Château Nairac 2008

The 2008 Chateau Nairac has a waxy bouquet with scents of kumquat and pineapple, the oak not quite as well assimilated as the 2009. The palate is fresh on the entry with a delicate touch of spice. It gathers intensity toward the middle and finish, fanning out nicely with mandarin and marmalade notes. This has more to give, so cellar for another two or three years, but opt for the 2007 or 2009 if you want to see Nairac firing on all cylinders. Drink 2016-2035. Tasted March 2014.

Ripe and showy, with lots of honeyed apricot, graham cracker, ginger and cream notes spiked with a streak of candied orange peel. Bold, spicy finish. Drink now through 2017. 450 cases made.

Very cloudy sample – looks more like apple juice. Honey and lemon cold remedy aromas but also fresh apple and pear. Intense orange and lemon zest on the palate. Full flavoured, crisp, concentrated and long. (JH)

Medium yellow. Finely spicy bouquet, white peach, green mango and a hint of mint. On the palate, defined by a dancing acidity, almost lively, peppery extraction, focused finish. A brilliant Barsac!

Medium yellow. Finely spicy bouquet showing white peach, green mango and a hint of mint. On the palate, wrapped in a dancing vibrancy, almost lively, with a peppery extraction that supports the fruit, focused finish. A textbook Barsac! We tasted this brilliant world-class sweet wine three times.

Fruity, complex, fresh, mineral bouquet, Alka-Seltzer, citrus, cooked pear. Opulent, fresh, elegant, full palate with pronounced sweetness, fresh acidity, very long, full finish. 19/20 2017 - 2040

The evolution of the 2008 allows it to regain its initial qualities: a rich, elegant, complex wine, perfectly typical, among the most complete of this vintage.

Very refined and elegant, this vintage has gained even more freshness and is blossoming in an exotic register, with a brilliant finish of hazelnut flavors. It is very seductive in its youth.

Supple attack, a lovely mid‑palate of candied lemon, medium‑bodied, light, with beautiful balance.

Melt-in-the-mouth, delicious wine.

86-88 Barrel sample. Intriguing wine which brings richness along with fresh, lemon acidity. It takes on a character of a lemon candy, perhaps confected. It is not yet properly integrated.