The 1988 reveals layer upon layer of honeyed pineapple-and orange-scented and -flavored fruit, vibrant acidity, high levels of botrytis, and a fabulously long, yet well-focused finish. It is a great wine. Anticipated maturity:... Read More
For whatever reason, the 1989 is merely outstanding rather than dazzling. Although it lacks the complexity of the 1988, it is a plump, muscular, rich, intense, full-bodied, and sweeter-than-usual Climens. For a 1989, it possesses... Read More
Consistently one of the most profound wines of Barsac/Sauternes, this wine, made from 100% Semillon, is one of the most ravishing examples of just how much elegance can be built into a powerful race horse style of wine. The classic... Read More
Ex-chateau bottle tasted blind in Sauternes. The Climens '03 has always been a capricious Barsac: brilliant out of barrel but found wanting under vertical conditions. Here, amidst a blind horizontal, it fell somewhere between... Read More
Tasted single blind against its peers. Chateau Climens always tends to go into its shell after bottling, which is probably why I was not dishing out an even higher score to this still, spellbinding Barsac. The 2007 is endowed... Read More
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
I tasted two bottles of the Coutet 2001. The first had a distinct, rather pungent aniseed element on the nose and a slight bitterness on the palate. Calling for a second example, this is much more representative. Here is a typical... Read More
Tasted blind at the Sauternes 2011 horizontal tasting. The 2011 Château Coutet has a distinctive but attractive bouquet: clear honey, rosewater, peach and just a touch of barley sugar that pins it down to Barsac. The palate is... Read More
The 2005 de Fargues has just a little more residual sugar than succeeding vintages at 142-grams- per-liter and an alcohol of 13.65%. Picked over five tries from September 27 until exactly one month later, it has a slightly more... 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
Space limitations preclude including tasting notes. 2003 is a rich, sweet vintage of powerful, full-bodied wines that possess huge levels of glycerin, alcohol, and residual sugar. RP
Delivering 12.0% ABV and 200gms residual sugar, Denis Dubourdieu's luxury Barsac, the 2007 L'Extravagant de Doisy-Daene, does not hold back, born with a lucid golden hue with big fat tears (of joy). The bouquet is very... Read More
With 12.2% alcohol and 212 gms residual sugar, the L'Extravagant de Doisy-Daene consists of 50% Sauvignon Blanc and 50% Semillion. It has a very taut, controlled bouquet that (pardon the expression) is less extravagant than... Read More
The 2011 L'Extravagant does not have an explosive nose like other vintages, but one that unfurls in the glass with gorgeous ripe kiwi fruit, dried honey and quince. The palate possesses a ravishing entry with vibrant white... Read More
The 2015 L'Extravagant de Doisy Daene has a powerful, intense but very pure bouquet laden with acacia honey, peach and quince, yet very defined and not at all overwhelming - remarkable given the richness locked into this Sauternes.... Read More
There is only a tiny amount of the light gold/green-colored 2001 Doisy-Daene l'Extravagant (primarily Sauvignon Blanc). As the name suggests, it is extravagantly rich as well as very full-bodied with extraordinary purity and... 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
I remember how one-dimensional, diffuse, thick, and alcoholic this wine tasted from cask and immediately after bottling, but it has progressed enormously. The 1990 exhibits a deep golden corn-like color, followed by sensational... Read More
The 2005 Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey offer apricot, fig jam and touch of almond on the focused bouquet, grilled walnut coming through later. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity, quite structured and almost austere in... Read More