| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Sauternes and Barsac |
| Colour | Sweet White |
| Type | Still |
The 2005 Suduiraut is such a classy wine. Crème brûlée, orange marmalade, vanilla bean, mint, apricot, honey, hazelnut and truffle lend a sense of exoticism throughout. The 2005 is unctuous but not heavy. It perhaps lacks the dimension of the very best years, but that in no way detracts from the pleasure it provides. To be perfectly frank, its hard to put the glass down.
Tasted blind at the 10-Year On Tasting in Sauternes. The 2005 Château Suduiraut seemed a little out of sorts at first, although it comes together with honey, barley sugar, orange blossom and mineral scents that become more delineated as its aerates. The palate is very intense on the entry. There is a beautiful line of acidity that cuts through the viscous fruit, though the finish does not quite exude the precision of a top vintage, but still delivers that sense of class one expects from this address. Drink 2019-2050.
With 163 grams per liter of residual sugar, the 2005 Suduiraut exhales a deep, complex bouquet of exotic fruits, pineapple, apricot and spices despite a slight touch of volatile acidity. Medium to full-bodied, rich and concentrated with a stunning "rôti"—the French term for the consequence of noble rot—it’s satiny and chiseled with racy acids and a long, mineral and saline finish underlined by gastronomic bitterness. This splendid Sauternes, a blend of 97% Sémillon and 3% Sauvignon Blanc, was matured for 18 months in oak barrels (65% new and 35% one year) and was harvested in four tries between September 26 and October 17. Drink 2015-2054.
Loads of pear and honey character follow through to a full-bodied palate, with lots of spicy character and a sweet, long finish. Very, very spicy on the finish. Better than 2003, but will it ultimately be better than 2001?
The 2005 Suduiraut resulted from five different pickings. Everything was easy in the vineyard, but the wine struggled to ferment because of its richness. Pale to medium lemon-gold in color, it has a fabulously complex nose of creme caramel, praline, apricot preserves, and apple pie with hints of candied ginger and fallen leaves. Full-bodied and yet wonderfully refreshing, it has loads of savory and stone fruit layers, finishing long and nutty. Drink 2022-2050.
Tasted blind. Lightly cheesy, exciting nose. Great weight on the palate with unctuous texture and reverberation. A tad brûlée. Finishes just a little suddenly. Drink 2015-2035.
Tasted blind in February 2017 in a tasting of all the top Chateaux of Sauternes and Barsac in the 2005 vintage. This sensational Sauternes was voted the outright winner by a panel that included Neal Martin, Jancis Robinson, Steven Spurrier and Bill Blatch. A bright gold colour and a stunningly opulent nose of honey and ripe stone fruits. A huge wine on the palate with great viscosity and depth. Incredible intensitity and packed full of sweet, botrytised raisiny fruit with touches of vanilla, cinnamon and marzipan. Despite the richness there is good balancing acidity that never allows it to feel clumsy. Long lingering finish, today this tasted more like Yquem than Yquem. Superb Sauternes.
Medium yellow-gold. Incredibly sweet aromas of apricot, acacia honey and marzipan. Supersweet, round and fat, but with enough ripe acidity to leaven the wine's huge impression of volume. A powerfully fruit-driven Sauternes with superb depth, but it's almost too rich today. Finishes with palate-staining sweetness and length and surprisingly fresh acidity (I suspect the actual acid number is low). I'd give this 15 years in the cellar. This is carrying a high 165 grams per liter of residual sugar, and the percentage of new oak was raised from a normal 35% to 65% for this vintage, and yet the wine does not come across as woody.
Ripe apricots the nose has depth the start of the palate fleshy richness orange marmalade and a
hint of honey. There is balance underlying tangerine and lime freshness but it fills out at the
back supple fleshy and rich.
Burnished gold colour. Rich and complex with caramel, confit-fruit, currant and spice notes. Rich and full on the palate with just enough tension to hold everything together. Perhaps a glow of alcohol on the finish (curious as the degree is not that high). Punchy and for the long haul. 2014 - 2040.
The improvement here continues unabated. The nose shows a terrific perfume and unctuousness plus great breed. The wine has great concentration and opulent fruit - a glorious wine with a wonderfully honeyed finish. 5 stars
Tasted single blind at Southwold. This is closed on the nose with dried lychee and pineapple, but there is a hefty dose of SO2 here. The palate is much better, very pure botrytized fruit, honey, quince, honeysuckle. Has a refined manner to it. Nice kick on the finish, touch of citrus fruit, dried mango and lovely botrytis. Exudes confidence! Drink 2012-2030+ Tasted January 2009.
Greenish notes in the gold. Dense and nutty on the nose. Very positive palate impact and attack. Layers of flavour – a little note of brûlée but interesting. Very well done. Really zesty acidity as well as neat and satisfying sweetness even if this is far from the sweetest wine of the vintage. Brisk and neat. Drink 2015-28
Fairly pale yellow with a green tinge. Aromas of peach nectar, mirabelle and dusty ginger. Spicy and firm on the palate, with modest complexity to the flavors of candied stone fruits. Not a particularly glyceral style. The dusty ginger notes recurs on the back.
