2009 Sauternes Wine Value Picks

Our debut Sauternes issue presented a number of statistical challenges. Due to the small number of producers, there are not a sufficient number of scores to develop a broad range of averages. In fact, we can only publish average prices for Sauternes scoring between 88 and 95 points. Our solution was to include wines from each vintage between 2000 and 2007 so that we would have more price data to work with.

Another interesting finding is that Sauternes are priced rather comparably (the exception being Ch. D'Yquem). Without the price differential, there are no wines that meet our mathematical threshold for "Great Values" status.

The average price for an 88 scoring Sauternes is $37, while the average price for a 95 scoring Sauternes is $72 (roughly double the price for a wine that is seven points higher). Compare Sauternes' 2 to 1 ratio to other wines: White Burgundy -- 11 to 1 ratio, Cabernet/Chardonnay/Champagne -- 6 to 1 ratio, Pinot Noir/Piedmont Reds/Shiraz -- 5 to 1 ratio. Because of this unique price to score ratio, we would recommend purchasing, for example, six bottles of 95 scoring Sauternes over 12 bottles of 88 scoring Sauternes.

At the high scoring end, the 2003 Château Guiraud, Sauternes received an average score of 95 points and at $49 it is 68% of the average cost of a similar scoring Sauternes earning it a Value moniker. The 2003 Château Coutet, Barsac received an average score of 93 and at $34 it is 64% of the average $53 cost of a similar scoring Sauternes. At the value end, at $22, the 2007 Château Bastor Lamontagne, Sauternes received an average score of 89 points and is 55% of the average $40 cost of a similar scoring Sauternes.

A total of 349 Sauternes wines are profiled in this issue.