Sauternes-Poached Apricots with Fresh Berries and Vanilla Crème Fraîche

Ingredients

• 12  apricots 
• 1.5 cups blueberries fresh
• 0.5 cup commercial crème fraîche 
• 1.5 cups raspberries fresh
• 0.1 teaspoon salt 
• 1 Dash salt 
• 1 tablespoon sugar 
• 2 cups sugar 
• 12 inch vanilla beans split
• 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• 1.3 cups water 
• 1.8 cups sauternes sweet
• 8 servings cr[special_char 
• 8 servings cr[special_char 

Equipment

• sauce pan
• slotted spoon

Directions

1. To prepare the apricots, combine the first 4 ingredients in a large saucepan. Scrape seeds from vanilla beans; add seeds and beans to wine mixture. Bring to a boil; add apricots. Reduce heat, and simmer for 2 minutes.
2. Remove apricots with a slotted spoon. Bring wine mixture to a boil; cook until reduced to 2 1/4 cups (about 20 minutes). Cool to room temperature.
3. Cut the apricots in half; remove pits.
4. Combine the wine mixture and apricot halves in a shallow dish, and discard vanilla beans. Cover and chill 8 hours.
5. To prepare the crme frache, combine commercial crme frache, 1 tablespoon sugar, vanilla, and a dash of salt.
6. Arrange 3 apricot halves, 3 tablespoons blueberries, and 3 tablespoons raspberries onto each of 8 dessert plates.
7. Drizzle each serving with about 2 tablespoons wine mixture; top each with 1 tablespoon crme frache.