The 2009 is one of the greatest wines ever produced from the estate. It has a riveting bouquet of quince, honey, pear and a touch of clarified butter that is beautifully defined, offering scents of yellow flowers with continued aeration. It is a little heavier and more intense than its peers at this stage. The palate is beautifully balanced with perfectly judged acidity and immense purity. The finish offers crisp honey, quince and clementine notes laden with botrytis that is counterpoised by wonderful acidity. It possesses an unerring sense of completeness and composure that is irresistible. Bravo! Drink now-2050.

– eRobertParker.com, Feb 2013

Vibrant and dense, the 2009 Suduiraut reveals a complex, deep bouquet of ripe orchard fruits, dry apricots, spices, pineapple, exotic fruits and spices. This is followed by a medium to full-bodied, rich and concentrated palate with a seamless texture and a fleshy core of fruit that finishes long, mineral and saline, underlining beautifully controlled power. With 160 grams of residual sugar, the highest level in this vertical tasting, this blend of 93% Sémillon and 7% Sauvignon Blanc was matured for 18 months in 50% new oak barrels and 50% one-year-old barrels. Harvested in three tries, the yield stands at 19 hectoliters per hectare.

Voluptuous on the nose, this shows complex aromas of stone fruits, oranges and barley sugar. Creamy and opulent, it nonetheless shows good underlying acidity. Very concentrated, but a dash of white pepper keeps the palate lively. Predictably rich, yet there's no heaviness. Very long.

Mid gold; dense citrus and botrytis spice to smell; beautifully balanced, remarkably effortless, elegantly concentrated middleweight Sauternes; very sweet, yet so fresh, complex, charged with savour, long and fine, absolutely without excess or heaviness; incredibly light on its toes given its sweetness, and with terrific persistence of delicately spicy fruit. Recalls the 2001, but this seems more subtle, less weighty. A reference wine, fabulous Suduiraut. 2016-40+

93% Sémillon, 7% Sauvignon Blanc. Harvested 17 September to 20 October (3 tris). Yield 19 hl/ha. Aged 18 months in oak barrels (50% new, 50% one year). RS 160 g/l, TA 3.7. Deep, bright gold. Intense, complex, botrytised nose. Honey, confit-fruit and spice notes with a touch of citrus freshness. Rich, full and generous on the palate. Structured and powerful but harmonious. Clearly a top year. Decadent pleasure now but still a long way to go. (JL)