2010 Coutet (Barsac)
Regular price £33.40 Save £-33.402016 Chateau Rieussec, Les Carmes de Rieussec
Regular price £19.20 Save £-19.20ABOUT THE WINE
Château Rieussec was acquired by Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) in 1984. Traditional Sauternes techniques are used and the harvests are carried out with selective pickings depending on the ripeness of the grapes and the evolution of botrytis cinerea (noble rot). Les Carmes de Rieussec, the Second wine from Château Rieussec, is produced from young vines of the estate.
TASTING NOTES
The wine gives off candied apricot, citrusy and white peach aromas enhanced by a light honey hint on the nose finish. The wine offers an unctuous, quite ample and balanced palate, which finishes on a vibrant note.
FOOD PAIRING
Consider cheesecake of all kinds (no chocolate), almond tart, lemon tart, and custards. Also great with savoury dishes such as Roquefort or Livarot cheese and foie gras or terrine with caramelized onions. Herb-roasted poultry or spicy Asian are a good bet too.
FRIARWOOD SAYS
This is an example of how great Sauternes can be super versatile when it comes to pairings.
2005 Chateau Climens
Regular price £92.75 Save £-92.75Château Climens is a Premier Cru Classé from Sauternes wine producer from the Barsac appellation. The estate is located in the southern part of France’s Bordeaux wine region in the district of Graves, an eighth of a mile away from Barsac's other most historically rated vineyard, Château Coutet.
2005 is a particularly exotic, charming wine, fairly atypical but well balanced for the vintage and very appealing. Loads of honey, maple syrup, dried apricot and spice. Full-bodied, medium-sweet, with a refined, spicy character. Pretty wine. Strong botrytis aromas. This is refined and long, a racy wine. Beautifully drinkable.
Great with Thai, Indian and Chinese cuisine. Curries, spices and sweet fruit are the best pairings. Good also with not overly sweet desserts.
Only 2300 cases are made of this awesome wine.
2003 Chateau d'Yquem
Regular price £256.05 Save £-256.05ABOUT THE WINE
Arguably the greatest sweet wine in the world, after centuries of family ownership, Château d'Yquem was sold in somewhat acrimonious circumstances to Louis Vuitton-Moët-Hennessy in 1999. However, its former owner and director Alexandre de Lur-Saluce remains in charge. Located on the highest hill in Sauternes, d'Yquem enjoys some of the best growing conditions in the whole appellation. The 110-hectare vineyard is planted with 80% Sèmillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc. Harvest is painstaking; 150 highly skilled pickers pass through the rows selecting grapes berry by berry to ensure that only the finest botrytized fruit is used.
TASTING NOTES
2003 was a definitive vintage that was marked by a very warm summer and just the perfect conditions for noble rot during autumn. So much so that it is said that these conditions were similar to the ones that led to the making of the first-ever botrytised wines in Sauternes.
An incredibly voluptuous and rich wine with stunning tropical fruits, creamy white chocolate and Madagascan vanilla ice cream, and a touch of toasted coconut and candied orange zest on the finish. A massive, but elegant and complex wine that will undoubtedly only get more rewarding with decades, if one can wait and resist the urge that is…
FOOD PAIRING
Blue cheese, foie gras and any kind of dessert.
FRIARWOOD SAYS
A wine for special occasions, of great elegance and distinction.
1997 Chateau d'Yquem
Regular price £313.05 Save £-313.05ABOUT THE WINE
Arguably the greatest sweet wine in the world, after centuries of family ownership, Château d'Yquem was sold in somewhat acrimonious circumstances to Louis Vuitton-Moët-Hennessy in 1999. However, its former owner and director Alexandre de Lur-Saluce remains in charge. Located on the highest hill in Sauternes, d'Yquem enjoys some of the best growing conditions in the whole appellation. The 110-hectare vineyard is planted with 80% Sèmillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc. Harvest is painstaking; 150 highly skilled pickers pass through the rows selecting grapes berry by berry to ensure that only the finest botrytized fruit is used.
TASTING NOTES
This extravagant vintage still shows incredible freshness of fresh citrus peel and lemon rind with perfumed honeysuckle and jasmine accompanied by luscious candied peached, caramel, cinnamon bark and butterscotch.
FOOD PAIRING
Often paired with cheese and sweets, try pairing this wine with crispy Peking duck with plum sauce or game meats such as guinea fowl or even pigeon in red wine sauce, as the richness of this wine will create a heavenly marriage between the strong flavours.
FRIARWOOD SAYS
A wine for special occasions, of great elegance and distinction.
2008 Chateau d'Yquem
Regular price £562.70 Save £-562.70ABOUT THE WINE
Arguably the greatest sweet wine in the world, after centuries of family ownership, Château d'Yquem was sold in somewhat acrimonious circumstances to Louis Vuitton-Moët-Hennessy in 1999. However, its former owner and director Alexandre de Lur-Saluce remains in charge. Located on the highest hill in Sauternes, d'Yquem enjoys some of the best growing conditions in the whole appellation. The 110-hectare vineyard is planted with 80% Sèmillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc. Harvest is painstaking; 150 highly skilled pickers pass through the rows selecting grapes berry by berry to ensure that only the finest botrytized fruit is used.
TASTING NOTES
A vintage that highlights savoury notes and minerality, as toast, almonds, yeast extract, & crushed stones take the lead along with the signature candied apricot, Turkish Sultanas, dried figs and sweet spices such as allspice. A refreshing backbone of acidity is never absent from start to finish.
FOOD PAIRING
One that can besipped by itself accompanied by a fine Cuban cigar, but fantastic with custard and coux desserts such as profiteroles or chestnut Mont Blanc. Always the best accompaniment to Hungarian goose liver or duck liver pate...
FRIARWOOD SAYS
A wine for special occasions, of great elegance and distinction.
2006 Chateau d'Yquem
Regular price £520.90 Save £-520.90ABOUT THE WINE
Arguably the greatest sweet wine in the world, after centuries of family ownership, Château d'Yquem was sold in somewhat acrimonious circumstances to Louis Vuitton-Moët-Hennessy in 1999. However, its former owner and director Alexandre de Lur-Saluce remains in charge. Located on the highest hill in Sauternes, d'Yquem enjoys some of the best growing conditions in the whole appellation. The 110-hectare vineyard is planted with 80% Sèmillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc. Harvest is painstaking; 150 highly skilled pickers pass through the rows selecting grapes berry by berry to ensure that only the finest botrytized fruit is used.
TASTING NOTES
An Yquem with more tropical undertones, showing toasted coconut, candied pineapple and pure vanilla at the beginning. This is followed by the pleasantly expected notes of clove, dried apricots and baked golden apples with brown butter. A bottle shows that the dynamic nature of Yquem can pleasantly surprise from vintage to vintage.
FOOD PAIRING
An exquisite pairing would be a posh cheeseboard with this more richly fruit forward vintage. Think Morbier, Tallegio & Epoisse with spicy mango chutney and chili sourdough crackers. Also brilliant with white chocolate and fruit tarts.
FRIARWOOD SAYS
A wine for special occasions, of great elegance and distinction.