2006 Sauternes and Barsac
Posted: Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Sauternes and Barsac
| CHÂTEAU DE FARGUES Sauternes 2006 | 95-100 |
| This is big, powerful and intense, with loads of ripe fruit and spice character. Full-bodied, racy, very sweet and long. Complex, layered and fantastic, showing ginger spice. Really stands out. Excellent. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU D'YQUEM Sauternes 2006 | 95-100 |
| This is very long and intense. Really impressive. Full and very sweet, yet racy and fresh, with spicy botrytis character. Fantastic. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU GUIRAUD Sauternes 2006 | 92-94 |
| Rich and structured, showing honey and spice. Full-bodied, with medium sweetness. Tight, firm and long. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU LAFAURIE-PEYRAGUEY Sauternes 2006 | 92-94 |
| Shows some serious concentration, with lots of subtle honey and spice character. Medium- to full-bodied, with medium sweetness and a medium finish. Broad-shouldered. Well done. Very good example of the vintage. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU RIEUSSEC Sauternes 2006 | 92-94 |
| This is big, rich and long. Still tastes like must. Hard to taste, but should be fantastic. I love the richness and spice. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU SUDUIRAUT Sauternes 2006 | 92-94 |
| A balanced young Sauternes, with pineapple and spice character. Medium- to full-bodied, with good acidity and a long finish. Medium sweet. Very spicy in the end. Pretty. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU LA TOUR BLANCHE Sauternes 2006 | 92-94 |
| Shows excellent richness, with honey and syrup character. Full-bodied. Very sweet, spicy and long. Big and rich, but leaves the palate fresh. An excellent wine. Almost 95-100. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU COUTET Barsac 2006 | 89-91 |
| Shows lemon and lime character, with hints of spice. Medium- to full-bodied and medium sweet, but a little short. Wait and see. Promises more on the nose than it gives on the palate. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU DOISY-VÉDRINES Barsac 2006 | 89-91 |
| Shows a solid core of fruit, with spice, honey, lemon and lime. Full-bodied and medium sweet. Spicy and very minerally. Long and balanced. Almost 92-94. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU DE MALLE Sauternes 2006 | 89-91 |
| Shows fresh pineapple on the nose, with hints of melon. Medium- to full-bodied and medium sweet, with a spicy, honey finish. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU DE MYRAT Sauternes 2006 | 89-91 |
| There's honey and apple character, but this is very limey. Medium-bodied and medium sweet, with tangerine. A lively wine. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU RAYMOND-LAFON Sauternes 2006 | 89-91 |
| Shows lovely balance and elegance, with a full body, medium sweetness and a long, spicy, botrytis aftertaste. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU D'ARCHE Sauternes 2006 | 85-88 |
| Offers maple syrup and honey on the nose and palate, with some spice. Medium-bodied, with medium sweetness and a round, creamy finish. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU CAILLOU Sauternes 2006 | 85-88 |
| Offers some rich apple pie and cream character, with a hint of spiciness. Medium-bodied and lightly sweet, but a little short. A bit flat. —J.S. | |
| CLOS HAUT-PEYRAGUEY Sauternes 2006 | 85-88 |
| Has some good pineapple and spice character. Medium- to full-bodied, with clean fruit and dried pineapple character. A little short. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU DOISY-DAËNE Barsac 2006 | 85-88 |
| Lively and spicy, with tangerine and lemon character. Medium-bodied, with lively acidity and a fruity finish. Balanced, with medium acidity. Almost 89-91. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU LAMOTHE-GUIGNARD Sauternes 2006 | 85-88 |
| The nose is a bit green, with lime and light spice. Medium-bodied and medium sweet, with a simple finish. Wait and see. Not crazy about this. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU NAIRAC Barsac 2006 | 85-88 |
| Displays attractive honey and dried pineapple character. Medium- to full-bodied, with medium sweetness and a spicy finish. Another sample I had was still must. But I think this has potential. Could be 89-91. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU RABAUD-PROMIS Sauternes 2006 | 85-88 |
| Fresh and clean, with lemon and honey character. Medium-bodied, with medium sweetness and a lively finish. Refined and balanced. A little simple. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU DE RAYNE-VIGNEAU Sauternes 2006 | 85-88 |
| Offers some lime and earth character. Medium-bodied, with medium sweetness, but this is slightly disjointed. Short. Not sure about this. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU SIGALAS-RABAUD Sauternes 2006 | 85-88 |
| Lemony and fresh, with hints of dried fruit and spice. Medium-bodied and lightly sweet, with a medium finish. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU BROUSTET Barsac 2006 | 80-84 |
| Spicy and clean, with apple and papier-mâché. Medium- to full-bodied, with medium sweetness. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU FILHOT Sauternes 2006 | 80-84 |
| Not completely clean. Shows some papier-mâché, with dried apple and honey character. Short. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU SUAU Barsac 2006 | 80-84 |
| Medium-bodied, with light sweetness and honey and spice character, turning to bitter lemon. A bit green. Almost tannic. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU LAVILLE HAUT BRION Pessac-Léognan White 2006 | 95-100 |
| Very racy and exciting, with pineapple, honey and vanilla character and loads of grapefruit and mineral. This could be one of the best young Lavilles I have had in a while. A lot of work was done selecting the best grapes because of rot, but this came out wonderfully. About a quarter of the grapes were selected out at harvest. 86 percent Semillon, 14 percent Sauvignon. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU HAUT-BRION Pessac-Léognan White 2006 | 92-94 |
