Fabulous All Sauternes Tasting Dinner

The idea for this dinner came together while drinking a bottle of Sauternes to cap off the night at Steve's BBQ last Fall. We all commented that we need to drink more Sauternes and that an all Sauternes event would be a lot of fun. So Brad graciously volunteered to host and cook for this gala, and his pairings were splendid! Brad, Steve, Dave, Tom, Leo, Mark, Jim, and myself gathered for what turned out to be an exquisite evening.

Paired with crostini with chicken liver spread, stilton hazelnut spread, and herbed white bean spread

• 2003 Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Dark gold color. From 375's. PNP. Drank 1 glass over 90 minutes. Nose is filled with vanilla, cream, light florals, orange, citrus, peach. The palate is more sweet and unctuous than the '01, but has less acid; with vanilla, cream, full bodied, spicy, poached pear, peach, honey, good length.

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• 2001 Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Dark gold color. From 375's. PNP. Drank 1 glass over 90 minutes. Ooh, this was oh so lovely again. More tropical on the nose with pineapple, orange marmalade, nectarine, white flowers. The palate is elegant and complex, tropical, medium full body, but lighter compared to the '03, and exhibiting exquisite balance, great acid paired to the sweetness, wonderfully textured, pineapple, orange, orange zest, citrus, nectarine, spice, and a very long - 60 second plus finish. 94+pts.

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Paired with butternut squash and chestnut risotto

• 1999 Château Climens 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac

  91 Dark gold color. PNP. Drank 1 glass over 2.5 hrs. The nose has a great orange dreamsicle aroma with spring flowers, spicy, citrus, carmelized sugar, and later a very pure pear note. The palate is spicy, citrus, stone fruits, toasted, burnt sugar note that at times gives some sharpness to the finish. This sharpness, for the most part dissipates, after a half hour, but shows at times. Maybe a touch of heat.

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• 2001 Château Rieussec 96 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Dark gold color. Splash decanted and back into the bottle. Drank 1 glass over 2.5hrs plus. This was fabulous, everything you would expect from the nose all the way to the spectacular finish. There is an incredible purity and intensity that captivates and enthralls you. Everything is vibrant and colorful. The nose is complex, intense, sweet floral aromas, honeysuckle, tropicals, orange marmalade, tangerine, coconut, peach, creme brule. The palate is deep and layered, not heavy, but full and rich, perfectly balance with an elegant velvety texture that makes the wine glide gracefully across the tongue, honeyed, with lovely fruits, apricot, pear, pineapple, orange marmalade, coconut. The finish goes on and on lasting over a full 2 minutes. A wow wine. Consensus WOTN. 96+(+)pts.

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Paired with olive oil slow poached halibut with broccol rabe pesto, lemon, and capers

• 1989 Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Very dark, amber color. PNP. Drank 1 glass over 2 hrs. This had an incredibly floral nose, carmelized sugar, cream, orange peel, apricot, peach, tropical. The palate is viscous and concentrated with great acidity, lots of apricot, passion fruit, carmelized sugar, spices, very deep and flavorful, with a long 60+ second finish. 94+ to 95 pts.

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• 1995 Château d'Yquem 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Dark gold color. PNP. Drank 1 glass over 2.5hrs. The nose is a little tight initially, showing citrus and some spices, ultimately it gives way and displays tangerine, pear, figs, peach, quince and some honey. The palate is less dense, sleek and refined, not as sweet, medium bodied, youthful, tangerine, honeysuckle, fig, peach, citrus, spices with a long finish. Very solid. 93+ to 94pts.

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Paired with fruited rabbit tagine over couscous

• 1988 Château Suduiraut 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Dark gold color. Drank 1 glass over 2 hours. Lovely and toasted on the nose, nutty, spicy, tangerine, citrus. The palate is a little thinner, medium bodied, citrus dominates the palate, grapefruit, lychee, tangerine, toasted oak, burnt sugar, and a spicy finish. A little heat on the end. This was a much better bottle than the last one tried.

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Paired with Earl Grey tea pots de creme with honey lace cookies

• 1993 Château Tirecul La Gravière Monbazillac Cuvée Madame 93 Points

  France, Southwest France, Dordogne, Monbazillac

  Dark amber color. From 500ml. Drank 1 glass over 90 minutes. The nose explodes with ripe apricots, prune, apple, honey and spices. The palate is dense, tart, not as sweet now, apricot, prune, raisin, orange peel, baked apple, drizzled honey, medium-full body, medium plus finish. Fabulous stuff.

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• 2009 Château Raymond-Lafon

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Pale gold color. From 375ml. PNP. The nose has some sulfur, citrus, grapefruit, lime. The palate is rather light, very young and primary, citrus, lime, grapefruit, pineapple, tangerine, medium finish. Consensus was this was rather atypical for Sauternes. Would be interesting to see this in 15 years. Score reserved.

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All of the wines showed well and were outstanding. We did not do a formal vote, but the consensus was that the 2001 Rieussec was the WOTN, with the 1989 and 2001 Lafaurie Peyrauquey next and the 1995 d'Yquem.

Thanks to Brad for an amazing job and to everyone for their wines and company! We will have to do this again.