Botrytus Cinerea

Botrytus Cinerea – a well known fungus in the agriculture.
This fungus appears in warm and damp areas and attacks the fruits.
Usually with grapes which are close by a river or a lake.
If Botrytus appears at grapes which are not yet ripe the harvest is lost.
This is called “pourriture gris” in France.
If botrytis appears at ripe grapes it is referred to as “pourriture noble” (French)
Edelrot (German/Dutch) or noble rot (English)

Through botrytis the grapes dry and the flavour concentrates.
Especially sweet and sour, which amplify because of this, but stay in balance.
Out of this the wine-grower creates golden, yellow sweet wines.

Best known examples: Sauternes in the Bordeaux, Tokaij in Hungary, Vin de Constance in South-Africa.