2018 - Suduiraut, Sauternes

The 2018 Suduiraut is intense on the nose, featuring well-defined pure wild honey mixed with white flowers, quince and quite a strong petrol-like/Germanic note. The palate is very well balanced with a harmonious entry, well-judged acidity and great tension thanks to a bitter orange peel note that counterbalances the rich, honeyed fruit on the finish. Superb.

Crafted entirely from Sémillon grapes, a decision influenced by the challenges of a year that saw the estate lose half its crop to downy mildew, the 2018 Suduiraut evokes a floral, exuberant bouquet of rose, fresh grapes, Gewürztraminer grape and spices mingled with notes of exotic fruits. Medium to full-bodied, rich and concentrated with a delicate, precise mid-palate, it’s tense and ethereal with bright acids and a long, penetrating finish. Harvested across four tries or passes from October 10 to November 10, it underwent a 20-month maturation period in oak barrels and contains 125 grams per liter of residual sugar. Yields: five hectoliters per hectare.

The 2018 Suduiraut is medium lemon-gold in color. It comes bounding out of the glass with ready-to-go scents of baked apples, apricot preserves, straw, and praline, with a hint of crème caramel. On the palate there is well-restrained richness, with just enough freshness and a decadently spicy finish.

100% Sémillon. Harvested 10 October to 9 November (4 tris). 5 hl/ha (half the crop lost to downy mildew). Aged 16–20 months in oak barrels (50% new, 50% one year). RS 125 g/l, TA 3.8.Definitely a weaker year for Suduiraut. Lighter and simpler, the botrytis character less emphatic. Reasonably open already with a soft fruit note and touch of vanilla oak. Short on the finish. Enjoy early but not for the long haul. (JL)