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B-21 Top Recommendation
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Featured in a range of formats and vintages cellared in perfect conditions, Sauternes fans and those looking to explore them won't need an excuse or special occasion to enjoy this thrilling, top scoring selection from Chateau Suduiraut, boasting fresh, opulent honeyed fruit perfectly balanced by savory acidity, offering a not to be missed opportunity for both collectors and newbies to stock up on at bargain pricing and enjoy over the next decades.
Set among exquisite gardens designed by the creator of the Sun King's grounds at the Palace of Versailles, the majestic two-story turret-flanked Chateau Suduiraut is one of Bordeaux's most beautiful estates, located just to the north of Chateau d'Yquem with 92 hectares of sloping organically farmed vineyards planted with mostly Semillon vines averaging 30 years of age. After harvesting the botrytized grapes over multiple passes with strict selection employed in the vineyard, longtime technical director Pierre Montegut vinified the Chateau Suduiraut Sauternes in French oak, blending mostly Semillon with small amounts of Sauvignon Blanc, then aged it on the lees in 50% new French oak barrels for 18-24 months, yielding its signature perfumed aromas with rich and decadent spiced fruit, balanced with energetic acidity and epic length. Describing it as "a mood altering wine," the 95 pt. 2004 Suduiraut boasts "a range of honeyed flavors that never seems to stop" according to Wine and Spirits, while the Wine Advocate's Robert Parker Jr. declares the 95 pt. 2006 Suduiraut "unctuously textured, with superb, full-bodied richness, good underlying acidity, and a stunning finish." Boasting "a beautiful razor-sharp line of acidity that effortlessly slices through all that pure botrytised fruit," Neal Martin of Vinous calls the 98 pt. 2009 Suduiraut a "benchmark Suduiraut" and declares the 96 pt. 2010 Chateau Suduiraut "simply magnificent" and "a candidate for best Sauternes of the vintage." Vinous critic Antonio Galloni declares the "fabulous" 97 pt. 2016 Suduiraut "such a gorgeous wine," delivering a remarkable combination of flavor and intensity yet remaining "gracious and classy," while the Wine Enthusiast's Roger Voss calls it "a great wine with a long-term future."
Whether selecting a few favorites or mixing a case, these magical vintages of Chateau Suduiraut are crafted to reveal their layered complexity over the next decades, their rich palate deftly balanced by an energizing lift of acidity, guaranteeing a pleasurable evolution for years to come. Christian Seely, AXA's charismatic managing director behind Chateau Suduiraut, describes tasting these elegantly crafted Sauternes well: "It is above all a supremely pleasurable wine, and one that needs no excuse, context or pairing: You can just open it for the sheer pleasure of the thing." Never more true at these exceptional bargain prices. |
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Tasted single blind against its peers. The Chateau de Suduiraut 2008 has a beautiful, dare I say effortless bouquet that blossoms from the glass with scents of lemon curd, white peach, citrus lemon and limestone. It is very precise, armed with a laser-like focus. The palate is viscous and compelling on the entry and it fans out beautifully across the palate with pure botrytized, honeyed fruit. The acidity slices through this Sauternes like a razorblade and the finish is natural and vibrant. This is a sublime sweet wine that deserves a home in every cellar. Tasted January 2012.
94 points, Neal Martin, Wine Advocate (Issue # 199 - Dec 2011)
Bright yellow-gold. Sexy, vibrant, perfumed aromas of orange marmalade, orange oil, minerals and spices, complicated by hints of coconut and golden raisin. A superrich, sweet, moderately glyceral fruit bomb in the mouth, with generous, nobly rotten flavors of apricot, minerals and honey nicely framed by ripe acidity. Very rich and sweet on the plush finish, showing superb intensity but little in the way of phenolic roughness. A beauty in the context of the year.
93 points, Stephen Tanzer, Vinous (May 2010)
Packs power and purity into an unctuous yet sleek frame, with mouthwatering acacia honey, creamed melon, honeysuckle, white peach and green almond notes that drive through the lengthy finish. A serious Sauternes. Drink now through 2024. 2,072 cases made.
92 points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator (Mar 2011)
A layered and pretty Sauternes with dried pineapple, honey and peach character. Full to medium body, bright acidity and a spicy finish. An attractive and more approachable sweet wine. Why wait?
92 points, James Suckling (Jun 2016)
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