Château de Rayne Vigneau 2023

Exceptionally fresh nose, very floral; powerful palate, oily texture, top-notch acidity backbone, very nice length, dried apricots on the finish. Shows great harmony.

A lovely Sauternes with acacia, honeysuckle, lemon cake and sweet pepper and ginger, very expressive and with both vibrancy and richness—though I find more of the latter—with plenty of crème brûlée opulence. 160 grams of residual sugar per litre.

Pale golden yellow, silver reflections. Fresh stone fruit, notes of yellow peach, a hint of orange zest, inviting bouquet. Juicy, deep but not opulent, white fruit, integrated sweetness, fine acidity, balanced and very persistent, a successful representative of the vintage.

Enjoyably concentrated and intense, highly spiced as are many of the Sauternes wines in this vintage due to small yields, which gives focus and a welcome edge of bitterness to the exuberant nectarine, pineapple and fresh fig flavours. Silky texture. Vincent Labagère director.

Score: 90–92. Sun-drenched, sugar-laden grapes and more toasty notes of cardamom and biscuit form a rich bouquet. The palate is brighter, with a sweetness reminiscent of childhood jams (mirabelle plum, peach), ripe Victoria pineapple, and candied lemon. Delicate finish.

The nose is fruity and offers complexity and fine concentration. It reveals notes of vineyard peach, sweet grapefruit and, more lightly, sweet lemon, combined with delicate hints of quenette and a touch of apricot blossom, sap, and fresh toasty nuances. The palate is mineral, with a slight gloss, smoothness, a certain roundness, juiciness, a finely tangy backbone, pleasant bitters, a warm sap character, and roundness. It shows notes of quince, sweet vineyard peach and, more lightly, warm sap/cypress, with touches of sweet white flowers as well as hints of crushed small fruits and fresh toasty notes. Good length. Iodized character on the finish/persistence.

Honeyed coated apricots, pineapples, vanilla, honeysuckle, and candied oranges create the core of this sweet gem. Rich, ripe, round, sweet, and energetic on the palate, the spiced, honeyed, tropical fruit finish is balanced by all the zippy acidity. Drink from 2028-2055.