Chateau de Rayne Vigneau 2009 Sauternes Review By Bill Blatch

Chateau de Rayne Vigneau 2009 Sauternes was a return to an older style, rich Sauternes but with a modern edge.

 

If you stopped in the vineyards somewhere in the middle of Sauternes and asked an old fella pruning the vines  

"which do you think is the best potential vineyard after Yquem in Sauternes?"

they will invariaiabley answer Rayne Vigneau.  It is a fantastic vineyard making superlative wines.

 

For the past 20 years Rayne Vigneau have been making a little bit lighter wines than they did during the 1950's and 1960's. It was a decision that was slightly at odds with the rest of Sauternes which was generally getting sweeter.

 

In 1997 Rayne Vigneau produced a much richer wine, but then again took the decision to go back to a lighter style Sauternes.

 

However, the 2009 Chateau de Rayne Vigneau is a very rich style and really this is the Rayne Vigneau as I imagine it use to be, but of course in a much more modern way. 

 

Its got that lovely modern minty, fresh, fragrant aroma, with beautiful botrytis.

 

The 2009 Rayne Vigneau was well priced, making it a good deal and a Sauternes that people wanted to buy. 

 

Sales at En Primeur went very well, perhaps because at the trade tastings everybody recognised that Chateau de Rayne Vigneau were back on track.

 

Watch Bill Blatch's wine video to find out why this Bordeaux expert has selected Chateau de Rayne Vigneau as a best buy Sauternes from the 2009 Sauternes en primeur releases.

 

 

 

Chateau Rabaud Promis 2009 Sauternes Review By Bill Blatch

 

Chateau Rabaud Promis 2009 Sauternes was a great success.

 

The owner at Rabaud Promis admits he loves the taste of fruit in his wine, which is difficult to keep when you're making a 100% botrytis wine.

 

But he does everything he can to keep the freshness of fruit there and keep it alive and zingy and zesty, alongside it being tremendouly sweet.

 

And even though this wine has a reputation for not being so sweet, this is a very sweet Rabaud Promis. In his 2009 Sauternes he has really let it rip.

 

So the sweetness, the thickness, the fatness is all there but above all the freshness and quality of fruit is there too.

 

Which makes Chateau Rabaud Promis 2009 Sauternes a really good deal.  It offers fantastic value and while most sales go to France and there is not much left for export it has not traditionally been a best selling Sauternes in the UK.

 

But I think this Rabaud Promis is really worth a try and if you don't want to buy a whole case of just this one Sauternes you can buy it as part of a mixed case at http://bordeauxgold.com.

 

We think you'll be back for a full case next year! 

 

Watch Bill Blatch's wine video to find out why this Bordeaux expert has selected Chateau Rabaud Promis as a Sauternes best buy from the 2009 Sauternes en primeur releases.

 

Chateau Nairac 2009 Sauternes Review By Bill Blatch

 

Chateau Nairac 2009 Sauternes surprised us a bit with their En Primeur price, as it came out at more than we thought it would.

 

That said, I should really have expected it as Nairac always price high for their best Sauternes and certainly in vintages like this. Afterall, the quality is high and the quantity produced is tiny at just 1500 cases.

 

As befits Chateau Nairac, this is probably the sweetest of all 2009 Sauternes, but then it also has the highest acidity of all Sauternes. 

 

It's bordering on a sweet version of the 2001, plus it has extra opulence.  I think this mixture of opulence and exquisite fragrances and citric flavours will make it an absolutely fabulous wine.

 

I wouldn't keep it for as long as some of the other 2009 Sauternes as at the moment I would say it's built for drinking within 20 years (though I could be proved wrong) rather than the 100 years some of the 2009 Sauternes will go.

 

So to sum up, it's a great Chateau Nairac - a great, delicious, ripe, rich wine but also a very fresh wine.  

 

If you want Chateau Nairac you have to pay the price for it now.  Remember it only has a tiny production and after that its all gone. They'll be none left to buy of this Sauternes.

 

Watch Bill Blatch's wine video to see why this Bordeaux expert has selected Chateau Nairac as a Sauternes best buy from the 2009 Sauternes en primeur releases.