Chateau de Rayne Vigneau 2009

This packs in some seriously dense creamed fig, pear and yellow apple fruit liberally laced with marzipan, heather honey and candied citrus peel. Rich and spicy through the finish, with great energy. Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. Best from 2014 through 2030. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 4,580 cases made.

Medium yellow-gold. Heady and voluptuous nose, with utterly seductive botrytised fruit and honey and stone fruit aromas. Rich and sumptuous fruit, velvety and concentrated, but has a fine thread of acidity. It’s starting to evolve with evident honey tones and tropical notes, but still shows freshness.

A dense Sauternes with dried pineapple and honey. Full-bodied, very sweet, with a thick, dense finish.

Tasted blind. Deep gold. Racy and rich with real tingle and excitement. Edgy and nervy. Masses of richness and detail on the finish. But quite a lot of acidity. (JR)

The 2009 Rayne-Vigneau has a more Barsac-like bouquet with orange pith, dried honey, quince and subtle white flower scents, not quite as detailed as the 2009 Doisy-Védrines, but still attractive. The palate is viscous on the entry with honeyed fruit laced with mandarin, quince and nutmeg. Good depth and grip with a touch of spice towards the long and captivating finish. Superb. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting.

Medium-bodied, with good, fresh acidity, honeyed tropical and orange fruits, vanilla, and floral notes. Forward, sweet, and easy to drink—enjoy it now if you like more tropical tones. Age it for a decade if you prefer more caramel and custard in your glass.

Strong golden yellow, silver reflections. Ripe tropical fruit, with fresh wood nuances in the background, yellow peach, a hint of orange zest. Medium complexity, firm texture, white pear fruit, flinty style, some white pepper on the finish, not quite at the point yet, will benefit from further bottle ageing. Better to wait another two or three years.

Attractive depth, plenty of fruit, mango, peach, honey, saffron, very good density, texture, creamy, fresh, abundance of fruit, enjoyable level of freshness and bite, candied citrus notes, very good length.

Quite dark, brilliant yellow with the first golden glimmers. Ripe bouquet with delicate, mineral notes, hints of mint and freshly cooked mirabelles. On the palate, smooth, cohesive and beautifully harmonious, with powerful, lingering sweetness in an extremely long finish. Here, as with some other 2009 Sauternes, a kind of “richer” 2002.

Rather deep yellow with an initial golden sheen, brilliant. Mature bouquet, with minty tones emerging within delicate, mineral notes, and freshly cooked mirabelles in the background. On the palate, smooth, integrated and beautifully harmonious, with a powerful, lingering sweetness in the extremely long finish. Here too—as with some other Sauternes—this is a kind of “richer 2002.”

Fresh, opulent, full bouquet with dried apricots, good botrytis, marzipan, acetone. Full, rich, plush palate with pronounced sweetness, good acidity, and intense aromatics. Very long, lush finish. 18/20 2017 - 2035

A finely nuanced reductive nose. Delicate to the touch, concentrated, with impressive length. Beautiful complexity between candied notes and citrus. Refreshing bitters on the finish. A very lovely wine.

Rich nose of candied fruit and orange tart. The palate is all about tender, spherical smoothness but lacks energy; a fleshy wine without a backbone, finishing on a sweet caramel note. It remains sticky and heavy on the palate.

Candied lemon on the attack, great length, some noble rot, quite straight-lined, pure.

The 2009 immediately presents itself as a Sauternes with a lot to say—and perhaps a tendency to say a bit too much! It isn’t overwhelming, but you do wish you could turn the volume down. It shows a profile of candied fruit like oranges and peaches, complemented by hints of roasted almonds, cotton candy, and caramel. On the palate, the wine is imposing thanks to its density, sweetness, and charm! It makes a statement, but we have to admit it’s quite good—very good, even! Perhaps it will be a bit more streamlined by 2059!

Copper color. Light note of Scotch tape (ethyl acetate). The fruit is very ripe, with a backdrop of prune. Opulent, silky palate with depth of flavor, even if the finish remains a bit discreet.