2011 UGC Bordeaux Tasting

Bentley Reserve, San Francisco CA
Tasted Saturday, January 25, 2014 by aagrawal with 615 views

Introduction

I was looking forward to this tasting, if only to taste through the 2011 Sauternes which had a lot of hype to them. I expected the reds to be difficult, and indeed it was difficult to find wines worth buying. The sauternes were all great, though perhaps not to the level that I had hoped they would be (with some notable exceptions below).

Flight 1 - White Bordeaux (6 Notes)

All were decent to good, none were extraordinary. For the price, you can find better sauvignon blanc elsewhere. I really loved the Smith Haut Lafitte and the Larrivet Haut Brion.

Flight 2 - Sauternes/Barsac (7 Notes)

Clear winner: Fargues
Wines I love: Coutet, La Tour Blanche
Excellent, especially for their value: Lafaurie Peyraguey, Rayne-Vigneau
Poor showings: Guiraud, Suduiraut

Overall, for a vintage that was billed as the best thing since 2001, I'm sorry to say that I think that is an overstatement. There are a few minor exceptions. I think the Fargues in particular, possibly also the Coutet, are fabulous wines that will compete with the best in any vintage... but the once-in-a-generation type of quality is not present across the board as it was in 2001.

  • 2011 Château Coutet Barsac 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac

    Wonderful nose with freshness, floral, minerality; palate is sweet but fresh, painfully young but superb now, flavorful, spices; finish is medium-long. This was one of the highlights of the Sauternes lineup, and it's always a pleasure to drink Coutet. Always a wine that goes very well with food. 93++

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  • 2011 Château de Fargues 95 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    From a barrel sample, as this wine will not be formally bottled until June 2014. Richness, spiciness, fabulous flavor, density on the nose; palate has citrus, grapefruit, great density, extraordinary acidity, flows together superbly; finish is long. This is easily the top Sauternes of the UGC tasting, and it is one of the best young sauternes I've ever tasted. (Fantastically well put together for its age, which is when most Sauternes are quite awkward.) Once again, characteristic balance between opulence and elegance with just the right amount of acid. (Actually, a lot of acid on the palate, which is superb and takes this wine to another level). Among the best Chateau de Fargues that I've tried, with potential to approach 2001. 95-97+

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  • 2011 Château Guiraud 86 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Slight floral, not very intense; medium body, a bit of bitterness in midpalate; finish is medium length. This is a disappointment for Guiraud, and easily the poorest showing among the Sauternes in my opinion. Not bad, just not what it should be. 86

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  • 2011 Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Light gold color; good floral quality, mild intensity, white fruit; palate has minerality, light to medium bodied, good acidity. A very solid sauternes with good floral character that is characteristic of L-P. Very young still and needs time to come together and gain complexity, but this shows more spice and intensity than the Rayne-Vigneau nearby. This is a longer-ager, and a superb buy at the going price (low $20s per half bottle). 90-91

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  • 2011 Château de Rayne-Vigneau 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Moderate intensity on the nose with good mix of density and minerally elegance; palate is elegant, less complex than the best but a fabulous effort, enjoyable. Overall this is showing really well now, very good balance, and would be a wonderful sauternes to buy and drink young and over the short to medium term (indeed, maybe the best of the lineup today to drink now). A very good value bottle. 90

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  • 2011 Château Suduiraut 89 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Surprisingly elegant on the nose; richness, full palate, but palate has a tiny bit of bitterness in the midpalate; med finish. Good, but a disappointment for Suduiraut. I'm hoping this will show much better when in bottle. 88-90

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  • 2011 Château La Tour Blanche Sauternes 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Elegant Sauvignon blanc nose, good complexity, minerality, floral; palate is medium bodied, fresh, elegant, medium complexity; medium finish. LTB is not usually one of my favorites since the balance is often off, but this is very nice, well balanced, and is more elegant than expected. A real standout in 2011, and maybe among the best LTB that I've tried (along with the 2001). 92+

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Flight 3 - Red Bordeaux (18 Notes)

Overall, a disappointment. Most were thin, acidic, tannic, had short/thin midpalates, and little fruit or character. There were some standouts though.
Wines I liked: Langoa Barton, Leoville Barton, Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Canon La Gaffeliere
Good values, good wines: La Couspaude, d'Armailhac.
Brutal disappointments: Pichon Lalande, Figeac (what happened?), Leoville Poyferre, Lynch Bages. Even Clerc Milon, generally one of the wines I love, was not showing well.

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