BORDEAUX 2013 : THE OUTCOME (2)

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Happy reading! _____________________________________________________________ Sauternes Barsac – the best outcomes in 2013! 32 wines Report 2 (10 April 2014) In 2013, a very dry August made us fear that conditions would not be right for the formation of noble rot. 10 to 15 mm of rainfall on the 7th and 14th of September, followed by warm, humid weather put things to rights. With the warmth between the 20th and the 26th of September came the concentration within the fruit and the pickers began their passes. At the beginning of October, 40 mm of rain fell between the 3rd and the 5th and the temperatures grew colder. On the best estates, the harvesting stopped. After the rain on the 12th of October came 2 weeks of Indian summer, when the warmth concentrated the remaining grapes that had been left for a final pass. As a result, the 2013’s are often wines with a lot of residual sugar – between 120 and 140 g/litre – and an airy texture from the noble rot. On the nose they are pure, but not very complex. During the harvest, I saw noble rot, but I also saw a lot of grapes picked at the “full rotted” stage before the lovely concentration of the “candied rotted” condition was achieved. Sauternes wines appear round on the mid-palate, but not very long. I find the way the Barsacs have been made more exact with greater length on the finish generated by a lively hint of lime, one of their tell-tale characteristics. All the wines are flavoursome and devoid of any heaviness. They will be drunk young, but they could be kept for 20 to 30 years. About vocabulary Noble rot in sweet white wines can be detected through precise sensations around the wine’s texture and its aromas. These lead to the use of vocabulary, which is equally noble, precise and very positive with adjectives such as “caressing”, “silky”, “melting”, “airy” “ethereal” talking about the texture and “roasted”, a term to describe the aroma. Of course, non-botrytised sweet whites can be good, but they are rarely ethereal, which is state of the art for a sweet white, when the sweetness is forgotten, despite the large amount of residual sugar. In fact, what makes a sweet white wine outstanding is the quality of its sweetness. This sweetness is not perceived the same if the sugar comes from chaptalization, cryoextraction, sun drying or noble rot. The latter makes the sweetness ethereal. Negative terms to describe sweet white wines include “fluid, sweet, plain, thick, heavy and cloying”. ARCHE (D') Sauternes Potentiel : 87 Enjoyment : 87 Coppery colour. Elegant and fruity on the nose with a lovely pear smell. Tender, fruity, melting and fragrant on the palate. Medium body and length. 2015 2030 BASTOR LAMONTAGNE Sauternes Potentiel : 85 Enjoyment : 81 Fruity and a little thick. 2015 - 2020 BROUSTET Barsac Potentiel : 86 Enjoyment : 85 Pleasant, fruity wine, light, but flavoursome. 2015 2025 CAILLOU Barsac Potentiel : 86 Enjoyment : 85 Fruity, pleasant wine, light but flavoursome. 2015 - 2025 CANTEGRIL Sauternes Potentiel : 90 Enjoyment : 90 Favorite - Greenish yellow colour. Elegant nose that is very fruity and pure. Pretty, melting attack, then the wine becomes very fruity, flavoursome and even multilayered between the mid-palate and the finish, before melting graciously with a continuously silky mouthfeel. It is long and delicious. It is astonishingly round for a Barsac and this makes it resemble a Sauternes. Blend: 85% Semillon and 15% Sauvignon. Residual sugar: 130 g/litre. A great accomplishment. 2016 - 2030 CLOS HAUT PEYRAGUEY Sauternes Potentiel : 93 Enjoyment : 92 Golden yellow colour. Superb botrytised nose of pineapple. Lovely, full, melting attack. It then becomes ethereal, succulent and noble. It melts and is elegant, rich and powerful and has lovely flavoursome length. 2016 - 2040 CLOTTE CAZALIS (LA) Sauternes Potentiel : 90 Enjoyment : 90 Greenish yellow colour. Fruity, fresh nose with hints of spice ( cardamom, date, lime). Subtle attack with an elegant mouthfeel. It slides and melts on the palate with a lovely feel. Impossible to spit out! Good length. 2016 - 2030 COUTET Barsac Potentiel : 93 Enjoyment : 92 Yellow colour with green and gold tints. Fresh lime on the nose. Subtle attack with an elegant mouthfeel. It grows to become supple and smooth, melting, moving on to a long sappy finish with powerful white fruit and liquorice tastes. Superb! 2016 - 2040 DOISY DAENE Barsac Potentiel : 92 Enjoyment : 92 Greenish yellow colour. Elegant, fruity, fresh nose. Hints of lemon and mint. Delicious and very fragrant, it melts on the palate with grace and finishes meticulously. Good length, flavoursome. It’s very good. Blend: 85% Semillon and 15% Sauvignon. Residual sugar: 130 g/litre. 2016 - 2040 DOISY VEDRINES Sauternes Potentiel : 90 Enjoyment : 90 Pale colour with green tints. Fresh and elegant on the nose with hints of lime: rare in this wine. It slides on the palate with a lovely feel. It melts and finishes airy and long. It’s very good. 2016 - 2030 EXTRAVAGANT de DOISY DAENE Barsac Potentiel : 95 Enjoyment : 94 Greenish yellow colour. Extravagant and fresh nose with aromas of peach skin and mint. Melting, airy, muscular and noble on the palate, sliding to a grand, long, flavoursome finish tasting of lime. A little more ethereal texture than usual. It’s very good. Yield: practically three barrels. 