Chateau des Coulinats Sainte Croix du Mont, 1983

Sainte Croix du Mont is a neighbor of Sauternes and Barsac. And since this area typically gets less botrytis (the noble rot) in its vineyards than its more well known neighbors, these wines are less well known and less expensive. I think I paid less than $40 for 24 half bottles of this old favorite.

The color has turned from deep old gold to a light pinkish color, as is often the case with older dessert wines. The nose though is as beautiful as ever--botrytis honey, dried apricots and figs. The wine is rich and oily on the palate with grassy Semillon flavors along with honey, apricots and marzipan. Good complexity. Hide the price tag and this could easily pass for a big-ticket Sauternes.

I haven't noticed any Sainte Croix du Mont wines in my area in recent years, but wines from Loupiac are similar in style and quality. Chateau La Rocque Loupiac can be found for about $15/half bottle or less--a good price. When young, these wines usually display scents of almonds, coconut and pastry along with dried apricots and a hint of honey. As the wine ages, the honey may become more prominent, and the almonds more like marzipan.