Latest news with #Sauternes
The Hindu
30-06-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Noble rot, the alchemist of wines, is setting fungal biology abuzz
In wine-making circles, 'noble rot' is an exalted name for the botrytis fungus (Botrytis cinerea). It infects grapes, penetrates the skin, causes the berries to lose water by evaporation and shrivel up, and thus concentrates the sugars and flavours in them. Since only a small percentage of grapes in a vineyard are infected, they must be picked by hand. This makes the picking process labour-intensive and drives up the cost. The crushed grape juice from rotted grapes is used to make high-quality sweet wines like the Sauternes of Bordeaux, the Trockenbeerenauslese of Germany and Austria, and the Tokaji Aszús of Hungary. They are also very expensive. Befitting its exalted status, the botrytis fungus was also found recently to exhibit an unusual idiosyncrasy. In all animals, plants, and fungi, the nucleus of a cell contains one or more sets of all of the chromosomes of the organism. This property of nuclei allows us to clone animals. Scientists can transfer such a nucleus, which contains all the DNA instructions, into an egg cell whose own nucleus has been removed and, in the right conditions, prompt it to develop into a new organism. But because of the idiosyncrasy, botrytis fungus cannot be cloned — nor can another fungus called Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. A team of researchers from Sichuan University in China and the University of British Columbia in Canada have made a startling discovery: in these fungi, no single nucleus contains a complete set of chromosomes. Instead, the chromosome set is distributed across two or more nuclei, and any one nucleus contains only a subset. These unexpected findings were reported in Science. Ascomycetes, asci, ascospores Botrytis and Sclerotinia are ascomycetes fungi. The first cell of a baby fungus born following a mating between two ascomycetes fungi is called the ascospore. All the subsequent other cells of the individual are derived from it. This is the defining feature of ascomycetes fungi. The ascospores are produced in a sac-like cell called the ascus (plural asci). An ascus, produced when two parental strains mate, contains two complete sets of chromosomes. In many well-studied ascomycetes fungi, eight ascospores are made in each ascus. All the nuclei of an individual ascospore are genetically identical. That is, they all have the same set of chromosomes. B. cinerea and S. sclerotiorum also make asci with eight spores. The researchers had no reason to suspect them to be any different. How are discoveries made? People are often curious to know how scientists make their discoveries. Most discoveries originate in experiments that did not work in the way they were meant to. Sadly, the converse is not true. The most common explanation for experiments that don't work the way were meant to is some kind of 'operator error' — i.e. a silly mistake of some kind: a growth medium was not properly made, the incubator was not set to the right temperature, the wrong strain was used, etc. Silly mistakes are more common than serendipitous leads. Not surprisingly, scientists get mad with experiments that don't work. But once in a while, this type of experiment is a harbinger of an unexpected discovery. This is the scientist's dilemma. Improbable versus true The research team set out to obtain mutants of S. sclerotiorum. For this they exposed the ascospores to ultraviolet light. Each S. sclerotiorum ascospore contains two nuclei. Both nuclei were assumed to carry the same set of chromosomes. UV-induced mutations occur at random. Therefore, it was highly unlikely the same gene would become inactivated in both nuclei of an ascospore. Consequently, a colony containing mutant cells was also expected to include a sector with non-mutant cells. The non-mutant cells would have nuclei descended from the ascospore nucleus with the non-mutant gene. But in the experiment, of the more than 100 mutant colonies the researchers examined, all contained only mutant cells. None of them had a non-mutant sector. This was most unexpected. Why weren't any non-mutant cells seen in these colonies? This observation set the researchers up for their Sherlock Holmes moment: 'When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.' Could the two nuclei between them contain only one set of chromosomes? Closer examination The researchers wrote in their paper: 'Because this prediction challenges established principles of chromosome biology, we conducted a closer examination of the ascospores' nuclei and chromosomes.' They used molecular probes that bind specifically to individual chromosomes, allowing them to say whether or not a nucleus contains the chromosome. When the probes were used individually, they lit up exclusively one nucleus per ascospore. The probe never lit up both nuclei. This meant the two nuclei harboured distinct chromosome sets. When both probes were used together, in some ascospores the signals showed up in only one nucleus and in other ascospores the signals were seen in both nuclei. This meant the distribution of chromosomes in the nuclei differed between ascospores. Further tests revealed that each nucleus of a S. sclerotiorum or B. cinerea ascospore contained only three to eight chromosomes. New questions The findings have already spawned many questions in the research community. What is the mechanism by which chromosomes are allocated to the different nuclei? How is genetic integrity preserved during cell division? What restores a complete set of chromosomes when the fungus mates, and with its mating partner forms new asci? Which genes and mechanisms are involved in chromosome sorting and regulation? What advantage does chromosome distribution confer to Botrytis and Sclerotinia? The questions have generated a new buzz in fungal biology. Right now, scientists doing research with fruit flies, nematodes, zebrafish, mice, and other model organisms might be envying those working with rot fungi — noble or otherwise. D.P. Kasbekar is a retired scientist.
