Lafaurie Peyraguey 2001

This superb, light to medium gold/green-hued Sauternes is a full-bodied, opulent, enormously endowed, moderately sweet offering with plenty of pineapple, peach, caramel, and smoky new oak characteristics. With great viscosity as well as richness, and good underlying acidity providing vibrancy and definition, it should be at its peak between 2008-2030.

The 2001 Lafaurie-Peyraguey has a very refined, elegant bouquet that demonstates more mineralite than the previous vintages: great tension here with marmalade, quince and dried honey scents. The palate is medium-bodied with a viscous opening. The acidity is nicely judged with touches of spice and nutmeg, although the finish is quite linear and does not quite deliver the panache of its peers. Still, this is drinking extremely well now and should continue to give pleasure over the next decade or so. Drink 2014-2035.

The Lafaurie Peyraguey is rather reticent on the nose compared to its peers: touches of barley sugar and butterscotch only gradually unfurling in the glass but never really getting out of fourth gear. The palate is much more convincing. It is well balanced but with a slight bitterness on the entry. It feels just a little pinched though there is pleasant touch of spice on the Barsac-like finish with that hints of saffron on the aftertaste that I noticed back in 2011. Fine. Drink 2014-2030