CHÂTEAU DE FARGUES

A dry year, with a 40% water deficit between the 2004 harvest the 2005 vintage, giving very different aromatics from most in this vertical. Still replete with the flavours and aromatics of a young wine, you find juicy fresh apricots, pineapple, citrus, lemon curd, ginger, spiced nuts. Tasted both at the estate and within the same week also in Singapore at a Sauternes brunch held at 67 Pall Mall, both times delivering an accomplished mix of power and precision. During the winemaking, they included a few grapes that were shrivelled from the heat alongside those affected by noble rot, to ensure there was enough bitterness in the aromatic palate, and this is gourmet, luxurious, impressive. Harvest September 27 through to October 27, an exact month. François Amirault winemaker. Drinking range: 2022 - 2042 Rating: 96 Jane Anson, Decanter (Apr 2022)

Medium yellow. Exotic, high-toned apricot, spices and flowers on the nose, complemented by coconutty, toasty oak. Very sweet and unctuous, with exotic, nobly rotten flavors of pineapple, apricot and coconut and an impression of elevated alcohol. Not quite as racy, fruity or structured as the 2007; conveys an impression of softer acidity, and yet this maintains a light touch. Finishes with suggestions of vanilla and marzipan. Rating: 92 Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (Jul 2008)

Not for the first time is it clear that this unclassified cru can make wines of 1er cru classé quality. The nose shows marvellously heady opulence and richness, also complex fruit aromas of real beauty. The flavour simply goes on and on, with great complexity, richness and breed. Rating: ***** www.decanter.com