Sweet Bordeaux Wines (Sauternes, Barsac)

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$25 and $50 (3)
$50 and $100 (1)
Over $100 (1)

2009 (2)
2006 (1)
2005 (1)
1990 (1)

750ml (4)
375ml (1)

95 and up (3)
90-94 (2)

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Farther south still from Graves is Sauternes and a sub-zone thereof, Barsac, from which emerge the most thrilling dessert wines on earth, including the celebrated Chateau d'Yquem, a favorite of both Thomas Jefferson and Russian Czars, as well as well-heeled 21st century collectors. Grapes used are Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle. They derive their lush, sweet, liqueur-like character from a mold, botrytis cinerea (pourriture noble, or "noble rot"), that attacks the grapes late in the growing season, concentrating More

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d'Yquem Sauternes 1990 (314368)

375ml

$274.95

RP 99

WS 95

IWC 94

In stock, 1 available

99 points Robert Parker: "An extraordinary effort, Yquem's 1990 is a rich and fabulously superb, sweet wine. This wine also possesses lots of elegance and finesse. The wine's medium gold color is accompanied by an exceptionally sweet nose of honeyed tropical fruits, peaches, coconut, and apricots. High quality, subtle toasty oak is well-integrated. The wine is massive on the palate, with layers of intensely ripe botrytis-tinged, exceptionally sweet fruit. Surprisingly well-integrated acidity, and a seamless, full-bodied power and richness have created a wine of remarkable harmony and purity. Certainly it is one of the richest Yquems I have ever tasted, with 50-100 years of potential longevity. An awesome Yquem! Anticipated maturity: 2003-2050+. (Apr 1999)"

95 points Wine Spectator: "Truly superb. Yellow with a gold hue. Intense spice, honey and dried orange peel aromas.Full-bodied, very sweet and very alive. Vibrant Sauternes that goes on and on on the palate. Doesn't get much better than this. Beautiful now,but wait.--1990 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2010. (8/31/00)"

94 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Full-blown aromas of caramel, toffee, honey, white chocolate and damp earth; slightly Tokaj-like. Hugely concentrated and layered in the mouth; extraordinary sweetness cut by harmonious acidity. As with the best vintages of Yquem, the finish goes on for a minute or more. Stains, and stuns, the palate. A huge wine, surprisingly extravagant on the nose (earlier bottles have been far more restrained) but completely unevolved and a bit musclebound on the palate. May ultimately merit a higher score. (Jul/Aug 1998)"

4-5 stars Michael Broadbent's Pocket Vintage Wine Companion: "Bottled in 1994. The biggest crop since 1893. Most recently, at Yquem: bright amber-gold with orange highlights; sweet, rich, orange blossom fragrance becoming increasingly caramelly; medium-sweet, rich texture, nutty flavour though lacking the opulence and rich sensuality of the '89. Long life. Last tasted Aug 2006."

Doisy-Védrines Barsac 2005 (114532)

750ml

$34.95

WS 93

BD 93

JG 92

In stock, 12+ available

93 points Wine Spectator: "Intense aromas of honey, dried pineapple and botrytis spice. Full-bodied, very sweet and very powerful, with loads of dried fruit and sweetness on the finish. Lots of clove and orange peel. Same quality as the 2001. Best after 2013. (3/31/08)"

93 points Bettane & Desseauve's Guide to the Wines of France: "(Sweet White; 2015 up to 2025). Very diverse aromatics, a classic foundation of apricot and yellow fruit, beautiful acidity. A long, fresh, very well made wine. (2011)"

92 points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "The 2005 Doisy-Védrines was a very pleasant surprise, as I do not taste the wines from this property with anywhere near the frequency that I should, and both vintages that I was served at this tasting were excellent. The 2005 Doisy-Védrines offers up a complex, floral and very stylish nose of pear, orange, intense acacia blossoms, a touch of pastry cream, lovely soil tones and vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, deep, young and impressively complex right out of the blocks, with a fine core of fruit, lovely balance and impressive length and grip on the finish. Based on this excellent wine and the fine showing of the 2002 at this same tasting, Doisy-Védrines is a property that I need to pay a lot more attention to in the future. An excellent example of the vintage. 2015-2050. (Sep/Oct 2009)"

Nairac Barsac 2006 (317086)

750ml

$39.95

IWC 91

RP 90

WS 90

In stock, 12+ available

List $50.00

91 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Pale orange-gold. High-pitched aromas of orange blossom, pineapple, pink grapefruit, peach, honey, marzipan and spices offer lovely musky lift. Racy and delineated, with excellent intensity to the juicy flavors of pineapple, peach and spices; this boasts an excellent tight core of fruit. Quite sweet but wonderfully juicy, and not at all an unctuous style. This very shapely, energetic wine is one of the liveliest 2006s I've tasted to date. (Jun 2009)"

