax, spice and quiet oxidation. What remains is not richness, but harmony.
 
Château La Tour Blanche is classified as Premier Cru Classé (1er Cru) in the historic 1855 ranking of the Sauternes appellation. Located in Bommes at the centre of Sauternes, the estate spans about 40 hectares planted mainly with Sémillon (~80 %), complemented by Sauvignon Blanc (~15 %) and Muscadelle (~5 %). Its terroir consists of gravel and clay-limestone soils over a limestone substructure, providing both richness and tension. The grapes are harvested by hand in successive selective passes to pick only botrytis-affected berries. Fermentation and maturation take place in French oak barrels, resulting in a sweet white wine known for purity, depth and structured richness rather than overt opulence.