2016 - 2035 FARGUES (DE) Sauternes Potentiel : 90 Enjoyment : 90 Golden yellow colour. Fruity and fragrant nose with a lovely pineapple and vanilla smell. Pretty attack, meticulous mouthfeel. Full body. The wine melts and is flavoursome, moving to a sappy finish with the original note of lime, which is rare for a Sauternes. 2016 - 2040 FILHOT Sauternes Potentiel : 85 Enjoyment : 85 Light and fruity with spice. 2015 - 2025 GUIRAUD Sauternes Potentiel : 90 Enjoyment : 90 Golden yellow colour. Fruity, fresh nose with spice and a hint of menthol. Melting on the attack, then it caresses the palate and continues to melt! Sappy finish. Ordinary length. I was hoping for more body. 2016 - 2035 HAUT BERGERON Sauternes Potentiel : 85 Enjoyment : 81 A little overwhelming on the palate. 2015 - 2025 LAFAURIE PEYRAGUEY Sauternes Potentiel : 90 Enjoyment : 90 I think this estate is changing its approach and aims to produce less overwhelming wines! 2013 has such an elegant mouthfeel that I have not witnessed in this wine since 1983 and 1985. 2016 - 2030 LAMOTHE Sauternes ? I tasted one sample with a pure nose, while another smelled of mushroom. LAMOTHE GUIGNARD Sauternes Potentiel : 87 Enjoyment : 87 Fruity, caressing, juicy and light on the palate, flavoursome. Taste of pear. Medium body and length. 2015 - 2025 MALLE (DE) Sauternes Potentiel : 88 Enjoyment : 88 Fruity, vanilla and spice on the nose. Fruity, melting and flavoursome on the palate with an elegant mouthfeel and taste. Medium length. 2016 - 2030 MYRAT (DE) Barsac Potentiel : 85 Enjoyment : 85 Light, fruity and pleasant. 2015 - 2020 NAIRAC Barsac Potentiel : 93 Enjoyment : 92 Greenish yellow colour. Elegant, fresh, subtle nose. Elegantly soft on the palate with an ethereal feel, which becomes graceful and melting, moving towards a tapering finish with a hint of lime as it lingers. Beautifully crafted and lots of enjoyment 2016 - 2030 RABAUD PROMIS Sauternes Potentiel : 87 Enjoyment : 87 Fruity nose. Juicy with a light mouthfeel and an elegant taste of pear. Medium body and length. 2016 - 2030 RAYMOND LAFON Sauternes Potentiel : 91 Enjoyment : 90 Melting, smooth and an elegant mouthfeel with body, taste and a lovely roasted finish. Delicious. Alcohol content: 13.9°. Residual sugar: 120 g/litre. pH: 3.85. Planned ageing period: 30 months. Blend: 80% Semillon plus 20% Sauvignon. 2018 - 2040 RAYNE VIGNEAU Sauternes Potentiel : 90 Enjoyment : 90 Greenish yellow colour. Fruity, fresh nose with hints of spice. Elegantly juicy with a practically crystalline mouthfeel and a very distinguished pear aroma. Long, melting and very tasty. 2016 - 2035 RIEUSSEC Sauternes Potentiel : 87 Enjoyment : 87 Fruity and fresh on the nose with a hint of menthol and more precisely crafted than usual. The attack is a little overwhelming, then it melts, but is gone quite fast. Spice on the finish. 2016 - 2035 ROMER Sauternes Potentiel : 87 Enjoyment : 86 Fruity, caressing, juicy and light on the palate, flavoursome. Medium body and length. 2015 - 2025 ROMER DU HAYOT Sauternes Potentiel : 85 Enjoyment : 85 Fruity, light and not a little sparkling yet. 2016 - 2030 SIGALAS RABAUD Sauternes Potentiel : 92 Enjoyment : 92 Delicious, fragrant wine that is silky, full and long. This has been more precisely crafted than usual with more sparkle and greater harmony between the attack, the mid-palate and the finish. A great success. 2016 - 2035 SUAU Barsac Potentiel : 85 Enjoyment : 85 Light, fruity, pleasant wine. 2015 - 2025 SUDUIRAUT Sauternes Potentiel : 92 Enjoyment : 92 Golden yellow colour. Botrytised, elegant, pure nose that is fruity and fresh. Melting attack developing to become airy and flavoursome. Its long finish features multilayered tastes of white fruit. A fine accomplishment. 2016 - 2035 TOUR BLANCHE (LA) Sauternes Potentiel : 90 Enjoyment : 90 Greenish yellow colour. Fruity, aromatic nose with lovely pear and vanilla aromas. Melting and airy on the palate with a subtle taste of pear, liquorice and elegant spice. Flavoursome finish with hints of citrus. It’s really good! 2016 - 2035 YQUEM (D') Sauternes Potentiel : 95 Enjoyment : 94 Greenish yellow colour. Very elegant, fruity, subtle, ripe, multilayered nose. Lovely attack, becoming noble with lots of taste and top-flight mouthfeel. Melting, botrytised and fragrant, it has a long, deep finish. It is delicious and impossible to spit out. A great success. Alcoholic degree: 13.1 - Residual sugar: 140 g/l - Total acidity: 4.0 - pH: 3.70 2016 - 2045 _______________________________________________________________________© Copyright This publication is the original work of Jean-Marc Quarin Sarl, 10 allée de Ginouilhac, Le Taillan-Médoc. France. - E-mail : jmquarin@quarin.com The news media and subscribing wine distributors, importers and retailers may use portions of this material (such as tasting notes, ratings or quotes) provided that it is not distorted, the proper wine and vintage are stated, www.quarin.com is given credit for the material utilized, and Jean-Marc Quarin (JMQ) is shown as the Copyright holder.

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BORDEAUX 2013 : THE OUTCOME (2)

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