The estate
Situated in the Sauternes AOC, Chateau Suduiraut, a Premier cru classe in 1855, comprises 92 hectares of land dedicated to winegrowing. Adjacent to the vineyards of Chateau d'Yquem, Château Suduiraut is a 17th century estate whose gardens were designed by André Le Nôtre.
The vineyard
Planted on a sandy-clay soil, this vineyard produces fine Sauternes wines that stem from a meticulous selection of plots.
The vintage
The cool spring weather caused a delay in the vegetative cycle, during the budburst and the flowering periods. The dry and hot weather conditions in July favored the rapid development of the vineyard. Veraison took place under good conditions. Between September 22nd and November 9th, 5 selections were made in order to harvest grapes with an optimal concentration.
The vinification and aging
The wine is aged for 20 months, 50% in new barrels and 50% in first-fill barrels.
The blend
Semillon (90%)
Sauvignon Blanc (10%).
The tasting
Color
This wine is a beautiful golden yellow color with subtle amber highlights.
Nose
The nose opens up to a rich aromatic palette combining candied fruit and woody fragrances with notes of acacia honey and roasted apricot. Following aeration, delicious aromas of plum, saffron, almond and green Chartreuse are revealed.
Palate
The palate is seduced by the wine’s richness, its opulence as well as its intense fruity (plum, candied fruit) and woody aromas. Lively and smooth, the finish reveals notes of cocoa beans, ginger and vanilla. Along with the 2009 vintage, this 2010 Chateau Suduiraut resonates with the refinement portrayed by the 1989-1990 vintages.
Along with Chateau Rieussec, the Suduiraut 2010 is a candidate for best Sauternes of the vintage. It has a wonderful bouquet with an instantaneous sense of completeness and harmony, with layers of botrytized fruit intermingling with apricot blossom, peach skin and marmalade. This is powerful, but not in your face. There is no need to be. The palate is well-balanced with a viscous opening. There is plenty of botrytis here, good acidity and enormous weight on the finish. Perhaps it needs a little more tension, but otherwise this is a very impressive wine for the Sauternes vintage.