| Shows some lovely honey and apple character, with green apple, melon and mineral. Almost spicy. Full and lively, with a long finish. Very pretty already. —J.S. | |
| PAVILLON BLANC DU CHÂTEAU MARGAUX Margaux 2006 | 92-94 |
| Shows lovely lemon and pineapple character, with hints of lime. Full and rich, with lively acidity and a long finish. Half the harvest was lost to frost, so there was a very small yield of 12 hectoliters, instead of the average 25. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU SMITH-HAUT-LAFITTE Pessac-Léognan White 2006 | 92-94 |
| Rich, round and layered, with good acidity, but also lots of ripe fruit, from honey to pineapple. —J.S. | |
| Y D'YQUEM Bordeaux White 2005 | 92-94 |
| Has lovely vanilla and tropical fruit character. Full, rich and long, yet elegant and racy, with dried pineapple and white peach. Gorgeous. This is two-thirds Sauvignon and one-third Semillon. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU CANTELYS Pessac-Léognan White 2006 | 89-91 |
| Offers lovely richness. Full-bodied, with lots of fruit, bright acidity and a long finish. Solid. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU LES CHARMES-GODARD Côtes de Francs White 2006 | 89-91 |
| Full and fruity, with pineapple and lots of lemon and honey character. Has good acidity. 70 percent Semillon, 26 percent Sauvignon Gris and 4 percent Muscadelle. —J.S. | |
| DOMAINE DE CHEVALIER Pessac-Léognan White 2006 | 89-91 |
| Displays excellent concentration and length of lemon, mineral and lime character. Full-bodied, with bright acidity. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU DE FIEUZAL Pessac-Léognan White 2006 | 89-91 |
| Has very serious concentration, with lots of ripe fruit, citrusy acidity and a long finish. Plenty going on. Shows improvement. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU LARRIVET-HAUT-BRION Pessac-Léognan White 2006 | 89-91 |
| Round and fruity, with good pineapple and honey character. Medium- to full-bodied, with a rich finish. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU MONBOUSQUET St.-Emilion White 2006 | 89-91 |
| Very fresh and fruity, with lovely grapefruit and lemon character. Full-bodied, with a bright finish. This is two-thirds Sauvignon Blanc and one-third Sauvignon Gris. Why drink Loire? —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU BARET Pessac-Léognan White 2006 | 85-88 |
| Fresh and lively, with lots of celery and lemon-lime character. Medium-bodied, with citrusy acidity and a medium finish. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU BROWN Pessac-Léognan White 2006 | 85-88 |
| Medium-bodied, with pineapple and mango character. Subtle yet rich, with lively acidity. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU CARBONNIEUX Pessac-Léognan White 2006 | 85-88 |
| Light, clean and fruity, with apple and honey character. Very lemony. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU DE CHANTEGRIVE Graves White Cuvée Caroline 2006 | 85-88 |
| Fruity and spicy, with dried pineapple and peach character. Medium-bodied, with a good finish. This could turn out very, very good. —J.S. | |
| CLOS NARDIAN Bordeaux White 2006 | 85-88 |
| Offers good lemon and apple fruit. Medium-bodied, with bright acidity and a medium finish. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU GRAND VILLAGE Bordeaux White 2006 | 85-88 |
| Simple and fresh, with lemon and apple character. Medium-bodied, with a light finish. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU LATOUR MARTILLAC Pessac-Léognan White 2006 | 85-88 |
| A bit tart, but with some good lemon and lime character. Medium-bodied, with a bright, fruity finish. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU MALARTIC-LAGRAVIÈRE Pessac-Léognan White 2006 | 85-88 |
| A tangy white, with slightly tart acidity, but also some very good lemon and honey character. A little simple. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU MONT-PÉRAT Premières Côtes de Bordeaux White 2006 | 85-88 |
| Simple and fruity, showing honey and apple character, with a hint of vanilla. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU OLIVIER Pessac-Léognan White 2006 | 85-88 |
| Medium-bodied, with honey and lemony character and tart acidity. Wait and see how this comes around. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU RAUZAN-DESPAGNE Bordeaux White 2006 | 85-88 |
| Lively, with honey and lemon peel character. Medium-bodied, with a clean finish. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU TOUR DE MIRAMBEAU Bordeaux White 2006 | 85-88 |
| Rich for the appellation, with lemon, lime and apple pie. Full and balanced. —J.S. | |
| BLANC DE VALANDRAUD Bordeaux No. 1 2006 | 80-84 |
| Tart, with lime and sliced apple character. Hard to get excited about. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU DE FONTENILLE Bordeaux White Cuvée Surréaliste 2006 | 80-84 |
| Thick and rich, but a little dumb. Full-bodied. Disjointed. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU DE FONTENILLE Entre-Deux-Mers White 2006 | 80-84 |
| A simple white, with a lot of celery and lime character. Medium-bodied, with a light finish. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU DE L'HOSPITAL Graves White 2006 | 80-84 |
| Medium-bodied, with some honey and pineapple, but a little tangy. Short. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU LOUDENNE Bordeaux White 2006 | 80-84 |
| Thick and simple, with pineapple and lemon peel character. —J.S. | |
| CHÂTEAU DE ROUILLAC Pessac-Léognan White 2006 | 80-84 |
| Very lively and a little tart. Full-bodied, with pineapple and honey. Short. —J.S. | |
Wines tasted as barrel samples are rated, like bottled wines, on Wine Spectator's 100-point scale, but unlike a bottled wine, which receives a single numerical score, a barrel sample is assigned a score range that reflects the taster's evaluation of the wine's potential for the future, after bottling.
Definition of score ranges: