2020 Suduiraut
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Tasting notes
With 137 grams per liter of residual sugar, the 2020 Suduiraut possesses an exotic, deep bouquet of litchi, mango, pineapple, peach and ripe orchard fruits. Medium to full-bodied, dense and concentrated with a stunning rôti—the French term for the consequence of noble rot—it’s layered and textured with a fleshy core of fruit and a perfumed finish with notes of curry leaf and ginger, underlined by a gastronomic bitterness. The harvest took place between September 16 and November 5, encompassing one of the longest in the contemporary estate’s history yet yielding a mere 8.5 hectoliters per hectare. This 100% Sémillon was matured for 20 months in 50% new oak barrels and 50% one-year-old barrels and will offer a broad drinking window.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
James Lawther MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
Tasted blind. A hint of nail varnish as well as ripe citrus but not much botrytis character. Simple and sweet, with confit lemon. (JH)
100% Sémillon. Harvested 16 September to 5 November (4 tris). Yield 8.5 hl/ha. Aged 16–20 months in oak barrels (50% new, 50% one year). RS 137 g/l, TA 3.8. Golden hue. Surprising but distinctive lychee/Gewürztraminer fragrance. Touch of well-integrated oak on the palate. Rich, lush and concentrated but with a refreshing line of acidity. Clean, dry, minerally finish. (JL)
On another level, the 2020 Château Suduiraut is flat-out stunning and boasts a phenomenal array of orange blossom, honeyed minerality, lychee nut, caramelized peach, and assorted spices. Rich, full-bodied, and concentrated, it nevertheless has the vintage’s riveting purity and precision. Sauternes doesn't get much better.
About the producer
Among the very best Sauternes estates, Ch. Suduiraut is owned by AXA Millésimes, which also manages Pichon Baron. The team works meticulously to select the finest fruit from its 91 hectares of vines, bordering Yquem. The resulting wines are intensely concentrated, balanced, complex and age-worthy.