David Niederauer  
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts: 15756
 | | 04-11-2003 03:54 PM |
| Have seen this a couple of times recently.
Just FYI:
Sauternes [soh-TERN] is always spelled with an S at the end whether it is singular or plural. If it is singular the S is silent in speech.
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Aaron Rubin
Grape Stomper
Posts: 116
| | 04-12-2003 06:04 PM |
| | It's been a while since high-school French, so I could be wrong, but I believe the "s" is silent regardless of whether "Sauternes" is singular or plural. Also, you sometimes see cheap, semi-bum wine labeled "sauterne" without the "s," but such wine of course has nothing to do with real "Sauternes." | | | |
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David Walker
Barrel Sampler
Posts: 2284
| | 05-02-2003 08:06 PM |
| | The most recent K&L newsletter proclaims 2001 Sauternes is one of the greatest in recent history (the past 30 years). Is this an accurate statement? | | | |
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Eric White
San Ramon, CA
Advanced Sommelier
Posts: 9430
| | 05-02-2003 08:19 PM |
| | The jury is still out according toRobert Parker (scroll down to see his comments) | | | 2008: the end of an error | |
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love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts: 12597
| | 05-02-2003 08:23 PM |
| | Gary from the Wine Library seems to think that it is a good vintage... | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts: 11169
| | 05-02-2003 08:27 PM |
| One thing I've learned over the years is to take the "vintage of the century" claims with a grain of salt. I bought many Burgundies from 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, and 1983 after the early glowing reviews, only to find them disappointing and we drank them with hamburgers.
I remember the great comments about the 1971 and 1976 Bordeaux. Both vintages fell far short of early reviews. 1978, while a good year in Bordeaux, was initially proclaimed a great year. Parker admits to being wrong in a number of his early assessments. One can easily find authoritative reviews on the newest wines on the Wine Spectator site. Move over, Robert Parker! | | | |
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Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts: 2067
| | 05-03-2003 12:16 AM |
| Boardo,
Yeah but were the hamburgers any good?  | | | |
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Dr_Tannin
Barrel Sampler
Posts: 2498
| | 05-03-2003 12:51 AM |
| BOARD-O
Indeed this is sounding like a broken record. Vintners crying Wolf! Wolf! Wolf!
However, at $20.00/375, my Rieussecs on futures have all the markings of a Chambers-like bargain. Even in vintages of the century, true deals can be found.
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts: 11169
| | 05-03-2003 01:30 AM |
| Better than the wine.
Dr. T, that sounds like an outstanding price. If the wines are as predicted, those same bottles will be selling for $45-50 soon, maybe more. Rieussec is one of my favorites. | | | |
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David Walker
Barrel Sampler
Posts: 2284
| | 05-03-2003 01:57 AM |
| Dr. T or Board O -
Did you buy any Suduiraut? | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts: 11169
| | 05-03-2003 02:04 AM |
| | No, I haven't. My youngest Suduiraut is the 1988. My cellar is full and I'm well-stocked with dessert wines. I haven't bought any recent vintages. | | | |
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Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts: 2067
| | 05-03-2003 02:12 AM |
| I've got some 1998 Climens that is outstanding, yeah I committed infanticide once with this wine. Tried it once and had to open another bottle. Great stuff.
Boardo,
Of the 80's Saurternes/Barsac wines what vintages did you pick up on?
I got a great deal of 88, 89 and 85 but not alot else.
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts: 11169
| | 05-03-2003 02:18 AM |
| | I find I prefer other dessert wines, so I don't have a lot of Sauternes. From the 1980's, I have only three half bottles- 1980 d'Yquem, 1986 Rieussec, and 1988 Suduiraut. I do have some older ones including three 750's of the '67 d'Yquem. | | | |
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Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts: 2067
| | 05-03-2003 03:37 AM |
| Cheers for sharing that......now I'm even more envious of your cellar- 67 Yquem......mmmmmmm  | | | |
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Dr_Tannin
Barrel Sampler
Posts: 2498
| | 05-03-2003 07:29 PM |
| I bought the futures available at 1st announcement from Sams.
Rieussec, Coutet, Guiraud, Lafaurie Peyraguey, and Doisy Vedrines. All 95-100 from WS. 90+ WA. Prices varied from $11-20/375. It was important for me to jump early to get these given our area's availability vagaries, but these are prices that can't be beat either, given the continuing hype, and certainly not here. I purchased 24 bottles, enough for me, and have several marked for sale to friends.
My regret was not getting any Climens---though this was not offered as futures, since it is produced in miniscule amounts--but the price is now $30-35 for these. Probably still a buy for a few. My mistake was not getting any Lafon which was offered in a later group of futures and gone by the time I asked.
Of note, comments are pouring in about not only the richness of fruit, complexity and power of botrytis, but also the buoyant acidity rarely associated except with the very best Sauternes vintages. It can be difficult predicting how well these kinds of wines will turn out, but every indication is that it is a once in a decade vintage.
I know "Wolf!Wolf!Wolf!". Heard it before. But, Jeremy , sometimes it is a wolf!!! | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts: 11169
| | 05-03-2003 10:32 PM |
| | Even if you don't get the Climens, you have something similar. Climens and Coutet are right next to each other and the wines are very similar most years. | | | |
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Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts: 2067
| | 05-04-2003 01:04 AM |
| Boardo,
Yeah but Climens has more Semillon than Coutet, and Coutet's tends to pick up higher levels of botrytis and less acids ( I'm not sure why but think terroir must have something to do with this.)I find it more clouy ( I can never spell that but you know what I mean.)
Mind you I like Coutet also.
Dr T,
That 98 will go the distance, its balance is really impressive. I tried it with Mike Digaris and Matt Deller and they both wanted to buy some off me after tasting it. They had turned it down initially when I first offered it up.
Its worth the $30-$35 USD a bottle in my opinion. I picked up a 24 pack of 375s( equivilent $32USD) and a case of 750s(equivilent $50USD) for my home cellar. Its my favourite Saurterne that I can afford. I love dessert wines!!!!
Tokaji, Saurterne Barsac, Vendage de Tardive, TBA , Eiswein, Tokay, Noble you name it I'll give it a whirl. | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts: 15756
| | 05-04-2003 11:18 PM |
| | Be sure to include Monbazillac! | | | |
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GATC
Wine Lover
Posts: 4740
| | 05-05-2003 08:22 PM |
| | Jeremy, I believe the word is cloying - my favorite descriptor when a sweet wine is not balanced. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts: 11169
| | 05-05-2003 09:37 PM |
| | And, imo, the king of cloying is Vidal Ice Wine. | | | |
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