Suduiraut 2016

This has so much botrytis/spice character. Dried-mushroom powder as well. Full yet round and gorgeous. Exuberant softness. Very sweet and complex. Complete Sauternes.

The pale lemon-gold colored 2016 Suduiraut features vibrant lime blossom, candied peel, white peaches, guava and exotic spice notes on the nose with nuances of marzipan and crème brûlée. Rich, layered and powerful in the mouth, it has a gorgeous creamy texture, lovely vibrancy and a long, spicy finish.

The 2016 Suduiraut has a clean, pure bouquet of light marmalade, lanolin, curry leaf and wax resin aromas, quite complex and developing more and more personality with aeration. The palate is well balanced, with a viscous, almost unctuous opening. This is richer and heavier in style than many 2016 Sauternes, but maybe just loses some detail and precision on the finish. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

Botrytis arrived late in 2016, so the Suduiraut was made from just the last two picks at the estate. Pineapple, passion fruit, mint, chamomile and exotic floral notes are beautifully delineated. Plush, deep and inviting to the core, the 2016 is also quite open and expressive today, all of which suggests it will drink well with minimal cellaring.