Primeur 2018 Sauternes

Sauternes had a very long hanging time in 2018 due to the dry and hot autumn which created very little botrytis. The wines ending up rich and refreshing with a sweet purity and fairly nice acidity as most managed their pH levels well, but they lack some of the complexity found in vintages with more prolonged botrytis.

2018 Château d'Arche

MAR 19 Golden. Apricots, pineapples, fruity nose. Lighter. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity if light bodied, not too complex. 87-89

2018 Château Bastor Lamontagne

MAR 19 Golden. Apricots, pineapples, some spices, light vanilla note nose. Fresh acidity, light fruity, refreshing, playful. 89-91

2018 Château Broustet

MAR 19 Pale golden. Apricots, fruity, light nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, apricots, candied fruits, light. 86-88

2018 Château Cantegril

MAR 19 Pale golden. Apricots, pineapples, elegant nose, fruit driven. Fresh acidity, fruity, rounded, elegant, detailed, fruit driven, lovely texture. Good length. 87-89

2018 Château La Clotte Cazalis

MAR 19 Pale golden. Light tropical fruity nose. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, elegant. 85-87

2018 Château Coutet

MAR 19 Golden. Apricots, lemon zest, orange blossoms, detailed, intense nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, orange blossoms, detailed, spices, quite intense, nuanced, long. 93-95

2018 Clos Dady

MAR 19 Golden. Apricots, fruity nose. Pineapples. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, pineapples, juicy, playful and elegant. Lovely. 89-91

2018 Château Doisy-Daëne

MAR 19 Golden. Apricots, pineapples, vanilla, spices, nuanced, fruit driven nose, elegant. Fresh acidity, fruity, apples, apricots, detailed, elegant and nuanced, layered, long. Lovely balance. Superb aftertaste, just a wave of grace! 93-95

2018 L'Extravagant de Doisy Daëne 

MAR 19 Golden. 100SB Apricots, pineapples, some very ripe orange and lemons notes, orange blossoms nose. Fresh acidity, playful, mouthwatering, detailed, layered, elegant, pineapples, apricots, nuanced, rich yet subtle, almost a rose petal note or rose water, stunning length. 97-99

2018 Château Doisy-Daëne Sec

MAR 19 Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals, some vanilla, nuanced, lemons nose. Fresh acidity, apples, lemons, minerals, playful, some grapefruits, long. 89-91

2018 Château Doisy Vedrines

MAR 19 Golden. Fruity, peach and pineapples nose, lighter. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, elegant texture, lovely balance, good length. 88-90

2018 Clos Haut-Peyraguey

MAR 19 Golden. Apricots, spices, fruity, minerals, elegant, some vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, elegant texture, playful, lovely balance, nuanced, elegant texture, long. 92-94

2018 Château de Fargues

MAR 19 Golden. Apricots, pineapples, detailed, fruity, some vanilla, light spicy note nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, pineapples, lemons, spices, detailed, intense, layered, long. Superb balance. 95-97

2018 Château Filhot

MAR 19 Golden. Light tropical nose and palate, refreshing but has a mushroom note making it feel unclean. 85-87

2018 Château Guiraud

No Guiraud made. 

2018 G de Guiraud

Pale lemon yellow. -apples, lemons, citrus, minerals nose. Fresh acidity, fresh, minerals, apples, detailed, good length. 88-90

2018 Château Haut-Bergeron

MAR 19 Golden. Apricots, fruity, some pineapples and vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, lively, refreshing, good length. 86-88

2018 Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey

MAR 19 Golden. Apricots, fruity, minerals, pineapples, detailed and elegant nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, pineapples, elegant, detailed, layered, nuanced, long. Bit lean finish. 92-95

2018 Château Lamothe Guignard

MAR 19 Pale golden. Light tropical fruity nose and palate, refreshing if lean. Lacks complexity. 85-87

2018 Château Liot

MAR 19 Pale lemon yellow. Apricots, fruity, fresh if light nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, elegant, playful. 86-88

2018 Château de Malle

MAR 19 Golden. Pure fruity, apricots and pineapples nose. Fresh acidity, playful, elegant and lively, refreshing, detailed, long. 90-92

2018 Château de Myrat

MAR 19 Golden. Fresh fruity nose, lighter, apricots and pineapples. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, elegant texture and palate, lovely balance, long. 90-92

2018 Château Partarrieu

MAR 19 Pale golden. Apricots and vanilla nose, some spices. Fresh acidity, fresh, playful and elegant. Lovely. 86-88

2018 Château Rabaud-Promis

MAR 19 Golden. Apricots and pineapples nose, pure. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, lively, elegant, refreshing, apricots and pineapples, some vanilla, long. 91-93

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

2018 Château Rayne Vigneau

MAR 19 Golden. Pineapples, anise, spices, apricots, vanilla, detailed nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, pineapples, elegant, detailed, lovely balance, long. 91-93

2018 Château Rieussec

MAR 19 Golden. Apricots, pineapples, fruity, vanilla, some tropical fruits nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, elegant texture, fresh and lively, lovely balance, bit lighter bodied, long. 92-94

2018 Château Romer

MAR 19 Golden. Fresh nose if lighter, fresh and fruity palate, refreshing. 86-88

2018 Château Romer du Hayot

MAR 19 Golden. Pineapples and pears nose. Fresh. Fresh acidity, fresh, lighter, leaner. 86-88

2018 Château Sigalas Rabaud

MAR 19 Golden. Apricots, pineapples, some vanilla and spices, detailed nose, layered. Fresh acidity, fresh, playful, apricots, pineapples, juicy, elegant body, long. 92-94

2018 Château Suau

MAR 19 Golden. Fresh, fruity, pineapples and pears nose and palate, refreshing. 86-88

2018 Château Suduiraut

MAR 19 100S Golden. Apricots, pineapples, fruity, vanilla, bit tight nose. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, lively, refreshing, detailed and long. Elegant. Not the most complex Suduiraut ever, but lovely balance. 93-95

2018 S de Suduiraut

APR 19 Pale lemon yellow. Apples, lemons, some pears, some vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, apples, lemons, some spices, refreshing. Tropical notes. 89-91

2018 Le Blanc Sec de Suduiraut

APR 19 Pale lemon yellow. Apples, lemons, fruity nose, some pears. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, apples, lemons, elegant and refreshing. 87-89

2018 Château La Tour Blanche

MAR 19 Golden. Apricots, spices, pineapples, detailed, intense nose, nuanced. Light floral note. Fresh acidity, fruity, pineapples, elegant, detailed, some spices, refreshing and fruity, long. 92-94

2018 Château de Veyres

MAR 19 Golden. Light fruity nose and palate, playful and elegant if not too complex, sugary. 85-87

2018 Château d’Yquem

Château d’Yquem will no longer show their wines en primeur, only when bottled.