Suduiraut Sauternes 1er Cru 2020

Category:
 
Sweet Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
White Wines
Producer:
 
Suduiraut
Label Name:
 
Sauternes 1er Cru
Vintage:
 
2020
Country:
 
France
Region:
 
Sauternes, Bordeaux
Volume:
 
375ml
ABV:
 
14%
Grape(s):
 
Sémillon
Acidity:
 
3
Sweetness:
 
5
Body:
 
5
Length:
 
5
Aroma Intensity:
 
5
Best Temperature:
 
8-10°C

Awards/Ratings
Notable scores for the 2020: James Suckling 97–98, Jeb Dunnuck 98, Decanter (Jane Anson) 96, Vinous (Neal Martin/AG) 94–96, Wine Enthusiast ~96, Wine Spectator ~93

Tasting Note
Lush, honeyed Sauternes: orange blossom, candied apricot, lychee, marmalade, honeysuckle, toasted almond and caramel, with bright citrus pith and saline minerality. Unctuous texture with vibrant bitterness from botrytis balancing the sweetness; very long, spice-laced finish.

Food Pairing
Western: foie gras, Roquefort and blue cheeses, tarte Tatin, crème brûlée, fruit-based desserts. Asian: Peking duck, char siu, miso-glazed salmon, rich Chinese braised pork belly, mildly spicy Thai or Malaysian curries.

Production Method
Multiple selective harvests of botrytised fruit (noble rot). 100% Sémillon in 2020; fermentation and elevage in French oak barrels, aged ~16–20 months (≈50% new oak). Very low yields (≈8 hl/ha).

Vineyard Info
Premier Cru Classé (1855) estate in Sauternes near Château d'Yquem. Long-established producer making small-volume, meticulously harvested botrytised sweet wines from predominantly Semillon vines.