Sauternes: primeurs 2016

For a long time, the grapes remained healthy, favoring passerillage to the detriment of grey rot. While the first sorting was carried out on passerillé grapes, fortunately the second sorting, the qualitative heart of the Sauternes 2016 version, brings density and perfect liqueur. The result is Sauternes that are more vertical than dense, tense at times, quite distinctive, but of a very high quality. The choice is vast: Climens, of course, but also Doisy-Daëne, Lafaurie-Peyraguey and Guiraud, whose efforts to protect the environment are always appreciated.

Château Filhot - Sauternes - 2016

A slightly earthy nose, with a hint of mushroom too. Moderately dense on the palate, but still earthy notes, especially on the finish. - 12/13

Château Myrat (de) - Sauternes - 2016

Nose of mushroom, damp earth. Medium-dense palate, quite light on the finish, with a short finish. - 12/13

Château Broustet - Sauternes - 2016

Nose of varnish, not very clean. Mouth with a slightly heavy liqueur, short fruitiness, average overall. - 14/15

Château Romer - Sauternes - 2016

Fresh, slightly minty nose. Liqueur not too dense but taut. Freshness with a few hints of mushroom. - 15/16

Château Lamothe Guignard - Sauternes - 2016

Nose of caramelized pear, a little quince, a few touches of pear. Mouth a little heavy, liqueur lacking rectitude, fruit. - 15/16,5

Château Cantegril - Sauternes - 2016

Dynamic nose, peach, very nice pineapple notes. Beautiful liqueur, nice roast, fruity. A very fine Sauternes. - 15/16,5

Château Fargues (de) - Sauternes - 2016

White fruit nose, a little shy. Beautiful balance on the palate, liqueur, movement too. Not very pronounced roast. - 15/17

Château Coutet - Sauternes - 2016

A little artichoke, notes of white fruit, quince. Moderately dense on the palate, certainly fruity with a fresh finish. - 15/17

Château La Tour Blanche - Sauternes - 2016

Fresh, beautiful white fruit. Beautiful liquor, volume and precision with notes of roasted pineapple. Good volume, vibrancy. Less exuberant than usual. - 15/17

Château Arche (d') - Sauternes - 2016

Roasted pineapple, a little fern. Nice delicate liqueur, not much roast but balanced overall. - 16/17

Château Caillou - Sauternes - 2016

A little ferny, slightly iodized, liqueur, elegant roast for a moderately structured palate - 16/17

Château Doisy-Védrines - Sauternes - 2016

Roasted pineapple, a little apricot too. Freshness, medium volume, fine fruit precision. - 16/17

Château Rabaud-Promis - Sauternes - 2016

Lovely roasted nose, pineapple, slightly apricot. Nice ensemble with elegant roast, nice balance. - 16/17

Château Romer du Hayot - Sauternes - 2016

Nose of pear, white fruit with freshness. Beautiful liqueur with precision, freshness and tension. Not massive but elegant. - 16/17

Château Bastor-Lamontagne - Sauternes - 2016

Nose of white fruit, white flowers too. Nice liquor, some exotic notes for a balanced whole, nice density. - 16/17,5

Château Doisy-Daëne - Sauternes - 2016

Fresh, with a hint of pear and apricot. Juicy on the palate, medium-bodied but taut with fruit and length. A fine expression. - 16/17,5

Château Rieussec - Sauternes - 2016

Very fresh, almost minty nose. Liqueur of fine quality, but neither dominant nor heavy. Precise, fruity. A very fine wine. - 16/17,5

Château Sigalas Rabaud - Sauternes - 2016

White fruit and spice on the nose. Tension, beautiful precision. Fresh, moderately structured but precise. - 16/17,5

Clos Haut-Peyraguey - Sauternes - 2016

Roasted pineapple, white fruits, spicy notes. Full on the palate, well in place, volume without losing its freshness. -16/18

Château Malle (de) - Sauternes - 2016

Nose of white flowers, almost lily. Tense, precise mouthfeel with a slightly saffron finish. - 16/18

Château Rayne Vigneau (de) - Sauternes - 2016

Fresh, well-established nose with notes of apricot and spices. Density, beautiful liquor for a more than successful whole. Superb.

- 16/18

Château Suau - Sauternes - 2016

Fresh nose, white flowers, white fruit too. Well-positioned, balanced palate, volume and real precision. Spicy finish. - 16/18

Château Suduiraut - Sauternes - 2016

A little saffron, spicy, nice vibrancy on the nose. Quince too. Beautiful liqueur, volume, precision for a fresh whole, not tense but dense for the vintage. - 16/18

Château Guiraud - Sauternes - 2016

Fresh, a little mentholated. Nice balance, density too, real purity in the mouthfeel. A beautiful whole. - 17/18

Château Raymond-Lafon - Sauternes - 2016

Beautifully roasted, elegant fruit, hints of pineapple, saffron. Superb mouthfeel, beautiful liquor, vivacity with an airy, magnificent finish. A great Raymond-Lafon - 17/18

Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey - Sauternes - 2016

A nose that's drier than sweet, but elegant and delicious. Freshness, a certain tension with good volume, appreciable liqueur. - 17/18,5

Château Yquem (d') - Sauternes - 2016

White fruit and flowers. Very subtle. Tension, beautiful purity with notes of white fruit on the finish. A beautiful liqueur, not the most complex but certainly one of the raciest. - 17/19

Château Doisy-Daëne L'Extravagant - Sauternes - 2016

Very floral nose, white fruits, complex, racy. Fleshy, dense palate, real complexity, very fine liquor with a chalky and above all airy finish (a little quince too). One of the most subtle and precise. - 18/19,5