Wine Advisor
Clos Haut Peyraguey 2016
View analysis
Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2016 Château Clos Haut-Peyraguey was tightly wound on the nose with hints of melted butter infusing the citrus and honey fruit. It does not quite "flow" at the moment. The palate is well balanced with pure botrytised fruit, very well-judged acidity and although the finish is dominated by a patina of creamy new oak at the moment, everything is in place for a great Sauternes.
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The pale lemon colored 2016 Clos Haut-Peyraguey reveals a veritable cornucopia of tropical notes—guava, mango and pineapple—with nuances of spiced pears, jasmine, fallen leaves and allspice plus a touch of acacia honey. The palate is elegantly styled with all those intense scents marrying beautifully into a perfumed restraint, finishing with a lively citrus lift.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2016 Clos Haut-Peyraguey has a light nose with wild honey and yellow flowers, but it lacks a bit of botrytis. The palate is viscous on the entry, with low acidity, rounded and of decent weight, but it feels quite toffee-ish on the finish. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-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.
