David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Second Sauternes pairing with my homemade Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Didn’t use the additional crushed pineapple this time. Both preparations are very good. I think I prefer it w/ less pineapple.

In 2014 I attended the Bordeaux En Premiere. One of the six days, we toured 8 Chateau’s tasting multiple vintages at each in Sauternes & Barsac. Then, went back to Chateau Guiraud for dinner. Before the dinner, Bill Blatch then arranged for a Sauternes tasting after tasting at 8 Chateau’s in Saternes & Barsac. We tasted 50 Sauternes in basically in 60 minutes. After that, my hand was like Winne the Poo in the honey jar from dumping. After, my wish wasn’t necessarily for the forthcoming dinner, but rather wished to go to a Dentist for a teeth cleaning I had so much RS in my mouth. None the less, dinner was fantastic and started with warm Foie Gras & gravy. Perfect as is w/ the Pineapple Upside Down Cake tonight.

This 05 is everything that you taste in the Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Perfect paring. Newly a quarter century and no fading in its evolution.

Dry; stone fruits, pineapple, orange citrus, pineapple. Marmalade, caramel, saline, limestone, honeycomb, beeswax, coconut, vanilla, saline, round acidity with yellow florals, toasted nuts with round acidity for days. Elegance, balance, structure and round, rich polish that goes in and on. Coravined from 375ml.

Bill Batch (who worked for Cristy’s & owned his own negotiate company) has somewhere around 5,000 bottles of Sauternes. He does a Sauternes & Sausage party bi-annually. Good luck getting a well sought after invitation. There are more people in Bordeaux who want to attend then there are available invitations. — 6 days ago

Steven Lee

9.3

Crushed rocks and mineral rocks. tannin is resolved and pencil lead and cassis. no vegetal but floral. i just not sure how far is from the latest vintage with those high scores — 20 days ago

Brada

9.0

Semillon & sauvignon blanc. Good combination. Second day was better. Would buy again. — 14 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Pineapple nuances initially but on settling more citrus and nuts. Waxy notes on the palate. Barrel fermented in approx 50% new oak. A style not followed widely by Australian wine makers. They should - the oak adds another dimension. The vines are planted on deep well draining gravel over clay sub soil. I love having wines like this out of the usual. I bought this at Hedonism Wines, London in July 2019. I’ve never seen this Cuvée offered in Australia but may have missed it. Back story - This Cuvée used to be 100% Sauvignon Blanc but under the ownership of Belgian businessman, Alfred Alexandre Bonnie, further investment was made and Semillon was introduced to give more complexity. Now 80% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Semillon. — 3 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.6

Medium ruby , slighter narrower ruby / pink rim , a little less bright . Slightly deeper , darker fruits , blueberry, violets , with scorched earth , mineral and grafite . On the palate , more intensity and power perhaps , more noticeable though still velvety tannin , dark fruits , mineral , saline , fresh cigar. Lovely fresh acidity , balanced alcohol . Long saline , mineral tinged, slightly toasty finish . Needs time obviously , but will be one of the great wines from a great vintage in 20 years, just wait — 13 days ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

Liquid gold 😍 — 4 days ago

Conrad Green

9.7

Deep and complex. Gnarly slightly wild fruit. Earthiness, intense and yet reduced. While not the best bottle of this I’ve had it’s still pretty amazing stuff. A long life ahead — 17 hours ago

with Paul, Gregg and 2 others

Ray Vanderhoff

9.3

Cabernet dominant Bordeaux blend. Deep ruby color. Aromas of dried black cherries and currants along with notes of black licorice and wet asphalt. Blackberry, black currant and plum lead the palate with hints of tobacco, mushroom and black licorice. Long and smokey finish. Bone dry, full bodied and beautifully balanced. Ripe and concentrated. Thanks for providing this stunner, Kase! — 3 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.5

Medium ruby , quite narrow ruby pink rim . Light spice and mix of summer fruits , floral , seashell , mineral notes . Touch of scorched earth and cocoa . On the palate a mix of summer fruits, with a saline kick in the mid palate , long and involving, balanced alcohol, very balanced acidity with velvety but noticeable tannins . Very elegant and graceful . Will need time, but less than the Haut Brion , in 15-20 years this will be fantastic . — 13 days ago

Scott Kahn

9.0

Deep gold in color. Lower acidity than expected. Lots of white stone fruit and sweetness with some biscuit on the palette. Great complement to Brie. For the vintage and the producer a little underwhelming. — 19 days ago