Château Raymond-Lafon

Sauternes

2018 Château Raymond-Lafon

MAR 19 Golden. Apricots, spices, pineapples, vanilla, detailed, fairly intense nose. Faint smoky note. Fresh acidity, fruity, pineapples, apricots, juicy, detailed, not the riches or densest ever, but elegant and refreshing, long. 91-93

2017 Château Raymond-Lafon

APR 18 Pale golden. Apricots, some spices, pineapples, detailed and intense, layered, lovely nose. Fresh acidity, apples, fruity, rounded, bit riper, elegant, nuanced, detailed, long. 92-94

2016 Château Raymond-Lafon

APR 17 Golden. Apricots, fruity, vanilla, pineapples nose. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, elegant, lively, apricots and pineapples, intense, long. 93-95

2016 Château Raymond-Lafon

APR 17 Golden. Apricots, fruity, pineapples, vanilla, fresh and fruity nose, touch of ripe blood orange and grapefruits. Fresh acidity, fruity, pineapples, vanilla, some spices, apricots, quite intense, detailed, nuanced, long. A beauty. 93-95

2015 Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey

MAY 19 Golden. Apricots, pineapples, pure, fresh and bright nose, touch of spices. Fresh acidity, fruity, playful, elegant, lovely balance, refreshing and pure, long. 94

2015 Château Raymond-Lafon

APR 17 Golden. Apricots, fruity, pineapples, vanilla, quite intense nose. Fresh acidity, ripe, fruity, apples, lemons, spices, detailed, elegant and nuanced, long. 95

2015 Château Raymond Lafon

APR 16 Golden. Apricots, fruity, rounded, peach, vanilla, some spices nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, rounded, apples, pineapples and peach, fruity, ripe and rich, yet subdued, long finish. 93-95

2014 Château Raymond-Lafon

APR 17 Golden. Fresh, fruity, mandarin, vanilla and apricots nose, some vanilla. Fresh acidity, fruity, pineapples, pears, apricots, vanilla, detailed, long. 94

2014 Château Raymond-Lafon

APR 15 Pale golden. Apricots, pineapples, fruity nose, intense. Fresh acidity, lively, detailed, apricots and yellow plums, lighter style than usual for Raymond-Lafon but aftertaste and length as usual. Long. 91-93

2011 Château Raymond-Lafon

APR 17 Golden. Vanilla, pineapples, some spices, light cinnamon note, fruity nose, quite intense. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, vanilla, elegant texture, lovely balance, long. 95

2011 Château Raymond-Lafon

SEP 15 Pale golden. Tropical fruits, some pineapples, apricots, peach, fruity, quite elegant nose, intense but a little bit shut at the moment. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, elegant, lovely balance, playful and detailed, pure expression, delicate and long. 95

2011 Jeunes Pousses de Raymond-Lafon

SEP 15 Pale golden. Some apricots, light vanilla note, light honey melon note nose. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity and lively, rounded, elegant and playful, pure. 89

2010 Château Raymond-Lafon

APR 17 Golden. Apricots, fruity, pineapples, some vanilla, intense nose, bit tight. Fresh acidity, pineapples, spices, some anise, rich, fruity, detailed, some cinnamon, intense fruity, long. 96

2010 Château Raymond-Lafon

AUG 13 Pale golden. Apricots, tropical and pineapples nose. Fresh acidity, fruity and elegant, playful and lively, long finish. 94

2009 Château Raymond-Lafon

JUL 19 Golden. Apricots, peach and honey, so fruit driven on the nose! Yes, fruit! Driven! Fresh acidity, playful, even mouthwatering, such a surprise for the vintage, this is pure and juicy, gorgeous stuff in harmony and balance. Brilliant stuff! 94

2009 Château Raymond-Lafon

APR 17 Golden. Honey, rich, apricots, pineapples, some vanilla, intense fruit on the nose. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, apples, ripe lemons, pineapples, apricots, ripe and rich, faint bitter note very far back, long. 95

2009 Château Raymond-Lafon

SEP 15 Pale golden. Intense, some vanilla, apricots, fruity, pineapples, intense yet subdued, and somewhat shut for the moment. Fresh acidity, fruity, intense, apricots and pineapples, intense, almost creamy, long. 94

2009 Château Raymond-Lafon
JUN 10 Lemon yellow, pure, pineapple, again this lower octave feel, going a bit deeper, orange peel, vanilla. Fresh acidity, great balance, tiny bitter tone witch I so often find at this estate, candid apples, very long finish. 92-94

2008 Château Raymond-Lafon

JUN 18 Golden. Apricots, pineapples, fruity, intense, scented, elegant nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, pineapples, detailed, intense, fruity, smooth and layered, nuanced, beautiful balance, long. 94

2007 Château Raymond- Lafon

JUN 18 Golden. Apricots, fruity, peach, some spices, some vanilla notes nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, apricots, pineapples, fruity, ripe, touch bitter, quite intense, long.93

2007 Château Raymond-Lafon

MAY 18 Golden. Apricots, fruity, some spices, anise, pineapples and vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, apples, minerals, detailed, juicy, long. 94

2007 Château Raymond-Lafon

NOV 12 Golden. Rich nose of apricots and stone fruits, somewhat tropical. The typical light bitterness of the estate is present. Fresh acidity, elegant texture, refreshing and long. 92

2004 Château Raymond Lafon

OCT 17 Amber. Apricots, some vanilla, pineapples, ripe and rich nose, touch of caramel. Fresh acidity, fruity, pineapples, apricots and peach stone, some caramel notes, rich and intense, long. 92

2004 Château Raymond Lafon
AUG 16 Towards golden. honey, apricots, some vanilla, fruity nose, pineapples and apricots. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, rounded, pineapples and apricots, youthful bottle, elegant and lively, long. 94

