Sauternes and Oysters
(95 points, $44)
WS Review: Not shy, with unctuous dried apricot, peach and tangerine fruit flavors, augmented with ginger, bitter orange and bitter almond notes that add tension. Expressive, with a floral twinge on the finish imparting lift. Best from 2020 through 2040. 2,500 cases made. From France.
James Molesworth
Valentine’s Day is a perfect opportunity to try a pairing from the Roaring Twenties: oysters and sweet wine (no, that’s not a misprint). Back then, it was common to serve Bordeaux dessert wine Sauternes as an aperitif. The wine was also typically paired with oysters to kick off fancy feasts. And the pairing still works, especially if you’re serving a rich Sauternes like Château Guiraud’s alongside large, briny East Coast oysters.