Forbes
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
This Whiskey Just Cleaned Up At The 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
DENVER, CO -FEBRUARY 18: Whisky being poured into a shoot glass at Stranahan's Colorado whisky, in ... More Denver Colorado, on February 23, 2017. (Photo by Amy Brothers /The Denver Post via Getty Images) If there's one thing Stranahan's knows how to do—besides distill award-winning American single malt—it's keep whiskey nerds lining up in tents at high altitude every winter like it's the Great American Barrel Migration. Their ultra-limited Snowflake release has long been the stuff of cultish devotion. This year? The devotion paid off. At the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Stranahan's raked in seven Gold and Double Gold medals, including top honors for Snowflake Redcloud Peak, which was named a Best of Class finalist in the American Single Malt category. Not to be outdone, Mountain Angel 12-Year also earned a Double Gold and finalist status. Basically: if this were whiskey summer camp, Stranahan's just won all the merit badges. 'We stand in elite single malt territory, with a floor of Gold at SFWSC,' said Head Blender Justin Aden, who's been quietly blending up a storm inside a former Denver theater-turned-barrel room called Rackhouse 215. 'It's all a testament to our 21 years of toil, perfecting one recipe and one recipe only.' Let's pause there. One recipe. Twenty-one years. Multiple awards. And an entire rickhouse dedicated to barrels finished in everything from Sauternes to mezcal. No big deal. Red Cloud Peak Stranahan's Snowflake is an annual release that hardcore fans camp out for, sometimes days in advance, with lawn chairs, whiskey-fueled optimism, and a collective tolerance for Colorado winter. Redcloud Peak, this year's edition, is a high-wire blend of sherry, port, Sauternes, and other fortified wines that—somehow—doesn't tip into sticky sweetness. During a tasting when the whiskey was released, Aden described the process of creating Snowflake sort of like a whiskey séance. 'It starts to reveal itself to you,' he says. 'Some barrels you think you'll use for sure don't make the cut. Others surprise you.' He tasted through hundreds of barrels to build the final blend, composed of about a dozen casks. Stranahans Aden, who joined Stranahan's in May 2022, dove headfirst into the distillery's extensive barrel inventory to shape Red Cloud Peak. 'You have all year to work on it. You keep sampling and sampling and trying things mixed together, and it starts to reveal itself to you,' Aden explained during a tasting of the components that went into the whiskey. Unlike the previous year's Snowflake, which leaned heavily into smoky, mezcal-cask influences, Aden knew he wanted this year's blend to steer clear of peat and smoke. Instead, he focused on fruit-forward barrels and an array of fortified wine finishes, including Sherry, Sauternes, and Madera. 'All I knew for certain was there'd be no smoke, no peat in this year's version,' Aden said. 'But other than that, you come in completely unencumbered.' Stranahan's Snowflake releases are built from what Aden calls 'miniature blends' — smaller coupes that each showcase a specific flavor style. Red Cloud Peak's final composition includes: 'Building the blend is like building a house — you start with a cornerstone,' Aden said. 'Sometimes you think you're going one way, and the barrels lead you somewhere completely different.' The process is painstaking. Aden and his team tasted hundreds of barrels over the course of the year (tough work, I know), narrowing them down to about 12 to 16 for the final blend — a manageable number that allows the character of each cask to still be felt. Stranahan's Stranahan's Colorado location gives its whiskey a distinctive aging profile. Unlike the humid rickhouses of Kentucky, Denver's dry climate pulls more water than alcohol from the barrels, gradually concentrating the proof over time. 'We fill our barrels at 110 proof, which is a big departure from the industry standard,' Aden explained. 'It enables the fact that our whiskey proof goes up as it ages to be very gradual.' This slow and steady evaporation results in spirits that maintain bright fruit and vibrant structure — characteristics that shine through in Red Cloud Peak's lush, layered palate. Barrels at Stranahan's Snowflake isn't just about rare barrels and special finishes. For Aden, it's also about carrying forward a pioneering craft whiskey legacy. 