42 / 96
Much
time
and
money
is
thus
expended
on
the
vintapinp
of
the
grapes,
as
every
bunch
has
to
be
carefully
examined,
and
unless
it
is
found
perfect
in
every
respect,
it
is
not
used
for the
finer
qualities.
It
has
been
cumi)uted
that
the
average
expense
ol'
cultiva-
tion
is
from
250
to
,'500
francs
per
hundred
(twenty-four
dozen),
it
cannot,
therefore,
be
wondered
at
that
genuine
Sauternes
cannot
be
obtained
as
cheaply
as
some
of
the
Red
Wines
of
France.
In
classifying
Sauternes,
it
is
undoubtedly
a
fact
that
the
wines
of
the
Chateau
d'Yquem,
Chateau
La
Tour
Blanche,
Cha-
teau
Vigneau,
Chateau
Rabaud,
and
Chateau
Suduiraut
take
the
foremost
rank, and,
next
to
these
in
the
order
given,
come
the
Haut
Sauternes,
Sauternes,
Barsac
and
Craves.
All
Sauternes
are
sweet
or
sweetish
in
character,
but
tlu'
excess
of
sweetness
disappears
considerably
with
a
few
years
of
"bottle
age."
As
"table
wines,"
Sauternes
are
eminently
suitable.
They
are
delicate
in
flavor
and
stimulate
the
appetite.
In
alcoholic
strength
they
are
far
below
Sherries,
but
they
are,
neverthele.ss,
exhilarating
and
sustaining.
They
are
especially
suitable
to
be
served
with
oysters
and
fish.
In
order
to
])reserve
their
full
aroma,
Sauternes,
and
es-
pecially
the
finer
ciualities,
should
not
be
"iced;"
a
medium
temperature
will
be
sufficient
to
preserve
all
their
character-
istics.
As
"dessert
wines"
they
are
simply
perfect.
A
glass
or
two
of
high-class
"vintage"
Sauterne
at
the
end
of
a
meal
will
not
only
aid
digestion,
but
will
warm
the
whole
.system
and
diffuse
a
feeling
of
lightness
and
of
comfort.
From
a
medicinal
standpoint,
the
white
wines
of
France
rank
foremost.
For
dyspepsia
they
are
invaluable.
White
wines
contain
less
tannin,
tartrates
and
iron
than
I'ed
wines,
but
more
acetic ether.
Whilst
containing
the
.same
quantity
of
alcohol
as
the
red wines,
their
action
is
more
"heady"
and
more
exhilarating.
For
obesity,
especially,
and
affections
of the
liver,
they are
most
emphatically
efficacious.
The
sweeter
Sauternes,
Chateau
La
Tour
Blanche,
Yquem,
Rabaud,
Vigneau,
etc.,
possessing
a
greater
alcoholic
strength,
will
be
found
most
beneficial
in
cases
of
exhaustion,
nervous
prostration,
hemorrhage,
and
in
all
cases
of
mental
or
bodily
fatigue.
As
des.sert
wines
they
are
not
only
delicious,
but
they
greatly
aid
the
digestion
and
impart
a
cheerful
glow
to
the
system.