Chateau La Tour Blanche Premier Cru Classe, Sauternes 2023

A brilliant, exotic Sauternes, the 2023 Château La Tour Blanche sports a medium gold hue as well as ripe tropical fruits, orange marmalade, caramelized pineapple, and minty flowers. I love its complexity, and it's medium-bodied on the palate, with a juicy, lively mouthfeel, nicely integrated acidity, and a clean, relatively open, accessible profile. It should age gracefully over the coming two decades or more. Drink 2026-2046.

A blend of 90% Sémillon and 10% Muscadelle with 149 grams per liter of residual sugar, the 2023 La Tour Blanche unfurls in the glass with a pure, perfumed bouquet of pineapple, ripe orchard fruits, white flowers and orange confit. Medium- to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, it's beautifully balanced, built around a vibrant core of fruit animated by fresh acidity and concludes with an ethereal, persistent and seemingly endless finish.

The 2023 La Tour Blanche has a pure, honeyed bouquet, touches of quince and orange pith manifesting with time, just a slight resinous element that becomes more pronounced. The palate is well-balanced, with a smooth, viscous opening, impressive weight (as always) with a more tropical finish compared to its peers. Lovely.