Suduiraut 2018

Complex, almost savoury aroma of oak spice, botrytis almond paste and mealy barrel effect. On the palate, intense in flavour, powerful, spicy, more power than seduction.Drink 2025-2038

There’s not much of the 2018 Château Suduiraut to go around but it’s a beautiful wine. Lovely orange blossom, honeyed apricots, white flowers, and subtle spice aromas and flavors all emerge from this full-bodied, decadent Sauternes that has a layered, pure, beautifully balanced profile. With good complexity, terrific balance, and a clean finish, it’s going to shine for 15-20 years.

(100 Semillon) | 50% new oak and 50% one-year-old oak for 16-20 months | 13.8% alc | 125 g/l residual sugar The yield was only 5 hl/ha and half of this went in to the second wine! Botrytis came very late because of the dry season. There is lovely balance and beautiful orange blossom fruit with honey and nougat, too. This is a very attractive wine on the demure and weightless side of the tracks.

The 2018 Suduiraut has a gorgeous bouquet with scents of acacia honey, dried mango, a touch of quince and tangerines, all nicely defined if not quite as compelling as the previous vintage. The palate is viscous on the entry, the fruit very pure and sensual, although perhaps the growing season denied Suduiraut the ability to make a really complex and intellectual Sauternes, despite their best efforts. It is a very refined and classy Suduiraut, though not one that I feel is guaranteed a place amongst the estate's best. 2023 - 2040

This has lots of concentration and mushroom and spice character. Plenty of botrytis. Dense and flavorful finish. Big wine for the vintage. Five hectoliters a hectare and half went into the second wine.