Château Nairac 2011

Superb aromatics of citrus, mirabelle and acacia; combines power and freshness, juicy and very long; excellent once again, both delightful and complex.

Tasted blind at the Sauternes 2011 horizontal tasting. Refulgent in colour, the nose on the Château Nairac 2011 offers straightforward dried honey and quince notes, but it seems to lack a little energy compared to the bottle served at the property last year. The palate is viscous on the entry with a fine line of acidity, touches of honeycomb and peach infusing the honeyed fruit, the viscous finish compensating for the lack of aromatic charm. Fortunately, with time in the glass, this Nairac does appear to coalesce and gain weight, yet the nose never meliorates sufficiently to match the palate.

This is gorgeous, with flashy pineapple, white peach, ginger and orange blossom notes that are bright, energetic and beautifully defined. The finish drips with pear and yellow apple fruit, never losing focus or cut. Very impressive. Best from 2016 through 2030. 1,500 cases made.

Broad orange and peach nose. Rich but with balancing acidity, spicy and assertive, with integrated oak. Quite long, yet it lacks some drive on the finish.

This is very spicy and rich, with dried-pineapple and orange-peel undertones. Full, sweet and intense. Long finish. Excellent for this estate. Lasts for minutes. Try in 2017.

Bright, fresh, forward, lushly textured and already showing its honeyed apricot, pineapple, candied orange rind, canned peach and floral characteristics. This will be even better with another 5-8 years in the bottle.

Strong golden yellow, silver reflections. Ripe oranges, a fine touch of caramel, yellow tropical fruit, nuances of biscuit and honey. Juicy, yellow peach, delicate wood spice, powerful, good freshness, balanced, good fruit sweetness on the finish, mineral and persistent, showing complexity and definite ageing potential.

Fairly dark yellow with an initial golden sheen, brilliant. Finely peppery bouquet, beautiful, perfumed botrytis, plenty of vanilla, flinty note, acacia honey, mirabelle plum compote, showing a rather intense sweetness for a Barsac. On the palate, rich and slightly peppery, still somewhat polarizing in terms of sweetness and acidity, an oily flow, yet before it becomes too heavy, the balance is restored by its inner minerality. Undoubtedly another great Nairac that, in a decade, will compete with the other truly great vintages. Could become a wine of the century.

Fairly deep yellow with the first golden glints, brilliant. Finely peppery bouquet, beautiful, perfumed botrytis, plenty of vanilla, a flinty note, acacia honey, mirabelle plum compote, showing for a Barsac a rather intense sweetness. On the palate, fat on the outside, delicately peppery inside, with sweetness and acidity still a bit polarizing, an oily flow, yet before it becomes too heavy, the balance evens out again thanks to the inner minerality. Undoubtedly another truly great Nairac. One that, in a decade, will compete with the other truly great vintages. Could turn into a wine of the century. (19/20). 14: At Nairac, after the big en primeur tasting, on a Sunday afternoon. Mature, great Barsac with lavish amounts of acacia honey, seems—perhaps precisely due to its greatness—momentarily a bit closed on the nose. Creamy, juicy palate, light caramel, candied mandarins, purely toasty elements in the finish laced with almond flour. Will need plenty of time to reveal itself.

Dense, velvety, creamy, opulent bouquet, honey, dried apricots, cooked pears. Velvety, creamy, opulent, superb palate with full, powerful sweetness, fine, well-integrated acidity, intense and complex aromatics, very long, dense, plush finish with plenty of lingering aromas. 19/20 2022 - 2050

Rich nose from great botrytis, with pineapple and citron (recalling certain Corsican muscats), concentrated, rich in liqueur, long finish, but with a bit less freshness than in the Doisy sector.

A superb wine with lovely sweetness, real depth, and purity.

Logo on the cork: The crown Coppery color. Intense nose, fruity and roasted. A touch of citrus and ethyl acetate. The inexpressible, delicately smooth mouthfeel of the cru is indeed present. The wine melts on the palate with a candied orange flavor. It finishes long and sappy. It’s very good.

92-94. Barrel sample. This wine shows its crisp side immediately, followed by flavors of rich fruit. The wine has weight that lies underneath its deliciously fresh character, and there is a final note of spiced orange.