90 points Robert Parker: "[$50 list] Medium gold with an impressive nose of creme brulee, smoky oak, caramelized pineapples and other tropical fruits, this wine is relatively big, impressively built, and long and rich in the mouth. It is quite sweet, but the acidity is there, as is the structure. This should obviously age for 25 or more years. (Feb 2009)"

90 points Wine Spectator: "Aromas of lemon curd, honey and licorice follow through to a full body, with medium sweetness and a subtle, racy, spicy finish. Best after 2011. (2009)"

Rabaud-Promis Sauternes 2009 (313169)

750ml

$43.95

WA 94–96

WE 94–96

IWC 91–94

In stock, 12+ available

94-96 points Neal Martin (Wine Advocate): "This is initially very muted on the nose, but it unfurls seductively with subtle, perfumed aromas of lime leaf, white peach, fresh apricot and touches of white flowers: very pretty and well defined. The palate is beautifully balanced, so pure and succinct with wonderful precision towards the vibrant, white peach and apricot finish. This is a wonderful Sauternes and one of their best wines in recent years. (Apr 2010)"

94-96 points Wine Enthusiast: "Great acidity here, but allied with considerable richness, there are flavors of orange marmalade, spicy tannins, a complex structure of very fresh fruits and dry botrytis. (Aug 2010)"

91-94 points Ian D'Agata (International Wine Cellar): "(80% semillon and 20% sauvignon; 13.7% alcohol; 138 g/l residual sugar)) Medium-deep, saturated orange-gold. Vibrant aromas of tangerine, grapefruit, passion fruit, rose water and ripe cantaloupe, with plenty of botrytis character. Enters the mouth juicy and fresh, displaying great depth to its pure flavors of orange, peach, tea leaf, cantaloupe and oatmeal. Very sweet, but with balancing acidity that is positively exhilarating. Finishes with lovely lingering smoky perfume. This is by far the best young Rabaud-Promis I recall tasting. (May 2010)"

90-93 points Wine Spectator: "Sliced pear and apple, with honey and spices. Full-bodied, with apple pie and honey flavors and a pretty finish. (2010)"

4 stars Decanter: "Muted apricot nose, quite oaky. Creamy, with ample mandarin fruit. Balanced. Good length. Drink: 2013-2025. Alc: 13%. (Jul 2012)"

Suduiraut Sauternes 2009 (313170)

750ml

$89.95

WA 96–98

WE 96–98

WS 96

In stock, 4 available

List $100.00

96-98 points Neal Martin (Wine Advocate): "Pale gold colour. The Suduiraut 2009 has a delectable bouquet with wonderful delineation with scents of pineapple, almond paste, lemon curd and Kaffir lime, the new oak still prominent and demanding time to subsume. The palate has a slightly viscous entry with clear honey, nutmeg, mandarin that leads to a thrilling, almost spicy finish. Great length with a rounded, patisserie finish. There is a lot packed into the Suduiraut that is unruly at the moment, but is sure to evolve beautifully in bottle. This is simply a sensational Suduiraut. (Sep 2011)"

96-98 points Wine Enthusiast: "Complex wine, packed with sweetness, apricots and the ripest, smooth honey. A fine wine, beautifully rich and ripe, finished with acidity. A great wine. (Aug 2010)"

96 points Wine Spectator: "[$100 list] This is loaded, with gorgeous papaya, mango, yellow apple and creamed peach flavors carried by salted caramel, toasted coconut and ginger cream notes. Very long on the finish, this just sails on and on. Showing terrific range and depth, this has a long life ahead of it. Best from 2014 through 2035. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. (3/31/12)"

93-96 points Ian D'Agata (International Wine Cellar): "(93% semillon and 7% sauvignon blanc; 14% alcohol; 3.7 g/l total acidity; 160 g/l residual sugar) Bright yellow-gold. Downright spectacular nose displays intense aromas of ripe pineapple, caramelized banana, dried mango, saffron and honey. Then rich, fat and opulent, with an almost decadent sweetness to its flavors of ripe citrus fruit, pineapple, papaya and minerals. Lively acidity gives this large-scaled and rather powerful wine a seamless quality and an almost light touch, and extends the flavors on the long, pure finish. Made from fruit harvested in just four days from September 17 through 20, in three successive tries This 2009 should age extremely well, and your grandchildren may enjoy it as much as you will. (May 2010)"

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