1986 Château Filhot - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes (6/5/2006)
DAWGS Offline with mattach and PurpleHaze (Mi Piaci's in Addison, TX): WIML87,WA87,WS83

Tasted June 5, 2006 at an offline. Tasted from 375ml. Opened and served immediately in a Riedel Champagne flute. Yellow color in the glass, clear throughout. Nose of orange marmalade, apricots and spiced pears carry straight through to the palate with the exception of the spice pears. Crisp acidity. Light bodied on the palate. No value recommendation. (87 pts.)

I'm surprised this didn't show better, especially considering the yellow color. I've been impressed with 1986 Sauternes I've had.

I'm not surprised that this wine did not show better. I've had several bottles over the years and always found the wine correct but simple and unimpressive.

Well, I've never had this wine and I'm sure you and wiml are correct, but the 1986 Sauternes I have had have been uniformly excellent.

In my experience, Filhot has always been in the second rung of Sauternes chateaux. A few years back, they released some from their cellars at fair prices and I tried those. I have had the '29, '37, '70, '71 and '75 and they were always just a bit lighter and lacked the concentration of the big guns. Always fairly priced, but more of an aperitif (sp?) type wine. One to drink rather than contemplate.

If someone has a vintage they could recommend, I would welcome it. This is one Sauternes chateau I do not have in my cellar.

Saut

I've got ten bottles left of their 1990 "creme de tete" which is very good, but not great. It is significantly better than their regular bottling.

Thanks for the heads up. I've not seen the creme de tete version of this wine...will have to search it out.