Wine Advisor
Suduiraut 2004
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2004 Suduiraut has a composed bouquet that is one of the most complex Sauternes in this vintage: dried honey, pralines, dried quince and beeswax all with fine delineation and focus. The palate is rich and decadent on the entry, counterbalanced by a caressing mellifluous texture and a delicate touch of spice. There is a hint of citrus peel on the aftertaste that is commendably long and satisfying. Excellent. Drink now-2030.
Reviewed by: Yohan Castaing
A blend of 95% Sémillon and 5% Sauvignon Blanc picked in four tries between September 29 and November 4, the 2004 Suduiraut reveals aromas of spices, baked orchard fruits, mango and saffron, followed by a medium-bodied, seamless and layered texture that concludes into a tense, ethereal and somewhat short finish. Matured for 16 months in oak barrels (50% new, 50% one year). Residual sugar: 134 grams per liter.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2004 Suduiraut is a vintage that I have encountered on three or four occasions. The bouquet feels a little smudged compared to later vintages: a touch of orange blossom, toffee apple and waxy aromas, missing the definition that one comes to expect. The palate is better with crisp acidity, notes of orange rind and spice, but it does not quite fan out towards the finish and leaves you wanting more. 134gm/L residual sugar. 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.
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