If there are many terroirs on which each vintage is a battle, Sauternes is one of the best examples.
This year again we had to be patient, so patient that the risk of loss of the harvest hovered over a large part of the vineyard.
As explained in the article presenting the vintage, the châteaux had to make a bet. Harvest despite the low concentration of the grapes or wait for the botrytis to develop even more, even if that does not happen and the harvest is lost.
But as we say so well, with time and patience we overcome everything.
The result is that the wines have a remarkable concentration with a very beautiful aromatic intensity as well as a very well controlled sweetness and revived by a wonderful acidity.
Unexpected and desperate at times, 2022 has made itself desired and is already presenting itself as an exceptional vintage.
- Château d’Arches 92 – 93/100
A fresh, clean and intense nose that reveals notes of citrus fruits (lemon, grapefruit), apricot, peach, pineapple and slight vanilla notes. On the palate it is refined, rich, concentrated and well structured. A beautiful acidity which gives pep to the sweetness which will confer an elegant freshness. The end of the mouth is of a correct length.
- Château Bastor-Lamontagne 91 – 92/100
A fresh and expressive nose with notes of apricots, peach, orange, pineapple, honey and delicate spicy notes. A harmonious palate that combines freshness, minerality and elegance. With good structure, the wine is well balanced. A greedy finish and of a correct length.
- Château Broustet 91/100
Rich, expressive, the nose reveals lovely notes of citrus fruits (lemon, mandarin), pineapple, apricot and fine notes of honey. The mouth is clean, greedy, well balanced with a nice sweetness. A lively finish with a good length.
- Château Coutet 95 – 97/100
A gold color, limpid and brilliant. On the nose it is a delightful bouquet of lemon, mandarin, apricot, pineapple, honey and subtle floral notes. The mouth is expressive, rich, opulent while keeping a great freshness. A nice acidity, a great minerality, the balance is perfect. The finish is fresh, elegant and wonderfully long, a real treat. Everything you expect from a great Barsac.
- Château Climens 94 – 96/100
A shiny golden dress. A clean and refined nose with notes of citrus fruits (lemon, orange zest), peach, apricot, mango, pineapple, honey and delicate floral notes. A refined, opulent, soft mouth with a nice sweetness. Medium acidity with good minerality. Structured and balanced, the palate ends with elegance, indulgence and length.
- Château Doisy-Daëne 94 – 96/100
A limpid and brilliant golden color. The nose reveals delightful notes of lemon, apricot, pineapple, peach and vanilla. In the mouth it is elegant, rich, concentrated with a nice sweetness. Acidity, minerality, all in great harmony, which gives great freshness. The finish is refined and of a good length.
- Château Doisy-Védrines 93 – 94/100
An elegant nose that reveals beautiful notes of lemon, orange, apricot, pineapple, honey and subtle notes of exotic fruits. A soft, structured, balanced, mineral mouth, with a nice acidity. A fresh, greedy finish with a correct length.
- Château de Fargues 96 – 98/100
An intense, limpid and brilliant gold colour. A clean, refined and expressive nose with notes of lemon, orange zest, pineapple, peach, apricot, vanilla and delicate spicy notes. On the palate the wine is rich, concentrated, very well structured and very smooth. Perfectly balanced, the palate concludes with a marvelous freshness, great indulgence but above all a delightful persistence. One of the greats of this vintage.
- Château Filhot 92 – 93/100
Golden in color. The nose is fine and precise with lovely notes of citrus fruits (lemon, orange zest), exotic fruits and vanilla. The palate is soft, concentrated, elegant with a very good balance, the finish is very long.
- Château Guiraud 95 – 97/100
An intense golden robe. Rich, clean and very sophisticated, the nose exudes delightful notes of lemon, orange, pineapple, apricot, mango, honey and delicate hints of vanilla. The mouth is rich, intense, well structured and perfectly balanced with a very nice acidity. A fresh, mineral, gourmet and extremely long finish. A very great vintage for Château Guiraud.
- Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey 96 – 98/100
A gold colour, limpid and brilliant. The nose reveals an elegant and delightful bouquet of peach, apricot, flowers, candied orange, pineapple, vanilla with subtle spicy notes. The palate is opulent, concentrated, intense and extremely delicious. A very nice sweetness revived by a great acidity, the balance is perfect. The end of the mouth is fresh, refined and of a wonderful persistence.
- Château Lamothe Guignard 91 – 92/100
The nose is expressive with notes of apricot, pineapple, candied lemon as well as slight vanilla notes. The palate is lively, fresh, refined, with great intensity and well balanced. The end of the mouth is elegant, greedy and of a good length.
- Château de Myrat 92/100
A nose with notes of citrus, apricot, pineapple and vanilla. The attack on the palate is balanced, soft and of great intensity. A mineral finish with good length.
- Château de Rayne Vigneau 95/100
A golden dress. Net, precise and of a beautiful intensity the nose offers superb notes of lemon, grapefruit, mandarin, apricot, pineapple and fine spicy notes. The mouth is opulent, well structured and very well balanced between a nice sweetness and a very convincing acidity. The finish is elegant, fresh and irresistibly long.
- Château Rieussec 95/100
A fine and expressive nose with notes of citrus fruits (lemon, grapefruit), pineapple, apricot, honey, flowers and delicate vanilla notes. A rich, concentrated, structured palate with an elegant balance. A refined, gourmet finish with a very convincing length.
- Château Sigalas Rabaud 93 – 95/100
Intense gold color. The nose is both clean and elegant with notes of lemon, orange zest, pineapple, apricot, white peach, vanilla with subtle floral notes. The attack on the palate is lively, rich with a nice intensity. A very nice balance between sweetness and acidity which provides an elegant freshness. The finish is delightfully persistent.
- Château Suduiraut 96 – 98/100
A limpid and brilliant golden robe. The nose is a wonderful bouquet of citrus fruits, pineapple, apricot, honey with delicate notes of vanilla. The mouth is opulent, concentrated, very well structured and perfectly balanced between a nice sweetness and a great acidity. The finish is fresh, greedy and extremely long. 2022 is perfect for this 100% Sémillon Suduiraut.
- Château la Tour Blanche 95 – 96/100
Intense gold color. Rich, precise and of a beautiful intensity the nose reveals superb notes of lemon, apricot, white peach, pineapple, vanilla and subtle floral notes. A palate full of richness, elegance, structure and freshness. The balance between sweetness and acidity is ideal, which brings a pleasant freshness. The end of the mouth is at the same time refined, greedy and of a delightful length.
- Clos Haut-Peyraguey 94 – 96/100
The nose is a remarkable bouquet of lemon, orange zest, mandarin, pineapple, apricot, vanilla with subtle exotic notes. Opulent, soft, structured, perfectly balanced and of a superb intensity the mouth is a beautiful harmony between greed and freshness. The finish is elegantly persistent.
