Barsac
Barsac is one of the communes of the Sauternes appellation. With marginally flatter land and soils of red sand and light gravels, it adjoins the northern boundary of the commune of Sauternes. There are just over 800 hectares under vine, producing nearly two million bottles in an average year. Stylistically the wines are arguably a little lighter in style than those of Sauternes.
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Ready, but will improve,
Ready, but will improve,
Corinne Biarnes has recently taken control of this seven-hectare property, which was established by her father in the early 1960s, but subsequently leased to another grower. As they are throughout the appellation, the grapes here are rendered sweet by “noble rot” or botrytis – a phenomenon which is surely one of the wonders of the wine world.
Light gold in colour, this offers aromas of honey and lemon confit. The palate is rich and textured, but with greater freshness and vivacity than many a Sauternes – meaning this is a great option as an apéritif, as well as a classic dessert wine. Drink now to 2025.
For laying down,
One of the largest Barsac properties, Coutet is a charming wine and always offers value for money. The 2016 has a sweet attack on the nose, with a floral, delicate character on the palate which gives way to a note of honeyed, white flowers and some freshness. Good to very good.
Blend: Sémillon 75%, Sauvignon Blanc 23%, Muscadelle 2%
Blend: Sémillon 75%, Sauvignon Blanc 23%, Muscadelle 2%
Chateau Doisy Daene,
For laying down,
A 100% Sauvignon Blanc! ‘It was the first time we ever dared to do it,’ said Denis Dubourdieu. Elegant if reticent nose of lemon jelly, melon and saffron. Extremely rich and concentrated on the palate with a viscous mouthfeel and pure, fresh citrus and sweet spice flavours. Three barriques only were made, with roughly 204g/l residual sugar and 9g/l total acidity. Excellent and racy but lacks the weight provided by Semillon.
Drink: 2020-2040
Ian D’Agata - decanter.com
Drink: 2020-2040
Ian D’Agata - decanter.com
Chateau Doisy Daene,
For laying down,
Very lemony and floral, with precise, delicate aromas and flavours of citrus and saffron. A gentle wine – almost dainty in fact – and very pure, with lipsmacking acidity. Denis Dubourdieu said he won’t likely keep this in barrique for longer than 12 months.
Drink: 2020-2035
Ian D’Agata - decanter.com
Drink: 2020-2035
Ian D’Agata - decanter.com
For laying down,
Very rich, deep aromas of lemon verbena, peach, cinnamon; enticing. Rich, dense and suave palate, with a honeyed richness to the spicy, fresh citrus and apple jelly flavours. A large-scaled Coutet showcasing a hint of passerillage (dried grapes). Outstanding, but I prefer the 2014.
Drink: 2020-2035
Ian D’Agata - decanter.com
Drink: 2020-2035
Ian D’Agata - decanter.com
Chateau Doisy-Vedrines,
Ready, but will improve,
Ch. Doisy-Védrines is one on the most consistent wine properties in Sauternes, delivering near-perfect liquid gold year-in, year-out. What I love about this property is the freshness they give to the wines, which makes them approachable very early on, but also builds the backbone for very long-term ageing. 2010 is no exception to this; it is very fresh on the approach with lovely tropical fruits, apricots, and gorgeous long and precise sweet finish. It is in my top three Sauternes this year.
Max Lalondrelle, Bordeaux Wine Buyer
Max Lalondrelle, Bordeaux Wine Buyer
Chateau Doisy Daene,
Ready, but will improve,
Nothing better than a fresh glass of Sauternes!! Every time I have one I just think “why do I not have this more often!!”. Following from great 2001-2005-2009-2010 the 2011 is yet again a very strong Sauternes vintage and Doisy Daene is one of the best when it comes to the combination of both elegance and freshness. Although sweet it is one of these wines that drinks effortlessly. Lovely perfumed sweet nose, pineapples and peach. A touch sweeter than usual for this wine but extremely well balanced and lovely fresh elegant long finish.
Max Lalondrelle, Berrys’ Fine Wine Buying Director
Max Lalondrelle, Berrys’ Fine Wine Buying Director
Chateau Climens,
For laying down,
As usual the assemblage of Climens will not be finalised until close to bottling. The 2014 will be almost 100% Grand Vin and was picked between 25th September and 27th October in 6 distinct lots, ranging from 109g/l to 168g/l of residual sugar at a yield of approximately 6.5hl/ha. It is likely that the final blend will weigh in at around 14.5% alc, 146g/l residual sugar, resembling 2001 and 2007 but with better freshness. In general the lots showed the hallmark elegance and balance of Climens, in combination with beautifully rich tropical fruit, spice and a lovely minerality. The structure here crafts a wine that will give pleasure for well over half a century and a finish that goes on and on. An world class sweet wine by Berenice Lurton! Approximately 1,250 cases will be produced.
Gareth Birchley, Fine Wine Buyer (Asia)
Gareth Birchley, Fine Wine Buyer (Asia)
Chateau Doisy-Vedrines,
For laying down,
On the nose 2014 Ch. Doisy Vedrines shows more yellow fruit and citric characters than some of their brethren, fresh apricot and lively lemon really leap on you. There is great interplay here between the fruit and oak; oak which is more subtle than just wood character, more custard and opulent creaminess cosseting the palate. The acidity, so important in Barsac, is very well rooted, almost seamlessly part of the wine's structure. The finish is tangy, fresh and lively.
