The Les Lions de Suduiraut is produced by Chateau Suduiraut of Sauternes, and is a sweet white wine typical of the region.

As with other Sauternes wines, such as the highly regarded Chateau d'Yquem, the Les Lions de Suduiraut gets its distinctive sweet flavour from botrytis cinerea, also known as noble rot, which affects the vines in the area.

However, the producer suggests that this particular wine is "fresher, fruitier and more vibrant" than its contemporaries.

The first bottle of Les Lions de Suduiraut available is from 2009, a year which is widely revered as having created some of the very best Bordeaux ever made.

AXA Millesimes, owner of Chateau Suduiraut, describes the wine as "totally versatile – perfect as an aperitif, perhaps with some salted nuts, olives or smoked salmon canapes, while still having the depth and gravitas to partner puddings and blue cheese".

The group's managing director Chris Seeley told the Drinks Business that Sauternes wines have experienced many problems in the past, but the launch of this new bottle is indicative of a very healthy future for the region.

"I continue to be optimistic about the long term potential for these wines because they are so beautiful … and I think the wines of Sauternes are better than they have ever been," he added.

Growers in Sauternes finished the 2011 harvest by September 28th - a date around which many estates traditionally start picking.

Chateau Climens manager Frederic Nivelle told Decanter this week that the onset of botrytis had been swift, and as a result a large amount of grapes were lost.

The weather conditions created a harvest that was very mixed in terms of quality, Mr Nivelle added, but those that survived are said to be of high quality and capable of producing good wines.