Clos Haut-Peyraguey 2012

Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. The 2012 Château Clos Haut-Peyraguey has a lifted bouquet of honeysuckle and peach, with just a hint of chlorine underneath that ebbs away and is replaced by lemon curd. The palate is viscous on the entry with light honeyed fruit, white peach and marmalade, gently building towards the easy-going, slightly smudged finish that gently caresses the mouth. This is a respectable Sauternes for 2012 and a fine Clos Haut-Peyraguey to enjoy over the next dozen years or so.

Direct, with a good beam of creamed Jonagold apple and heather honey notes that carry through to a coconut-framed finish. Rounded and open. Drink now. 1,187 cases made.

This is a refreshing, medium-bodied Sauternes that will bring early-drinking pleasure. Lovely floral and honey notes are lifted and fresh. For this light vintage, there is a fair amount of density and weight, with moderate length. Well made with pure, crystalline flavors. This property has been owned by Bernard Magrez since October 2012.

Outstanding density for the vintage with dried apricot and pineapple character plus hints of vanilla. Medium body, light sweetness and a fresh finish. Drink now.

The 2012 Clos Haut-Peyraguey has a light resinous, waxy bouquet that opens nicely in the glass, though again, it is not rivetingly complex. The palate is balanced with a viscous entry, fine acidity, more expressive here than the nose with a pleasing, quite detailed crème brûlée and quince infused finish. Fine, if just lacking a bit of pizzazz. Tasted blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting.

Medium to deep golden colour. Young and elegant nose offering notes of tobacco, cedar wood, yellow fruit and almond. The palate has medium weight, good freshness and bite, candied citrus notes, well-balanced acidity and a rather long finish, in a light, fresh and elegant style.

Quite dark yellow with an initial golden shimmer, brilliant. Intense honey notes, almost like candied honey, a hint of saffron and cooked mirabelles. On the palate, full-bodied, almost fat, with a lack of balancing acidity; the finish shows mineral notes that also display a certain bitterness. Not a particularly successful start from the new owner Bernard Magrez

Fairly deep yellow with an initial golden sheen, brilliant. Intense honey notes, almost like candied honey, a hint of saffron and cooked mirabelle plums. On the palate, full-bodied, almost slightly rich, with balancing acidity somewhat lacking on the finish; mineral notes that also show a certain bitterness. Not a particularly successful start from the new owner Bernard Magrez.

Broad, velvety bouquet of honey, stewed apples, chalk. Plump, medium-bodied palate with broad sweetness, low acidity, flat structure, sweet finish. 16/20 2018 - 2030

Medium straw-gold in color, the 2012 Haut-Peyraguey opens with notes of toasted almonds, honeycomb, and lemon meringue pie with hints of nutmeg and powdered ginger. It offers evolved, honey-nut flavors in the mouth, with relatively soft acidity and a savory finish.

The attack is broad, the mid-palate is very apricot-driven, the sweetness is present, and the finish is fresh, all showing great volume: Clos Haut-Peyraguey is a fine success in this challenging vintage.

Pale yellow colour. Nose of ripe white fruit. A melting, smooth, tasty palate, finely aromatic and very well balanced. Normal length. Pure pleasure. Residual sugar: 125 g/l.