Château de Fargues 2003

No tasting note was given.

A sweet treat indeed. Not as dense as many 2003 Sauternes, but you find more than enough vanilla, custard, apricot, pineapple and white peach with the right amount of honey and freshness to put a smile on the face of any sweet wine aficionado.

The heat of the year was challenging for Sauternes, leading to a harvest carried out in almost one continuous pass, from September 14 to 25, one of the quickest on record, and delivering a silky, creamy texture. Grilled toffee notes, with bitter mandarin peel, cinnamon, gingerbread, baked apples and orange cake. A tawny, walnut hue that is slightly deeper than the surrounding vintages, suggesting it is ageing a little faster, but the cloves and white pepper spice add a mouthwatering signoff. One third new oak. François Amirault, winemaker.

Intense, fresh and candied on the nose, it also offers a caressing, pure, fruity and fairly long palate, but for now I’m missing some mid-palate.