Apricot soufflé and Coteaux du Layon

Why don’t more people make souffls these days? I include myself in that. They’re not that difficult, look so impressive and are such a lovely match for a dessert wine.

This was a pairing we enjoyed at the Auberge de Chassignolles in the Auvergne on our trip back through France last week. A final taste of summer before returning to what is turning out to be a premature, dreary, wet autumn.

The soufflés had a thin layer of fresh apricot purée at the bottom which echoed the rich apricotty tones of the wine, a Domaine des Sablonettes Fleurs d’Erables Coteaux du Layon 2008, a biodynamic wine from the Loire which was more evolved than you'd expect from a conventionally made wine.

To be honest I think any light to medium bodied dessert wine would work reasonably well, especially a Muscat or sweet Bordeaux. It’s a great way to show off a modest wine.