Wine Advisor
Clos Haut Peyraguey 2012
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. The 2012 Château Clos Haut-Peyraguey has a lifted bouquet of honeysuckle and peach, with just a hint of chlorine underneath that ebbs away and is replaced by lemon curd. The palate is viscous on the entry with light honeyed fruit, white peach and marmalade, gently building towards the easy-going, slightly smudged finish that gently caresses the mouth. This is a respectable Sauternes for 2012 and a fine Clos Haut-Peyraguey to enjoy over the next dozen years or so.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2012 Clos Haut Peyraguey will probably be a blend of 95% Semillon and 5% Sauvignon Blanc cropped at 18 hectoliters per hectare, mainly from four tries between October 4 and 31, although the last will probably not be included in the blend. It offers a pleasant lemon curd and apricot-scented bouquet with just a hint of toffee apple. The palate is medium-bodied with a crisp, nicely focused opening. It is very fresh, perhaps missing a little weight on the mid-palate, but there is a pleasing minerality and weight on the finish. This is succinctly crafted and will offer pleasure during its first ten years in bottle. Drink 2015-2025. This estate was purchased by Bernard Magrez at the tail end of 2012 and he was wise enough to keep winemaker Anthony Defives at the helm.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2012 Clos Haut-Peyraguey has a light resinous, waxy bouquet that opens nicely in the glass, though again, it is not rivetingly complex. The palate is balanced with a viscous entry, fine acidity, more expressive here than the nose with a pleasing, quite detailed crème brûlée and quince infused finish. Fine, if just lacking a bit of pizzazz. Tasted blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting.
About the Producer
This ancient barony, acquired in the 18th century by a Monsieur de Pichard, the then president of the Bordeaux parliament, has existed for centuries. It benefits from unique terroir and climatic conditions, supported by an ancestral savoir-faire that enables it to perform at the highest levels of excellence. At the time of the 1855 classification, the estate was called Château Peyraguey. Then, in 1879, the estate was split into two. One part was named Lafaurie-Peyraguey, as a tribute to Monsieur Lafaurie (the former owner) who had brought the property renown, while the highest parts of the estate, situated at the top of the hill of Bommes, were named Clos Haut-Peyraguey. In 2012, Bernard Magrez purchased Clos Haut-Peyraguey from the Pauly family who had run the estate since 1914. To ensure that the high levels of excellence achieved by this Sauternes Premier Grand Cru are maintained and to acquire international prestige for the growth, Bernard Magrez lavishes meticulous care and attention on the vines, applying both traditional and innovative methods to achieve a unique wine: Clos Haut-Peyraguey, a Sauternes for the initiated. The estate covers 12 hectares, 8 of them forming a single block, close to the Ciron, a tributary of the Garonne River. The vines of Clos Haut-Peyraguey are situated at an elevation of 50 to 80 metres on complex gravelly-sandy soils very suited to the Sémillon, the undisputed king grape variety at the Clos, although Sauvignon is also planted and makes up a twentieth of the vineyard. In the vineyards, sustainable farming is practised. Replanting is done by phasing in new vines, rather than replacing whole plots. Once the famous botrytis, or noble rot, has made its appearance on the bunches, the grapes are picked by hand in several sorties, only the most sugar-rich and aromatic berries being picked each time. Clos Haut-Peyraguey has won awards at the most renowned national and international wine challenges and has gained recognition by the most prestigious wine guides.
