2019 Blanc Sec de Suduiraut
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Tasting notes
52% Sémillon, 48% Sauvignon Blanc picked 4 to 16 September. 25% aged in oak barrels (23% new). Greenish straw colour. Not much nose – a big contrast to the 2020. Marked Sauvignon Blanc grip and acidity on the palate. This builds towards the end but is a bit disappointing on the nose. Was the fruit picked too late? The fruit already seems to be in retreat. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
James Lawther MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
52% Sémillon, 48% Sauvignon Blanc. Fresh, fragrant and juicy with an attractive volume of fruit. Citrus and herb notes. Dry and very drinkable. (JL)
The 2018 Blanc Sec de Suduiraut, the dry white from the famous Sauternes estate, was picked 4-16 September, aged 75% in stainless steel and 25% in barrel (of which 23% was new oak) for 6 months. So already bottled, it offers an attractive orange blossom, Granny Smith apple and dewy meadow bouquet that seeps in tropical notes of passion fruit with aeration, never too prominent. The palate is well balanced with fine weight, a dab of stem ginger and rhubarb on the entry, perhaps needing a little more tension and race towards the finish but not shortchanging anyone on length. Enjoy this slightly chilled over the next 3 to 4 years...or tomorrow if you fancy.
There are two dry whites from this terrific estate. Starting with the 2019 Le Blanc Sec De Suduiraut, it reveals a light gold color as well as clean crisp notes of ripe melon, honeysuckle, and a touch of lemon curd as well as a balanced, medium-bodied, rich yet also fresh style that's going to be incredibly versatile on the dinner table.
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.