The 2009 Climens is certainly more expressive on the nose compared to the 2010 Climens with potent honeysuckle, fresh pear and orange blossom that gently unfurl from the glass. Compared to the 2009 Rieussec for example, this is... Read More
Tasted blind at the Sauternes 2011 horizontal tasting. The Château Climens 2011 has one of the most potent aromatics of the flight with expressive honey, fig, barley sugar and grilled almond nose that is reminiscent of Château... Read More
Tasted single blind against its peers. This has a very floral, exuberant bouquet with white peach and grapefruit soaring from the glass. It is very pure and vivacious. The palate is harmonious with what feels like more sucrosity... Read More
The 2009 Coutet has a very intense nose of apricot, papaya, honeysuckle and orange cordial that is very well defined. Interestingly I write the same comment as my appraisal out of barrel in that I would prefer just a little more... Read More
The Chateau Coutet 2010 was a beauty from barrel with its payload of 154gms of residual sugar and sure enough, after a year in bottle it is one of the most compelling sweet wines in the vintage. It shows immense clarity on the... Read More
The Chateau de Fargues 2010 has a fresh and vibrant, well-delineated bouquet with peaches and cream, quince and buttercup on the pretty nose that unfolds in the glass. The palate is taut and linear on the entry with a silver thread... Read More
Tasted as part of a vertical held at the chateau. The 2009 Guiraud has a complex, precocious bouquet with honeysuckle and jasmine notes, hints of dried honey and white peach. It is tightly wound but very precise. The palate is... Read More
Ex-chateau bottle tasted blind in Sauternes. The La Tour Blanche '03 offers yellow flowers, melted candle wax and honey on the nose with Muscat-like aromas developing in the glass. The palate is well-balanced on the entry... Read More
Tasted blind at the Sauternes 2011 horizontal tasting. The Château La Tour Blanche 2011 has a more reticent bouquet compared to its peers: traces of wild honey, Clementine, hints of petrol and tree sap coming through reluctantly... Read More
The 2007 Chateau Nairac is a little pinched on the nose, which is surprising considering the growing season. There are pure honey, guava and quince scents wanting to spring forth, but it does not quite happen and I suspect a couple... Read More
The Rabaud-Promis has a lovely bouquet with hints of dried honey, nutmeg and crème brûlée blossoming in the glass. The palate is well balanced with a viscous opening: a surfeit of botrytis here that vibrant mandarin and dried... Read More
Tasted single blind against its peers. The Rieussec 2007 has a subtle nose of dried honey, pear, a touch of quince and crushed stone on the nose, the oak better integrated than last year. The palate is well-balanced with stem... Read More
Tasted single blind against its peers. The Chateau Rieussec 2008 should become an excellent Sauternes for the vintage. It has a floral bouquet with peach, tinned apricot and a touch of marmalade, all with fine delineation, and... Read More
Tasted blind at the Sauternes 2011 horizontal tasting. The Château Rieussec 2011 transcends its somewhat "middling" performance from barrel and delivers a knockout wine in bottle. For sure, it demonstrates a lot of vanilla from... Read More
The Château Rieussec 2014 is a blend of 93% Semillon, 5% Sauvignon Blanc and 2% Muscadelle, picked from 15 to 29 October through seven tries, the yield half the normal crop at 13 hectoliters per hectare. Charles Chevalier, how... Read More
The 2015 Rieussec, a blend of 86% Semillon and 14% Sauvignon Blanc, was picked over five tries through the vineyard between 9 September and 27 October. "We had a bit of frost towards the end and 10% was harvested afterwards. The... Read More
Pale lemon colored, the 2016 Rieussec comes sashaying out of the glass with a beautiful floral and citrus perfume of orange blossom, pink grapefruit, yuzu, lime leaves, lemongrass and fallen leaves with hints of nutmeg and candied... Read More
A blend of 83% Semillon and 17% Sauvignon Blanc, the 2017 Rieussec is pale to medium lemon-gold colored. To begin, the nose blows you away with intense lemon tart, lime cordial, mango and quince notes followed by a second wave... Read More
The Suduiraut 2001 has an attractive bouquet of honeycomb, passion fruit and a touch of petrol that are well defined, if not as complex as more recent vintages such as the 2009. The palate is well balanced with fine citrus lemon... Read More
Tasted blind at the 10-Year On Tasting in Sauternes. The 2005 Château Suduiraut seemed a little out of sorts at first, although it comes together with honey, barley sugar, orange blossom and mineral scents that become more delineated... Read More
The pale lemon-gold colored 2016 Suduiraut features vibrant lime blossom, candied peel, white peaches, guava and exotic spice notes on the nose with nuances of marzipan and crème brûlée. Rich, layered and powerful in the mouth,... Read More