Suduiraut 2021 (750ML)

100 JS / 99 VM / 98+ WA / 97+ WI / 97 JD / 18+ JR

#3 James Suckling Top 100 France 2024
#10 James Suckling Top 100 2024

Very intense spices on the nose with nutmeg, cinnamon, dried apples, apple tart, lemon peel and hints of brown sugar. Full-bodied and very sweet but not at all cloying. The center palate is more like preserved fruit than dried fruit. Mandarins, clementines and peach tart in a patisserie. The finish is endless. Lightly salty. Three pickings. 100% semillon for only the second time in the history of the estate. 138 g/L of residual sugar. One of the best Sauternes I have had in a long, long time. Drink or hold. - James Suckling

The 2021 Suduiraut emerges from a brutal vintage in which yields were just one hectoliter-per-hectare, which translates into 500 cases. A rich, exotic Sauternes, the 2021 possesses mind-blowing intensity. Tangerine oil, mint, pineapple, white flowers, caramel and light toast notes soar out of the glass. Even with all of its concentration, this maintains tremendous freshness and tension. What a wine. -- Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

In 2021, Suduiraut navigated through a challenging "annus horribilis," enduring significant losses from spring frost and downy mildew, nearly decimating the entire crop. However, amidst this adversity, the 2021 Suduiraut emerges as a real gem. Crafted solely from Sémillon grapes and yielding a minuscule crop of one hectoliter per hectare, this vintage is nothing short of remarkable, possessing a deep, complex bouquet of spices, vanilla pod, exotic fruits, ripe orchard fruits, herbs, flowers and menthol. Medium to full-bodied, it exudes concentration and richness, enveloping the palate with controlled power and impeccable balance. Its lively acidity complements a fleshy fruit core, culminating in a long, mineral-laden and precisely articulated finish. This vintage is one of the most refined and perfumed expressions ever produced at Suduiraut and could earn the maximum score in future years. Kudos to the team for crafting such an exceptional wine under challenging circumstances. Residual sugar: 138 grams per liter. - YC, Wine Advocate

Yields were just 1 hectoliter/hectare in 2021 for Suduiraut because of the frost. It has a pale to medium straw-gold color and storms out of the glass with powerful notes of peach preserves, pineapple upside-down cake, and mango pudding, plus touches of honeycomb, allspice, and candied ginger. Full, rich, and impactful in the mouth, the palate delivers a firm backbone of racy acidity to counter the unctuous sweetness, finishing with epic length. A spectacular achievement! - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent

Gorgeous stuff, the 2021 Château Suduiraut pretty much stopped me in my tracks, and it's up there with some of the finest Sauternes out there. Caramelized mint, honeyed orange, and exotic, tropical, floral notes all soar from the glass, and this beauty hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a pure, layered, seamless mouthfeel, integrated acidity, and a great finish. Don't miss it. - Jeb Dunnuck

100% Sémillon. Harvested 1–27 October (3 tris). Yield 1 hl/ha (almost all the crop lost to frost and downy mildew). Aged 16–20 months in oak barrels (50% new, 50% one year). RS 138 g/l, TA 4.5.
Yellow gold. Really very intense, the botrytis element underlined. Great purity in the fruit, the oak a well-integrated complement. Rich and concentrated but vital, with noticeable acidity bringing harmony. Should be good for the long haul but there’s not much to go around. - James Lawther MW, JancisRobinson