Diverse ProducenterUrsprungslåda Sauternes 2009

"The Sigalas Rabaud was sensational out of barrel and served blind, the wine does nothing to dispel my initial optimism that this is the apogee for the estate – so far. It is bestowed with an intense bouquet of quince, orange zest and almond with a lighter touch of honey compared to its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with great viscosity. This is an assertive Sauternes that wants to make an impression, although it does not display the complexity or breeding of Yquem and Suduiraut. Still, it is very composed and perhaps is saving something up for later, biding its time as it were. This is a wondrous wine."

"Tasted blind, I (incorrectly) discerned a Barsac inspired bouquet adorned with rich honeyed scents combining with aromas of marmalade and white flowers with continued aeration. It is certainly an intense bouquet that shows impressive clarity. The palate is gorgeous: thickly layered honeyed notes with hints of orange zest, white peach and mandarin. It is a Sauternes full of volume and breeding, maintaining great precision on the finish. It just needs a little more persistency on the aftertaste."

"Consistent notes to the bottle tasted at Southwold several weeks earlier. It has a well-defined bouquet with scents of spice, peach skin, mandarin and a slight marine-like accent that was noticeable on the 2008. The palate is well-balanced with a viscous entry. It has a candied purity with good acidity, although there is still some oak to be resolved on the finish. Give this beauty another two or three years to show what it can really do."

"The 2009 Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey is rich and honeyed on the nose: Manuka honey, mandarin, dried peach and marmalade emerging with aeration and demonstrated great vigor. The palate is medium-bodied with a crisp line of acidity. There is fine tension in the mouth, very focused and pure with tension on the penetrating finish. There is an appealing “attack” on the 2009 and an impressive spicy aftertaste that lingers long after the wine has gone."

"The 2009 La Tour Blanche has a gorgeous, botrytis-rich bouquet with lemon thyme, honey and spice, with just a touch of alcoholic warmth denying it the clarity it deserves. The palate is crisp and taut on the entry with notes of apricot and white peach emerging with a few swirls of the glass. It offers a pleasing viscosity and volume in the mouth, although compared to its barrel showing, it appears to have tightened up more than I expected, possibly a sign that it is a wine in for the long haul."