2004 Chateau Raymond Lafon

JUL 14 Golden. Apricots, fruity, spices, anise, pineapples, vanilla, fresh and fruity nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, pineapples, detailed, better the next day, purer and livelier, long. 94

2004 Chateau Raymond Lafon

JUN 13 Golden. Dried fruits, some vanilla, pineapples and cinnamon nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, playful, elegant texture, detailed, lively, long finish. 93

2001 Château Raymond-Lafon

DEC 18 Golden. Apricots, pure fruity nose, pineapples, peach and tropical fruits, fairly intense nose. Fresh acidity, creamy texture, rounded, elegant, nuanced, apricots, some caramel and creme brulee, long. This is just getting better and better and will soldier on for twenty, thirty or maybe even fifty years still. Superb bottle of this. This has lost all the bitterness some of these bottles have had. 95

2001 Château Raymond Lafon
JUL 16 Golden, amber hue. Rich nose, apricots, vanilla, pineapples, intense, dried fruits, caramel, concentrated nose, honey. Fresh acidity, rich, intense, concentrated, intense, detailed yet almost too up front. Some bitter notes, rich and layered, long. This one would actually be more graceful with less concentration. 92

2001 Château Raymond-Lafon

SEP 15 Golden. Apricots, pineapples, some vanilla, fruity and quite intense nose, light spicy note. Fresh acidity, fruity, ripe, pineapples and peaches, apricots, intense, detailed, some bitter notes, long. 95

2001 Château Raymond-Lafon
JUL 14 Golden. Rich nose, apricots, pineapples, slight caramel, botrytis, layered and complex. Fresh acidity, fruity, rounded, intense, more together than last bottle a few years back, less bitter, very long finish. 93

2001 Chateau Raymond Lafon

JUL 12 Golden. Apricots, spices, pineapples, fruity nose, bright. Some orange marmalade. Fresh acidity, fruity, ripe, rich and intense, orange peel and caramel, vanilla, spices, long finish. 94

2001 Château Raymond Lafon

SEP 09 Golden. Apricots, some burnt almonds, lemon peel, floral notes and botrytis nose. Fresh acidity, elegant body, more balanced and elegant than outright complex. Long. 92

1999 Château Raymond-Lafon

FEB 14 Golden. Apricots, fruity, crème brulée, spices and vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, dried fruits, some spices, elegant texture if a bit bitter and spicy, wood does show. 91

1999 Chateau Raymond Lafon

SEP 10 Golden. Rich fruity nose, caramel and crème brulée, apricots and spices. Fresh acidity, ripe, fruity, rounded, light bitter note in the finish, long. 90

1998 Château Raymond-Lafon

JUL 12 Golden. Apricots, fruity, pineapples, botrytis, some vanilla and spices nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, rounded, pineapples and apricots, vanilla finish. 92

1998 Chateau Raymond Lafon

FEB 11 Golden. Fruity, apricots, some spices, peach and pineapples nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, rounded and playful, elegant texture, lively, some vanilla, long finish. 93

1997 Château Raymond Lafon

OCT 12 Golden. Glue note that blew off, botrytis, apricots, almost minerals beneath, complex, youthful, floral, roses and green tea. Acidity could be fresher, almonds, marmalade, orange peel, elegant, sweet and long. 90

1997 Chateau Raymond Lafon
MAR 10 (demi) What a strange one, I normally really love this chateau........Golden, VA, botrytis behind, hints of minerals, complex and youthful, floral, roses, jasmin and green tea, good balance, burnt almonds, marmalade, orange peel, elegant, sweet, long finish, but ruined by alcoholic touch and too much VA. 84

1996 Chateau Raymond Lafon

DEC 15 Golden. Apricots, honey, rich, caramel, dried fruits and spices nose, Christmas spices. Fresh acidity, rich, big bodied, fruity, pineapples and apricots, caramel, long finish. Needs a few hours of air to shed some weight and gain freshness. 93

1996 Château Raymond-Lafon

OCT 11 Golden. Honey, botrytis, apricots, heavy and rich nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, intense, some bitter notes, playful and lively acidity, elegant and fresh, long. 92

1988 Château Raymond-Lafon

AUG 15 Deep golden with amber hue. Rich nose, some nuts and caramel, apricots and crème brulée, intense, leaps out of the glass. Grilled pineapples and some cinnamon. Fresh acidity, fruity, intense, ripe, rich, rounded, detailed, sweet and almost burnt sugary, crème brulée finish, long. 94

1988 Château Raymond Lafon
FEB 15 Amber. Burnt, caramel, raisins, intense nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, ripe, intense, leaner, dried apricots, some burnt notes but not as much as on the nose. Most 88's have lost the bitterness they had a few years ago, this one still has it. Hope it lose it. 88

1985 Château Raymond Lafon

OCT 10 Amber. Nuts, minerals, overripe apricots, sultanas, slightly oxidative nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, intense, dried fruits palate, slightly dry finish. 90

1985 Château Raymond Lafon

OCT 08 Amber. Nuts, minerals, overripe apricots, rich, denser, some raisins, needs air to open. Looses some of the caramel with air. Fresh acidity, playful, apricots, pineapples, some creme brûlée, lo g and detailed. 93

1982 Chateau Raymond Lafon

SEP 14 Amber. Apricots and dried fruits, caramel and fudge nose. Fresh but not lively acidity, creamy texture with some bitterness and burnt caramel notes, spices and caramel, long finish. 91

1979 Château Raymond-Lafon

APR 13 Amber. Dried fruits, caramel and fudge nose, crème brulée. Fresh acidity, dried fruits, ripe, caramel, somewhat leaner body, playful acidity, good length. 88