Suduiraut 2011

The nose is rich sweet fruited with a lovely mix of candied fruits and apricots. The start of the palate has richness and power the fleshiness balanced by some underlying freshness but it is the sweet fruit that comes through towards the back filling out the finish.

Stylishly oaked with viscous, peach and honeycomb fruit, this is subtle and well balanced with luscious stone fruit flavours, a hint of lemon tartness, good freshness and enough acidity to balance the 150g/l of sweetness. This should develop more gravitas in barrel over the next year as the wine fattens out. 8+ years.

Opulence meets fresh acidity. Unctuous on the palate and heavier than its classic style with 150g per litre of residual sugar, but the firm acidity balances the sweetness well. A powerful wine that will age for decades.

Picked over three tries through the vineyard from September 12 until October 5, the Suduiraut 2011 has 150 grams per liter residual sugar counterbalanced by a pH of 3.7. It has an intense nose, albeit one that takes time to unfurl in the glass, offering attractive notes of citrus lemon, minerals, apricot and quince suffused with great tension. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp, citrus-led fruit mingling with apricot and quince. It has less bravura and ambition than the 2009 or 2010, and you might consider it a Barsac-like Suduiraut due to its racy acidity. It has wonderful focus and satisfying length, and it should drink well both early and with age. Drink 2014-2035.

A Sauternes that grows on the palate with beautiful dried pineapple, honey and spice character. Full and compacted with a dense palate and a sweet palate. 150 grams of residual sugar. Long and very intense with so much going on. Lively. Subtle and changes all the time in the glass.