Over the last few days we have seen a number of releases from some of the finest estates in the Sauternes appellation who enjoyed an extremely successful vintage in 2007, possibly the best year here since 2001.
“(sweet white bordeaux 2007) yielded by far the highest proportion of seriously high marks of all the hundreds of wines tasted. Do not ignore these wines!” Jancis Robinson
“2007 turned out to be a golden year for these mellifluous, criminally over-looked wines that tend to leave a sticky smile on your face.” Neal Martin (for Robert Parker’s UK critic at the Wine Advocate)
“One thing is certain – when the reds have a tricky time the sweet whites tend to be fantastic. This is true in 2007. You must make sure you buy a case of any of these Sauternes – Bastor-Lamontagne, de Fargues, d’Arche, Doisy-Daëne, Filhot, Rabaud-Promis, Rieussec, Guiraud, Coutet, Suduiraut, Lafaurie-Peyraguey or my favourite La Tour Blanche.” Matthew Jukes
So onto the six sweet wines on offer. Ch Filhot (£155) – “Delightful” Decanter – is punching above its weight and is excellent value while Doisy-Vedrines (£210.00) also looks well priced with good scores all round and a very positive note from Neal Martin – “Château Doisy-Védrines 2007 is perhaps the real over-achiever, ranking alongside the exceptional wines produced in the late-80’s and again, it is the sense of poise and delineation that really sets its apart. 94-96.”
Lafaurie Peyraguey (£270)got top scores from everyone except Jancis (her note suggests a poor sample) and La Tour Blanche (£345)(Matthew Jukes’s top tip) showed very well on the three occasions we tasted it and is priced well against their excellent 2001 which now trades at £550.
Ch Lafite owned Rieussec (£495) came out more expensively than we had hoped (no doubt encouraged by Jancis’s 19/20 and Suckings 93-96) and by comparison Suduiraut, (£440) at a better price has sold better in Bordeaux with only slightly inferior scores. Both excellent wines but Rieussec does look expensive this year.