Heres why we can make that bold statement: Premier Cru Suprieur Chteau dYquem sits alone atop the Sauternes ladder, and a full-size bottle of their 2004if you can find one thats been patiently cellared at the chteauwill run you upwards of $420. For reference, that wine earned a 95-point score from Wine Enthusiast.

The 2004 Suduirautgrown a stones throw away from Yquemearned 94 points from Enthusiast, coming in as the second-best Sauternes of the vintage, behind only Yquem, and also topped Wine & Spirits ratings with 95 points. Today, weve got it for 80% less than youd pay for its Premier Cru Suprieur rival.

Suduiraut ages like a dream, and wed have to rack our brains to think of a bottle that can add so much value to your cellar, whether you give it another two decades or enjoy it in the near term. Its a wine that more than lives up to its Premier Grand Cru pedigreeand you wont find it in full-size bottles anywhere else in the US.

With a history dating back to the 1600s, Suduiraut has mastered the art of cultivating the noble rot brought on by Botrytis cinerea. A prized fungus for creating sweet wines, botrytis increases glycerol and concentrates sugars and acids by dehydrating and shriveling the grapes. Nothing is more important to the development of noble rot than warm, moist conditions like the ones at sites that produce top-flight Sauternes.

Situated in the village of Preignac, the Suduiraut estate shares a border with Yquems vineyards and possesses the same incredible diversity of soils and parcels, ranging from sandy-gravel to clay. In the 2004 growing season, Suduiraut made several passes through the vines from September 29th through November 4th to ensure each parcel got harvested at the peak of perfection. Vinification of the 95% Smillon and 5% Sauvignon Blanc grapes is performed classically, in barrels50% new and 50% once-usedand under careful temperature control.

Only a few wines in the world can match this level of cellarworthinesslet alone for this price. Enjoy this one now or years in the future!