21722 customer reviews

Château Gilette - Sauternes Crème de Tête 1990

Sauternes|White wine

4.7/5 (7 customers)

18/20

RVF

92+/100

Robert Parker

19,5/20

Bettane & Desseauve

18/20

Gault & Millau

“The 1990 Château Gilette Crème de Tête is the Medeville family’s latest vintage. It has a bouquet of mint and dried white flowers, but it’s still a bit reserved at the moment; the aromas need more time in the bottle to fully unfold. The palate opens fresh with subtle notes of nougat, quince, walnuts, almonds, and fennel. Having since tasted much older Gilettes, I realize just how young this one still is, and it will benefit from about ten years in the bottle. ” (Wine Advocate - Robert Parker) - Delivered in a wooden case for orders of 1 bottle of this wine

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21722 reviews

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Estate

Château Gilette

Vintage

Crème de Tête

Vintage

1990

Designation

Sauternes

Region

Bordeaux

Grape Varieties

90% Sémillon, 8% Sauvignon, 2% Muscadelle

Regions

sandy soils with a clay component and a clay-limestone subsoil over bedrock

Viticulture

meticulous and traditional

Grape Harvest

100% manual

Wine Production

in stainless steel tanks at low temperatures

Livestock Farming

about 20 years in concrete tanks

Alcohol content

14,5%

Eye

amber color

Nose

of exceptional complexity

Palate

Smooth, full-bodied, and powerful—the hallmark of great vintages

Serve

decant at 10-11°C

Open

1 hour before

Drink starting at

2017

Drink before

2030 and beyond

Production

3,000 to 6,000 bottles

Food and Wine Pairings

Enjoy it with Sauternes-glazed lobster, foie gras, or a tarte Tatin...

More information at Château Gilette

More information at Sauternes

Bettane & Desseauve

Wine rated 19.5/20 (Wine of exceptional quality)

Rated estate (2017 guide): 4*Stars (Producers of the very highest quality, the pride of French viticulture)

About the wine:

We had recklessly given it a 20 based on a sublime bottle. The one we tasted this year under different circumstances is practically just as impressive, so we’ll be petty enough to deduct half a point from perfection… for the “practically”...

About the estate:

Château Gilette has been in the Médeville family since the 18th century. René Médeville, the grandfather of Julie Gonet-Médeville—the château’s current manager—developed a unique, sweet wine in the 1930s that was aged for 15 to 20 years in concrete tanks. Since then, this process has been repeated only in exceptional vintages. Only the finest portion—the “crème de tête”—is reserved for the grand vin; the rest is sold in bulk. The vineyard comprises 4.5 hectares dedicated to Château Gilette, including a plot that gave the château its name. This year, Julie Gonet-Médeville is releasing the 1996 vintage, which follows in the footsteps of its illustrious predecessors.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

Wine rated (2016 guide) 18/20 (Outstanding)

5-Star Rated Estate (Outstanding Production)

About the wine:

The nose isn’t very open, but it offers many nuances. With aeration, notes of wax, honey, candied lemon, and subtle spicy hints emerge. On the palate, bergamot and orange come through, along with hints of praline. The wine is well-integrated and coats the palate. The finish is full-bodied and velvety, with exceptional length. Currently still somewhat closed, this bottle will need a few more years to allow its aromas to fully develop.

About the estate:

Gilette is a small estate of 4.5 hectares (more than 80% of which is planted with Sémillon) owned by the Médeville family and currently managed by Julie Gonet-Médeville. Somewhat unconventional in an era when everything must move fast and be immediately profitable, Gilette releases its wines— a maximum of 3,000 to 6,000 bottles per vintage—only after a long aging period of 20 years in tanks. This has earned it the nickname “the antique dealer of Sauternes.” The 1989 vintage was sent to us this year for tasting.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

Wine rated (2014 guide) 92+/100 (Outstanding wine)

Estate rated "Recommended" (Wine producer recommended by Robert Parker—The Wine Advocate)

About the wine:

The 1990 Château Gilette Crème de Tête is the Medeville family’s latest vintage. It has a bouquet of mint and dried white flowers, but it is still somewhat reserved at the moment; the aromas need more time in the bottle to fully unfold. The palate opens fresh, with subtle notes of nougat, quince, walnuts, almonds, and fennel. Having since tasted much older Gilettes, I realize just how young this one still is, and it will benefit from about ten more years in the bottle.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide to the Best Wines of France

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

Wine rated (2015 guide) 18/20 (Great wine)

Rated estate (2017 guide): 2*Stars (These exceptional estates, often blessed with fabulous terroirs, are must-haves that, thanks to the consistency and excellence of their wines, deserve a place in the cellars of discerning wine lovers)

About the wine:

Aromas of verbena, linden blossom, and dried apricot. It features both notes of dried fruit and a lovely, noble herbal character. The wine has not yet reached the “rancio” stage, as it retains a great deal of freshness in its complex and nuanced aromas. Delicious on the palate with a magnificent balance of body, all with beautiful intensity.

About the estate:

This tiny Preignac estate, now run by Julie Médeville and her husband Xavier Gonet, is famous for selling only very old vintages—aged for a long time in concrete tanks (away from the air) and then in bottles—and sourced from exceptionally rich harvests (hence the “crème de tête” designation). Gilette’s characteristic bouquet is undoubtedly the fruitiest in the Sauternes region, with notes of citrus jam (bitter orange), enhanced by the delicate rancio developed through age and extended aging. The storage method prioritizes reduction without oxidation, which explains the wines’ remarkable youthfulness, even more than thirty years after they were first produced. It is strongly recommended to decant them several hours before serving.

Customer Rating

4.7/5

based on 7 reviews

Review by Mr. FREDERIC B. Published on 12/15/2019

Tasted in November 2019. The nose and palate are rich with aromas of mocha and praline. Surprising for a wine aged without oak. Best to wait and see how the aromas develop.