2001 Château Suduiraut, Sauternes, Bordeaux

Beautiful amber colour and great gravitas as well as sweetness. Already very enjoyable but obviously with a long way to go. Complex already. Barley sugar at its best.

Drink 2014 - 2040

The Suduiraut 2001 has an attractive bouquet of honeycomb, passion fruit and a touch of petrol that are well defined, if not as complex as more recent vintages such as the 2009. The palate is well balanced with fine citrus lemon and apricot notes. This is very harmonious and focused, although it does not quite fan out with the precocity you might expect. This was Christian Seely's first vintage at the estate, and while it is an excellent wine, I think he has overseen even better vintages since then.

This has rich caramelised nectarine and apricot fruits, a sense of uplift and steel through the core. It is sweet in its texture but not in its expression, and there is such a lift through the finish that you feel confident it has a long life ahead. On the more savoury spectrum of fruit, white pear dipped in saffron and cardamom. Yet again when you come back after 20 minutes it is the dried apricots that take the lead. Good quality, concentrated and pointed. 150g/l residual sugar. 40% new oak.

Drink 2021 - 2040.

The 2001 Suduiraut has a very well-defined bouquet of marmalade, honeysuckle, touches of kerosene and pine, all focused and vigorous. The palate is balanced with a fine bead of acidity, fresh and vibrant, featuring Seville orange marmalade mixed with orange peel, peach and wild honey; it displays a little more delineation than I have noticed compared to previous bottles, and great cohesion and persistence on the finish. Excellent.

Drink 2021 - 2048