'Twenty years ago, if you didn't have a little nepotism in Kentucky or Tennessee, you just weren't breaking in. Craft distilling changed that,' Aden said. 'Stranahan's deserves to be recognized at the top of that list.' As craft distilling in America boomed from just a handful of operations to more than 2,000 today, Stranahan's stayed the course: refusing to source whiskey, focusing exclusively on American single malt, and pushing creative boundaries year after year. Snowflake's continued success — and the dedicated fans who camp out to get a bottle — are proof that Stranahan's spirit of innovation and adventure is alive and well under Aden's leadership. 'We have people who haven't missed one in ten years,' Aden said. 'That kind of loyalty — that's rare. That's something you have to earn every single time.' Stranahan's Lineup Snowflake may get the Instagram buzz, but Stranahan's other bottles are no slackers. Here's how the rest of the lineup performed: 'It's easy for me to wax about this part of the job,' Aden says. 'To take the culmination of so much hard work, put it together, and have it sing—there's nothing like it.' He's talking about blending, of course—but it's also a fair way to describe what Stranahan's is up to more broadly. In a still-emerging category, the distillery isn't chasing trends so much as quietly refining its voice – and winning some awards in the process.
Scotsman
09-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Save nearly £20 on specialist prices by buying this whisky from Amazon
The Tullibardine 225 Sauternes Cask Finish is a bargain on Amazon right now | Amazon This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement. Whisky suppliers have this lovely Tullibardine 225 Sauternes Cask Finish on sale at well over £40 - but there's a much better deal on Amazon Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... This gorgeous single malt whisky could be worth listing for Father's Day gift ideas - because it's an absolute bargain on Amazon right now. Thanks to a limited-time deal knocking 35% off the price, you can get a 70cl bottle with a presentation box for just £29.99. And, if you shop around, you'll soon see why that's a fantastic price. For example, major whisky purveyors Master of Malt has the identical bottle listed for £43.40 plus delivery, and Threshers has it on for £45 plus delivery. Look out for notes of citrusy lime and creamy vanilla on the nose | Amazon So it's a genuinely premium Scotch for not a lot of money. And it really would make a stunning gift. The Tullibardine 225 Sauternes Cask Finish is bottled at 43% and has vibrant tropical flavours of pineapple and zesty orange, adding a rich, fruity complexity, afforded to it by the maturation process, in 225-litre French Sauternes casks that previously held sweet dessert wine. It gives the whisky a smooth, creamy mouthfeel from its rich and fruity flavour and lingering finish. Delivery is free if you buy the bottle on Amazon, and it's available next day if you're a Prime member. Another appealing bottle with a decent discount is this Caisteal Chamuis blended whisky. It's one for those who like a bold and smoky dram, and aren't so fussy about single malts. Currently it's discounted down from its £38.50 price to £32.71, if you manage to catch the 15% discount in time. Raise a glass to Dad with these standout whisky picks 🥃 If you're buying for a whisky-loving dad this Father's Day, a well-chosen bottle can go a long way. Retailers like Master of Malt, The Whisky Exchange, and The Whisky Shop have all launched seasonal offers across single malts, small-batch blends and collectible gift editions. Whether you're after something peaty, sherried or smooth and sweet, there's a dram to suit every taste — and budget. Some retailers also offer personalised engraving, gift wrapping or limited-time bundles — ideal if you're sending a gift direct. Just bear in mind that delivery cut-offs for Father's Day tend to fall midweek, so don't leave it too late. ⏳ Need ideas? Look out for Glenfarclas, Aberfeldy, Clynelish or Talisker expressions, which are frequently discounted this time of year and rarely disappoint.
