| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Sauternes and Barsac |
| Colour | Sweet White |
| Type | Still |
This superb Sauternes property is owned by AXA Millesimes and overseen by Christian Seely who has done such a brilliant job at Quinta do Noval and Pichon Baron.
Just as impressive as it was in barrel, the 2017 Suduiraut is positively dazzling. Pineapple, orange peel, crême brulée, white flowers, honey, apricot and hazelnut are some of the many nuances that develop in the glass. Rich and heady, yet also wonderfully vibrant, the 2017 is developing into a stunning Suduiraut. The 140 grams of residual sugar is very nicely integrated. Only the fruit from the last two picks made it into the Grand Vin. Drink 2025-2047.
The 2017 Suduiraut was picked via three tries, with 75% of the crop picked in the second tries from 4 to 15 October. The harvest finished on 19 October, one of the last in Sauternes and after Yquem. “We were touched by the frost but not in the top terroir,” winemaker Pierre Montegut told me. It is matured in around 50% new oak. It has an expressive, harmonious bouquet with dried honey, white flowers and a touch of gripe water (a children’s medicine for those in the United States. I have been informed there is no equivalent on the other side of the Atlantic). The palate is well balanced with a viscous opening, well judged acidity, plenty of botrytized fruit with a long, lightly spiced finish that feels so fresh and vital. This is a superb Suduiraut from Pierre Montegut and his team. Drink 2023-2050.
Yum. Aromas of orange blossom, lemon curd, dried apricot and cooked pears fill the glass. It’s full-bodied and very sweet, yet tangy and lively from the vibrant acidity. Extremely long on the finish. Better in 2025, but already a joy to taste.
The 2017 Suduiraut, with 150 g/L residual sugar, is pale lemon-gold in color. It needs a little coaxing before releasing a full array of gregarious grapefruit, honeyed peaches, and lemon curd inspired scents, followed by hints of sea spray, lime blossoms, yuzu, and coriander seed. The palate is super-intense, offering tight-knit citrus and stone fruit layers with a racy backbone of freshness and seductive creaminess, finishing with epic length.
Complex aroma ranging from pineapple to rosemary/mint and everything in between. Fat and full in the mouth, fills every corner but draws in to a fresh persistent finish. Lip-smacking. 14%
Drink 2025-2040
A bright gold in the glass, this is extreme on the nose with a thick honey, tinned pineapple and dried fig nose. The palate is intensely sweet and thick, with notes of pure honey and sweet vanilla cream. The viscosity and caramelisation here is impressive, but this needs a little more acidity and complexity (the latter of which should come with age) to reach the higher echelons of Sauternes.
Depth on the nose the fruit is sweet and ripe the palate has honeyed candied peel and ripe apricot richness depth of flavour. Tropical fruits towards the back give a lighter feel but it fills out on the finish with ripe fruit and caramelized peel. Drink 2025-2040.
There was a little frost here, but none of it affected the best plots. This is a vintage with botrytis affecting grapes that were ripe but not overripe and so there was a lot of acidity in the grapes in addition to the botrytis. This brings a peculiar balance and while, in theory, this should make a long-lived wine but in practice it actually changes the balance of the wine and brings freshness to the whole. Lovely!
What a crazy Sauternes. The density and sweetness are amazing, yet at the same time it’s fresh and bright with an inspirational energy and dryness at the end. Phenolic and textured.
The 2017 Suduiraut has a compelling brininess to the nose with a core of lemon curd, lime cordial and green mango with touches of musk perfume and chalk dust. The mouth is very rich and packed with decadent layers, with just enough freshness and great length.
