Château la Rame 'Gourmandise' 2021/23, Sainte-Croix-du-Mont

If you thought Sauternes was the only type of dessert wine made in Bordeaux, think again. Sainte-Croix-du-Mont is a small appellation on the right bank of the region's Garonne river – and sweet wines are its speciality. Château La Rame's vineyards lie on south-facing slopes close to the river, and there they experience the ideal conditions for a fungus known as 'noble rot' to develop. The fungus is key to many of the world's dessert-wine styles – by creating small holes in the grapes' skins, it allows water to evaporate, concentrating the sugars and flavours in the juice. And that results in elegant, lusciously sweet wines. This bottling is made from old-vine Sémillion, and you'll find it golden, aromatic and remarkably refreshing. Discover notes of lemon, pineapple and mango, with touches of vanilla and acacia flowers plus a delicate minerality. We can't think of a better pairing for fruit-based desserts or salty cheeses like Roquefort.