Wine Cellar

Wine:  Barsac 375ml

The 2008 Chateau Coutet has a very extroverted bouquet, with notes of tangerine, pink grapefruit, guava and pear drop, showing fine definition. The palate is well-balanced, with Coutet’s trademark citrus-driven entry segueing into a pure honeyed, mineral-rich finish that is linear, but very composed at this stage. This will need time, but it already displays that trademark race and tension that are the hallmarks of a great Coutet. Drink now-2040.

Wine:  Sauternes 375ml

Made in a big, up-front, forward style, with loads of glycerin and fat, the 2001 d’Arche reveals elegant aromas of honeysuckle, orange marmalade, honeyed lemon, and a hint of coconut as well as good acidity, medium to full body, and obvious botrytis. Consume it over the next 12-15 years. It is a sleeper of the vintage.

Wine:  Sauternes

Wine:  Sauternes 375ml

The Doisy-Daene is a little withdrawn on the nose, perhaps going through an awkward stage after bottling? The palate has a waxy entry with honeycomb, dried mango and a touch of orange zest, leading to a weighty finish with good persistence and purity. This is an intense, mineral-rich style of Sauternes, one that is well-made and very succinct, but needs more time in bottle. Drink now-2025+

Wine:  Sauternes 375ml

A pale golden hue. A lovely minerally nose of almonds and custard creams. Very soft, plush and perfumed. Touch of chalk dust. The palate is unctuous with a lot of botrytis. Again, that custard creme note comes through mixed with peach, creme fraiche. Not quite as rich as the 1995 but the end is endless. Perhaps not as long-term as other vintages, but certainly a wine that is going to offer a lot of pleasure over the next quarter century. Tasted March 2004

Wine:  Sauternes 375ml

The Yquem 2003 has 145gms/L residual sugar, much higher than the 2002 and 2004 as one might expect given the growing season. The nose does not have the harmony and focus of the 2002 and for this taster lacks a little complexity. A “fat” nose of orange-blossom, acacia honey and tangible botrytis. The palate has a “fatness” and richness to it, but I yearn for a little more acidity. Orange peel, nectarine and peach towards the finish. This Yquem has immediate appeal, but perhaps like the 1990 it will be overtaken by fresher, superior balanced Yquems in the long run? Tasted April 2008.

Wine:  Sauternes 375ml

Somewhat muted floral aromas of jasmine, orange blossom and honeysuckle over candied pineapple. A waft of anise and some cedar. The palate is quite restrained with well balanced sweetness versus medium to high acidity. Very long finish – a mineral character coming through. Tasted August 2009.

Wine:  Sauternes

There is a touch of sulphur on the nose that smudges the aromatics a little, but it clears up nicely after being put to one side for five minutes, with touches of dried pineapple, apricot and beeswax. The palate is well-balanced with a crisp, citrus-driven entry, impressive cohesion, with an attractive honeyed finish that shows great purity. This may warrant a higher appraisal in the future. Drink now-2025.

Wine:  Sauternes 375ml

Somewhat closed aromatically but impressive, this light to medium gold-colored wine offers up a full-bodied, unctuous style in the mouth, with lots of thickness, concentration, and intensity. Honeyed tropical fruit, loads of other fruit, and a hint of spicy oak nuances in a creamy, peachy style are buttressed nicely by good acidity and an almost firm finish. This is young, promising, and should only get better. It has at least two decades of aging potential.

Wine:  Sauternes 375ml

Tasted single blind at Southwold. This Rayne-Vigneau is not quite as compelling as in 2007. It has a comparatively simple nose with hints of marmalade, apple and apricot coming through but lacking some lift. The palate is better, honeyed and quite viscous with nice depth towards the finish. Understated, but do not expect fireworks. I think this is just going through an awkward adolescent patch and will improve. Drink 2012-2020+ Tasted January 2009.

Wine:  Sauternes 375ml

This has a very primal nose, the oak exposed at the moment although there is obviously a great deal of fruit concentration underneath. The palate is well balanced, a little oaky on the entry, dried honey, lemon curd, apricot and orange peel towards the linear finish. Tightly coiled Sauternes, quite modern in style, this should develop over 8-10 years in the bottle before really opening up and one hopes, evolve a little more “personality”. Drink 2011-2025.