Scotsman
09-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Save nearly £20 on specialist prices by buying this whisky from Amazon
The Tullibardine 225 Sauternes Cask Finish is a bargain on Amazon right now | Amazon This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement. Whisky suppliers have this lovely Tullibardine 225 Sauternes Cask Finish on sale at well over £40 - but there's a much better deal on Amazon Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... This gorgeous single malt whisky could be worth listing for Father's Day gift ideas - because it's an absolute bargain on Amazon right now. Thanks to a limited-time deal knocking 35% off the price, you can get a 70cl bottle with a presentation box for just £29.99. And, if you shop around, you'll soon see why that's a fantastic price. For example, major whisky purveyors Master of Malt has the identical bottle listed for £43.40 plus delivery, and Threshers has it on for £45 plus delivery. Look out for notes of citrusy lime and creamy vanilla on the nose | Amazon So it's a genuinely premium Scotch for not a lot of money. And it really would make a stunning gift. The Tullibardine 225 Sauternes Cask Finish is bottled at 43% and has vibrant tropical flavours of pineapple and zesty orange, adding a rich, fruity complexity, afforded to it by the maturation process, in 225-litre French Sauternes casks that previously held sweet dessert wine. It gives the whisky a smooth, creamy mouthfeel from its rich and fruity flavour and lingering finish. Delivery is free if you buy the bottle on Amazon, and it's available next day if you're a Prime member. Another appealing bottle with a decent discount is this Caisteal Chamuis blended whisky. It's one for those who like a bold and smoky dram, and aren't so fussy about single malts. Currently it's discounted down from its £38.50 price to £32.71, if you manage to catch the 15% discount in time. Where will you land? Wowcher's £199 beach holiday could take you to the Maldives (aff) Not sure where to go on holiday? A new deal from Wowcher could make the decision for you – and potentially save you hundreds. The Mystery Beach Holiday offer includes return flights and hotel accommodation for just £199 per person. You won't know the destination until closer to departure, but options include the Maldives, Mauritius, St. Lucia and several other popular sunshine spots. It's a gamble, but for the price, many see it as a fun and affordable way to book a last-minute escape. Plus, the package covers everything major – you just turn up at the airport.
Irish Times
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Wine with ice cream? It's all the rage and works way better than you think
The short answer is: yes, of course you can. You should always feel free to drink wine any way you please. Now pairing wine with ice cream seems to be a growing trend on social media. It's a Gen Z thing apparently. TikTok and Instagram are going crazy with people mixing ice cream with wine in the same glass. Does a red wine milkshake sound appealing? Or a 'float' of white ice cream in a glass of Chablis? Apparently, it started with Folderol, an establishment in Paris that sells scoops of ice cream in vintage metal coupes alongside natural wine. With an eclectic range of oolong tea, carrot cake, fig hibiscus or spicy melon, the choice of ice cream seems endless. Now ice cream parlour and wine bars are popping up in London and New York. I am very fond of both ice cream and wine, but rarely enjoy the two together. Ice cream is sweet and wine is usually dry, so surely the two won't mix? I do like wine sorbets, but they don't contain cream. READ MORE Most wine drinkers will automatically pair a dessert of any kind with a sweet wine of some sort; Sauternes with fruit tarts, Port with chocolate desserts. There is a traditional wine and ice cream mix of very sweet Pedro Ximénez sherry with vanilla ice cream – a delicious hedonistic mix of cream, raisins, figs and dates. I bought a half a dozen tubs of ice cream and conducted my own experiments. The best matches did involve sweet wines, although there were a few nice surprises with red wines. If you want to try mixing red wine with ice cream, I would suggest a merlot or pinot noir, both of which have lighter tannins. My red wine went best with a raspberry ice cream. My four favourite matches were as follows: Sauternes with Supervalu Signature Passion Fruit Ice Cream. I suspect that any fruit ice cream would go well with Sauternes, Moscato d'Asti, or an off-dry Riesling. PX Sherry with vanilla ice cream was excellent; Chocolate Fudge Brownie was nice but not as good as the vanilla. Tawny Port went really well with the Chocolate Fudge Brownie and Ben & Jerry's Brookies too. Raspberry ice cream with a light, ripe pinot noir. Lastly, my siblings swear by vanilla ice cream with a small dose of whiskey and freshly ground pepper.
