Wine Advisor
Suduiraut 1996
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 1996 Suduiraut feels rather flat on the nose after 22 years, missing the intensity of later vintages, caramel and toffee-ish notes emerging with time. The palate is fully mature with simple orange rind and peach notes, however, it fades too rapidly on the finish. Compared to previous bottles this feels as if it is in decline. Tasted at the Suduiraut vertical at the château.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Slight SO2 and a whiff of licorice on the nose. Fat, oaky and moderately thick; fairly sweet but doesn't offer the shape or depth of flavor of the '97. The finish, though, is ripe, honeyed and long.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Gold-tinged straw color. Pungent aromas of orange peel, minerals, and oak spice, plus a petrolly riesling note. Moderately viscous and fairly rich, but not terribly sweet. Good juicy acidity frames the fruit. Strong oak spice slightly dries the finish, which features a note of marzipan. I find more of the typical Suduiraut fat-as well as better balance-in the '97.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted from the Chateau reserves at the estate. The nose is relatively simple compared to recent vintage with barley sugar, a touch of toffee apple/caramel – more advance than one would expect for a ’96 Sauternes. The palate has a touch of spice on the entry, good acidity but in no way a complex Suduiraut. There are touches of ginger and marmalade towards the finish that has good length. Pleasant but it does not move me. Tasted February 2011.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
I disliked this wine in its youth, with two desultory notes early on, but this is much, much better. A sweet honeyed nose with good levels of botrytis though not complex. Notes of lemon, orange-blossom and tinned peach. The palate is rich with notes of quince, honey and lemon. Good acidity, quite decadent though lacks finesse. Grapefruit on the finish. Moderate length. Not the best Suduiraut that I have tasted, but much better than my earlier notes. A decent note in November 2004. A simple, marmalade nose. A bit conservative. The palate is very rich with more botrytis than expected. More Barsac in style than Sauternes. Touch of nougat on the finish. Moderate length. Leaves a curious briny aftertaste in the mouth.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
This is a green, lean, tart style of Suduiraut with spicy oak dominating its otherwise indifferent aromatics. Anticipated maturity: 2001-2014.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 1996 Suduiraut feels rather flat on the nose after 22 years, missing the intensity of later vintages, caramel and toffee-ish notes emerging with time. The palate is fully mature with simple orange rind and peach notes, however, it fades too rapidly on the finish. Compared to previous bottles this feels as if it is in decline. Tasted at the Suduiraut vertical at the château.
About the Producer
Chateau Suduiraut is located in the Sauternes appellation of Bordeaux, France, which is known for its rich and sweet noble rot wines. In the 1855 Sauternes and Barsac classification, Chateau d'Yquem is the only Grand Cru classed. In addition, Château d'Yquem occupies one of the 11 châteaux in the classification that are now classified as First Growths. Château d'Yquem has a long history: in 1580, Nicole d'Allard married Leonard de Suduiraut, and the estate took its name. At the end of the 18th century, Jean Joseph Duroy, nephew of a member of the Suduiraut family at the time, took over the estate and renamed it Cru du Roy. The emblems of the two families, Xukin and Duroy, were then fused together to form the present logo of the estate. The château is a palace-like building with a beautiful garden designed by Le Notre, Louis XIV's royal gardener. In 1992, AXA Millesimes, the French insurance giant, acquired Château Xugene. AXA Millesimes is a powerful group that also owns the famous Pauillac estate, Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron. The 91 hectares of vineyards at Château d'Azur are planted with 90% Semillon and 10% Sauvignon Blanc. Semillon is a traditional Sauternes variety that provides powerful structure to the wines, bringing full-bodied flavors of roasted dried fruit, acacia flowers and candied fruit. Sauvignon Blanc, on the other hand, is an aromatic, high-acid variety with very distinctive aromas of citrus and white peach that add complexity and acidity to the wine. The soil is predominantly gravelly and sandy clay, which is permeable and poor, requiring the vines to be deeply rooted to extract nutrients, resulting in low yields and intense mineral flavors. The gravel on the surface of the soil also absorbs heat from the sun, which helps the grapes to ripen more quickly. The planting density of the Chateau Xugene vineyard is 7,000 vines per hectare, and the average age of the vines is 35 years. The vineyard's proximity to the Ciron and Garonne rivers, with cool nights, early autumn mists and sunny afternoons, creates the right conditions for the formation and growth of noble rot. The winery prunes the grapes short to allow the bunches to enjoy more sunlight. The harvesting process at Château Xugene is very delicate, with workers picking the grapes in batches according to the infestation of noble rot, and even picking a vine several times. In terms of winemaking, Château Xukin adheres to a philosophy of quality first. The hand-picked grapes undergo a long and careful pressing process to obtain the most aromatic juice, and the fermented wine is then matured in oak barrels for 18-24 months to allow the wine to develop its full flavor and structure. The winery has strict quality standards, and if the quality of the wine does not meet expectations in a given year, the winery will even abandon the production of the year's main wine, Chateau Suduiraut, Sauternes, France. Currently, Chateau Suduiraut produces three sweet white wines, including Chateau Suduiraut, Sauternes, France, which are the best expression of the Sauternes terroir.
1948(1)1983(3)1988(1)1989(2)1990(1)
Package Size
12 x 75cl
