2013 White Bordeaux

The Médoc vineyard from where Aile d’Argent comes from has sandy, gravelly soil and is planted with Sauvignon Blanc or Gris (56%), Semillon (43%) and Muscadelle (1%), with a density of 9,000 vines per hectare. 50% of the wine is matured in new oak barrels. Rich, complex and elegant, Aile d’Argent, despite being produced in very limited quantity, has garnered much acclaim among lovers of Bordeaux white wines.

Beautifully restrained nose of frozen pineapple, Orange Marmalade, hazelnut with a beautiful streak of mineralite on the nose – ozone, wet stone, chalk. No obvious botrytis on the nose. Unctuous and mouth filling on the entry, the richness and textural intensity coats the palate with laser like acidity which gives the intensely ripe pineapple notes and apricot, an ethereal lift across the finish.  Impressive power and persistence. 2020 – 2030+.
Stuart Rae, Private Account Manager

A luscious nose with bitter orange, orchard fruit, pineapple and booze-soaked apricots. Alongside a wave of fully ripe fruits lies a spicy weight with deep scented undertones of honey and dried mushroom. Then vanilla and roasted nuts. An impressive weight in the mouth with a touch more sweetness than I was expecting. The acidity is refreshing and the tropical characters remain prominent with a pleasing, ever so slight bitterness. There is more blood orange, fresh pineapple and roasted nuts, with a nectarine marmalade tang to finish.
Fine Wine team
Honey gold in colour with a glass-coating viscosity, the 2013 Yquem brings excitement and anticipation. Greeted by a graceful bouquet of nectarine, Seville orange, and dried apricot, under laid by scents of sweet ginger and nougat. Gloriously textured, the palate is delightful, a rich enveloping body with concentrated flavours of botrytis fruit, honey glazed peaches and vanillin are perfectly integrated and wrapped up with a cleansing acidity, effortlessly retaining freshness and balance. Incredibly rich, powerful and generous with 150g/l residual sugar, yet the finish is long, clean, and rewarding. Irresistible now, the 2013 d'Yquem is a real success which will evolve for decades, exceptional
Chris Lamb, Private Account Manager

Simply put they don’t come much better than this. Yquem sparked my love for wine and my enthusiasm and taste buds have just been refreshed with this delectable 2013. Supremely elegant and effortless it brings an instant sense of calm and relaxation to ones thoughts. Gentle aromas of soft white fruits are complemented by subtle yet vibrant apricot, delicate oak notes and a generous helping of botrytis. Beautifully silky and unforced, there are notes of dried papaya, pear and pineapple here, all cloaked in a thin sheen of honey and caramel that leaves you in an almost zen like state of well-being. The sweetness is perfectly balanced with a fresh streak that also gives rise to an attractive bite of apricot kernel to the long, flowing finish. It perhaps doesn’t quite reach the heights of the remarkable 2001 but it is certainly not far off. Yquem started my love of wine and this confirms just why it did.
Peter Newton, Private Account Manager

There is lovely weight on the palate here, with a nice fruit profile and satisfying richness. A fairly persistent finish follows, which is rich, soft and quite elegant.

Waxed apple skins, lemon pith and gentle florality combine with a wet stone note to give an enticingly fresh punch to the wine. I love the vitality this offers and the palate adds a full, textured, broad and buttery style where the fruit and oak are balanced by a very focused grapefruit like acidity. This is a big wine with a big crunchy finish that keeps the taste buds tingling long after the wine has gone. Excellent weight and lift have resulted in a standout Ygrec, so Yquem have two great wines to boast about this year. On this evidence 2013 is a must buy vintage for those who like their dry white Bordeaux.
Peter Newton – Private Account Manager


The 2013 Ygrec has a vibrant and complex nose with aromas of nectarine, lemongrass and chamomile. Despite its youth, there is a wealth of fleshy fruit, tropical pineapple and white flower flavours, enhanced by a refreshing acidity with adds a purity to the palate. Perfectly balanced. The subtle smoky musk further enhances the layers and depth of flavour which gently leaves you with a lingering imprint of vivid Sauvignon on your tongue. Although super now, I suspect this will evolve and improve with a further 10 years aging.
Laura Atkinson - Private Account Manager

Generally the dry whites are very charming and easy in 2013, again for early drinking. As with all top vintages, those which excelled, managed to harness and retain beautiful refreshing lift and Domaine de Chevalier have done this with aplomb. Notably higher in Sauvignon Blanc than usual, stylistically this has more punch and intensity on the palate, a broad richness providing charming texture, punchy, exotic, citrus fruits and precise, substantial power on a very long finish. Different to the great 2007 but a beautiful powerhouse that everyone should consider for their cellars, superb.
Jake Dean - Fine Wine Sales Director

Just 40% of production was selected for this wine and Paul Pontallier finds the quantity to be similar to 2011 and 2012, it is just a shame that there is less of it this year. Refreshing, clean and with delicious acidity, it is hard to disagree. Pavillon Blanc benefits from vines over 35-years-old and with minerality, lightness and an abundance of tasty fruit, this is good again in 2013.

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.

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.

An appealing nose is followed by attractive baked fruits on the palate. There is good acidity and generosity here, with a depth of fruit and a satisfying finish to complete the picture.