Gary Owen, Private Account Manager
Gary Owen, Private Account Manager
Chateau Climens,
Ready, but will improve,
Picked in just two tries, 90% picked in one trie, tasting through 13 separate lots, the core components of a great Climens appear to be in place. Paying particular attention to the lots that constitute a large percentage of the blend (usually around 15%) the common themes are ones of great purity, persistency and precision.
The aromatics display pure honey, minerals, occasionally a faint scent of spearmint and white peach, most with spellbinding precision. On the palate, Berenice Lurton has some stupendous lots at her disposal, with ample botrytis, ethereal definition, one or two more powerful, quite spicy lots and others that are shorter and will undoubtedly lend the blend an acidic cut. It will be a joy to taste this after bottling.
Neal Martin - Wine Advocate - April 2010
The aromatics display pure honey, minerals, occasionally a faint scent of spearmint and white peach, most with spellbinding precision. On the palate, Berenice Lurton has some stupendous lots at her disposal, with ample botrytis, ethereal definition, one or two more powerful, quite spicy lots and others that are shorter and will undoubtedly lend the blend an acidic cut. It will be a joy to taste this after bottling.
Neal Martin - Wine Advocate - April 2010
Chateau Doisy-Vedrines,
Ready, but will keep,
Ripe, sweet and very well-balanced, the 2009 Doisy-Védrines has wonderfully intense orange marmalade and honeysuckle notes, partly as a result of the high concentration of botrytis that develops on the very old vines of this estate. The fruit was picked over five separate days in the vineyard, resulting in a clean, pure wine of great poise with a long, honeyed finish.
Chateau Doisy-Vedrines,
Ready, but will keep,
Anybody who has tasted the sensational 1989 Doisy-Védrines will want to snap up the equally good 2007 in an instant. As well as being one of the sweetest wines of the vintage it is exceptionally elegant and well-balanced. The nose is marked by intense, icy-cool tropical citrus while the rich yet fresh palate has wonderfully pure, sweet creamy pineapple fruit, plenty of botrytis and fine balancing acidity. The finish is incredibly long and precise. Made from 95% Sémillon and 5% Sauvignon Blanc, this is a magically sensual Sauternes at an outstanding price.
Chateau Climens,
Ready, but will improve,
This is a jaw-droppingly good Climens that may just turn out to be the best they have ever made. With 100% Sémillon and, as ever, the epitome of delicacy, finesse and complexity, it is utterly sensational - possibly even better than d'Yquem itself. It has amazing depth and richness yet remains wonderfully vibrant, leaving magical flavours of sweet orange blossom in the mouth. Owner Bérénice Lurton has produced some fabulous wines from this celebrated Barsac estate in recent years but her 2007 is truly sublime. Buy as much of this as you can.
Chateau Climens,
For laying down,
In 2013 only 2500 cases will be made (half the production of the last few abundant years and a fraction of the production of Ch. d’Yquem), but the final blend is not decided until early summer. Each barrel shows its individual character, but all had in common an energy, focus, persistence, depth and precision that makes this one of the wines of the vintage. The ethereal quality that I consider the hallmark of a great Climens was already noticeable as was an intense perfumed fragrance, which is the hallmark of the 2013 vintage. 2013 Climens is a jewel in the making and though its subtle elegance will make this approachable young, it has decades of ageing and evolving ahead.
For laying down,
Ch. Coutet is one of the largest Barsac properties and has been owned by the Baly family since 1977. Classified as a Sauternes Premier Cru Classé, Coutetis located in the south of the appellation. The wines are aromatically complex and lusciously concentrated.
Ch. Coutet is really pretty in 2013. It is rather light and more floral than many from this vintage and shows lots of engaging acidity. Focused, showing signs of dried apricots and even a little mango, this is very tasty wine indeed.
Ch. Coutet is really pretty in 2013. It is rather light and more floral than many from this vintage and shows lots of engaging acidity. Focused, showing signs of dried apricots and even a little mango, this is very tasty wine indeed.
Chateau Doisy-Vedrines,
Drink now,
Nestling in the commune of Barsac, this tropical, honeyed, exotic Sauternes has performed in line with the rest of the Castja portfolio in 2003; that is to say excellently. The 2003 Sauternes in general have been overshadowed by the reds but in contrast to 2000, 2003 is a great year for these intensely sweet whites, with the best, like this wine, rivaling the wonderful 2001s. Drink 2008-2030.
Ready, but will keep,
This is another mouthwateringly good effort from Ch. Coutet. One of the classics of the region Coutet has once again provided a model of elegance and balance and style in 2005. Discreet and stylish, the fine pale colour and graceful, aromatic floral bouquet are supported by a beautifully harmonious palate of pure sweet citrus, peach and honeysuckle. As with the finest red wines of the vintage, the class really shows on the finish, which is intense, complex and exceptionally long. A wonderful Sauternes for the true connoisseur.
Chateau Doisy-Vedrines,
Ready, but will keep,
This delightful golden sweetie will provide the perfect pairing to sweet puddings such as Tarte Tatin and blue cheeses like Roquefort. The Chevaliers de Védrines who owned this property for centuries (until 1840) would be proud of the job that the Castéja family have done here. Doisy-Védrines is one of the stars of the 2005 vintage for its sublime elegance, richness and finesse. A terrific, fine, perfumed nose with a lifting touch of botrytis acts as the impressive entrée for a wonderfully pure Sauternes of extraordinary length. The wine is like an immaculately tailored suit on a perfectly formed body. This is highly reminiscent of their truly exceptional 1989.
Max Lalondrelle, Wine Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd