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. — a day ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

This is a second label Sauternes. Deep straw color. 65% Semillon and 35% Sauvignon Blanc. Intense nose that features raisins, pear, vanilla and a bit of citrus. Just a bit of a floral note. Dense ripe fruit and honey flavors. Hint of oak. Mouth coating texture. Nice way to end the day. Thank You for sharing Ron B! — 2 years ago

Peter Ould

8.9

Dangerously tasty. Cherry and subtle grape. — 6 years ago

Karyn Fricke

9.0

Stone fruit aromas of peaches and apricots. Touch of minerals, not too much acidity. Easy drinking on its own or with food. — 2 months ago

"Odedi"

9.6

Dark golden in color with a gorgeous nose.

Medium plus in body with high acidity to balance the sugars.

Showing honey, yellow apples, apricots, tropical fruits, spices, mangoes and honeydew.

Long finish with honey and brown sugar.

What a fabulous tasting sweet wine from Bordeaux. Delicious right out of the bottle.

This 20 year old is showing great complexity at this point. A fantastic sweet wine. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel.

I've had a few different vintages of this wine and this is one of the better vintages I've had.

Gorgeous by itself as a dessert.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

96 points.

$80. — 6 months ago

Paul J

9.5

What a great way to end Christmas! From a 375ml. Well balanced between sweetness and tartness. Good flavor of honey, camomile, and fennel. Nice texture too. Probably gets even better with age. Nice WS recommendation. I’d buy more. — 4 years ago

with Brooke

Lauren Vance

Buyer Whole Foods Market Oakland

9.1

Nose is just fantastic - Mediterranean notes of dried black olives, rosemary, thyme, and deep black fruits. Palate packs a big punch - in your face black currants, spice and salty/savory goodness. Deeeeep purple with smooth tannin & M+ acid. Huge value. — 7 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

Happy New Year!🎈🎆🎊

This is a pairing I’ve been talking about doing for a decade but, couldn’t find a bakery to make one. So, I had to make it. The Sauternes is a 96. The pairing is a 10

Everything about the Sauternes is married in the pineapple upside down cake. Old school meets old school. Clemens the second best Sauternes producer after D’ Yquem.

At En Primeur in 2014, we spent a day in Sauternes & Barsac…eight Chateau’s and multiple vintages. We component tasted at Clemens. Great day. The highlight wasn’t D’Yquem, it was component tasting at Clemens. After eight Chateau’s, we went to Guiraud to taste 50 more Sauternes in an hour and then dinner. When we finished the 50 Sauternes, I wanted to go to the dentist for a teeth cleaning rather than have dinner I had so much RS in my mouth. Tasted nearly 2500 wines in 6 days.

This note is being written the next day with leftover Pineapple Upside down cake and 2003 Clemens.

This has a classic Sauternes nose of heather honey, marmalade, dry citrus and stone fruits with nuts with skin & waxy notes.

The palate is super thick, lush, waxy with ripe botrytis fruits of dry; pineapple, stone fruits. Orange-tangerine, lemon, lime, grapefruit citrus, marmalade, honey dripping, coconut shavings, nuts with skin, candied walnuts, saline, white spice, caramel, vanillin, wet marl, soft but strong edgy chalk, molasses notes, fruit blossoms, yellow lilies & flowers, spring white florals, excellent, very round acidity, balanced, excellent structure, well woven and smartly polished finish that lasts minutes.

From 750 ml — 4 months ago

Robert Stackowiak

9.2

Apricot and green apple. Subtle - not over the top. Perfect to sip with dessert. October 2023. — 7 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.1

Really nice white. (50/50 Sauv Blanc and Semillon). Yellow apple, lemon zest and peach. Minerals and chalk on the creamy finish. Vibrant and fresh. — 5 years ago

with John and Tom