More than $10

[Brom]

Seems I am building a rep as a cheap wine guy, which I guess I am. I am also a dessert wine guy. Unfortunately in these days, we all know that nobody is buying into botrytis wines for $10.

(I can't think of the name of the estate, but back when I could buy La Tour Blanche for $19.95, I picked up some 'left on the shelf' Sauternes for $4 per 750ml. I do recall that the Wine Spectator reviewed the wine unfavorably in their first big compilation of wines, but do not recall name or vintage.)

But I'm not here to talk about inexpensive Sauternes or Sauternes at all, but a neitghbor of that town that was unfamiliar to me.

Ever have a Cerons? I hadn't until I could make myself cough up $36 for 500ml bottle of 2005 *Chateau Haura Cerons*.

A very nice wine with all one might expect from a sweet wine of that region. Classic aroma, rich and sweet in the mouth but well balanced by what might be called bracing acidity. Already a few years aged, this wine has a long life ahead of it I am sure.

Too bad I was underwhelmed. I think it was sticker-shock. Yes, yes, I realize this is a time when one pays $20 for a Monbazillac and $25 for a Cadillac if they can be found, but that $4 Sauternes at the top and $5 bottles of the above wines are all stuck in my long term memory and I think sub-consciously and unfairly influenced my appreciation of this wine. However, my tasting experience was what it was.

That said, I will repeat that this was a very nice, elegant bottle of wine. If you are a fan of Sauternes/Barsac wines and you have the money to 'broaden your horizons', you ought to look into this AOC.

2005 *Chateau Haura Cerons*.