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Buy any 12 bottles and save 10% (excludes wines on offer). Free UK delivery on orders over £100. Tel: 02922 337454
Buy any 12 bottles and save 10% (excludes wines on offer). Free UK delivery on orders over £100. Tel: 02922 337454
2023 Sauternes, Château Violet, 375ml

2023 Sauternes, Château Violet, 375ml

Sauternes, Bordeaux, France

Golden Mist

Château Violet’s 2023 Sauternes is a classic golden Bordeaux sweet wine, rich with candied fruit but lifted by the freshness that makes great Sauternes so much more than simple sweetness. The nose is generous and inviting, with apricot, peach, candied citrus, honey, roasted hazelnut, vanilla and a little marmalade glow.

On the palate, it is luscious but balanced, with ripe stone fruit, lemon curd, orange peel and toasted nut depth carried by bright acidity. There is sweetness, certainly, but also poise, making the finish feel fresh, polished and quietly persistent. A lovely half-bottle for cheese, pudding, or the sort of moment when one glass needs to feel properly indulgent.

For when
Dessert deserves a little golden theatre.

Pairs with
Tarte Tatin, crème brûlée, blue cheese, Roquefort, fruit tarts, foie gras, baked cheesecake, roasted peaches or almond cake.

Château Violet is a small Sauternes estate with a warm, family-run character and a long history in one of Bordeaux’s most distinctive sweet-wine regions. Often seen under the name Château Violet-Lamothe, the property is associated with the Lahiteau family and the village of Preignac, where morning mists help encourage the noble rot that gives Sauternes its famous concentration, complexity and glow. This is traditional Sauternes with charm: sweet, fresh, aromatic and beautifully suited to the classic cheese and dessert table.

Whats in the bottle
Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle

£15.35 - £15.35
£15.35
£15.35 - £15.35
£15.35
Availability:
In stock

Château Violet is one of the smaller, more characterful names in Sauternes, the legendary sweet-wine appellation south of Bordeaux. The estate is often referred to as Château Violet-Lamothe and is linked with the Lahiteau family, who are also associated with Château Laribotte. Based around Preignac, the property sits in the classic Sauternes landscape where autumn mists, gravelly and clay-limestone soils, and the influence of nearby waterways create the conditions for noble rot.

The estate’s appeal lies in its traditional, approachable expression of Sauternes. Rather than chasing grandeur for its own sake, Château Violet offers the style’s essential pleasures: candied fruit, citrus freshness, honeyed richness, toasted nuts and the balance that allows sweetness to feel elegant rather than heavy. For customers looking to explore Sauternes without stepping into the price level of the great classified growths, this is a confident and charming way in.

The 2023 Château Violet Sauternes is made from the classic regional white varieties Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. Sémillon brings richness, honeyed texture and apricot depth, Sauvignon Blanc adds citrus lift and freshness, while Muscadelle contributes floral aromatic detail. The 2023 release is bottled at 13% alcohol and commonly appears in half-bottle format, ideal for serving with cheese or dessert.

Sauternes is made from grapes affected by Botrytis cinerea, known as noble rot, which concentrates sugars, acidity and flavour in the berries. The vineyard setting around Preignac is well suited to this style, with morning mists helping botrytis develop and drier afternoons preserving fruit health. The 2023 Sauternes vintage was particularly strong for sweet wines, with September conditions allowing noble rot to spread through ripe, healthy grapes. The result is a vintage marked by concentration, freshness and aromatic clarity.