Wine Advisor
De Fargues 2001
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The de Fargues 2001 is consistent with its showing 12 months ago at the property. Here, it has a hedonistic, quite powerful bouquet that demands you attention with that suggestion of Manuka honey (my own personal favorite since discovering it in New Zealand) defining the aromatics. The palate is extremely well balanced and viscous, struck through with great tension and yet like before, it does not quite unleash that knockout blow that distinguishes a truly great de Fargues.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at an off-line lunch at The Ledbury. This is a fabulous de Fargues that seems to be blossoming with age. It is adorned with an ethereal bouquet and spine-tingling definition: Seville orange marmalade, lemon curd, apricot jam and a touch of quince jus. With aeration it simply grows and grows in intensity. The palate is very well balanced with well-judged acidity, youthful with notes of lime, quince, lanolin and honeycomb, building all the time to a viscous, wonderful poised finish. This is absolutely gorgeous and it will only get better. Drink now-2025+ Tasted October 2009.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted blind at Bordeaux Index’s 10-Year On horizontal. The de Fargues ‘01 has a lovely floral bouquet with quince, lemon curd, peach and lime flower with wonderful definition and poise. The palate is very well balanced with a zest edge, notes of orange zest, light honey, peach and marmalade, long and sensual towards the finish. I have always had a feeling that the de Fargues ’01 would blossom...grab a case if Yquem is beyond your means because this is outstanding. Tasted March 2011.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2001 vintage was a late ripening one for the estate by an Indian summer like 1988 and 1997. The first wave of picking was between September 29 - October 4 and the final passage through the vineyard occurred on October 24. Delivering 132 grams-per-liter residual sugar and 13.88% alcohol, it has a limpid golden hue. The bouquet is very perfumed with beautifully defined Seville orange marmalade, Manuka honey and minerals all vying for attention. The palate is medium-bodied with a viscous entry, noticeable acidity (a total acidity of 5.3 grams) that lends this race, and a citric line that runs from start to finish. There is a resinous/waxy note developing on the ginger-tinged finish that lingers long in the mouth. This is a very fine de Fargues that is entering its drinking window – though could it have been even better? Tasted April 2013.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
A very light and slightly oily nose with touches of Seville orange marmalade which comes through on the unctuous palate, displaying good levels of botrytis. Notes of quince, spice and ginger towards the finish that has tremendous length and concentration. Not as profound as other 2001 Sauternes I have tasted but still a superb de Fargues. Tasted April 2008.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Still in barrel, this Chateau d’Yquem look-alike exhibits powerful creme brulee characteristics along with some volatile acidity, huge, full-bodied, unctuously textured flavors, ample intensity as well as purity, and caramelized tropical fruits. This brawny heavyweight requires 5-6 years of bottle age, and should evolve for three decades.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
An involving marmalade nose with just a hint of digestive biscuits. The palate is very rich and fresh, bursting with ripe oranges and apricot notes. This is not a subtle wine, it lacks complexity, but it is a going to a bundle of fun to consume over the next 15 to 20 years. Very fine. Tasted November 2003.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2001 Château de Fargues is deeper in color than its peers. It has a multifaceted bouquet of manuka honey, quince and yellow flowers, although it does not quite deliver the complexity of, say, Doisy-Daëne or Climens. The palate is viscous on the entry, very voluminous and rich, conveying width and girth yet somehow just missing some mineralité or intrigue toward the finish. This is a very fine Sauternes, yet I find more in other vintages.
